Following her appointment in March 2026, Professor Rushiella Songca, the Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), has wasted no time in implementing a strategic 100-Day Plan designed to revitalise the Institution’s core mandates. The plan focuses on strengthening the three fundamental pillars of the University: teaching and learning, research, and community engagement. Working alongside University stakeholders and staff, Professor Songca has maintained a rigorous pace to ensure these objectives move from paper to practice.
As a key component of this plan, the Research Directorate, led by Dr Anette Mienie, hosted two pivotal off-campus workshops on 5 and 6 May 2026 to elevate the University’s research integrity and capacity. On Tuesday, 5 May 2026, the University held an interactive workshop titled “Responsible Research in Practice: Ethics, Supervision & REC Reviews.” Facilitated by UNISA’s Leonie Louw, the session provided practical training on the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), ethical decision-making, the role and the importance of the Research Ethics Committee (REC), among others. Participants at the workshop were from academia and support divisions.
Staff from the Department of Biomedical Sciences shared key takeaways that highlight the evolving landscape of modern research. Medical Researcher Solani Mncube noted the dual nature of Generative AI. While it accelerates literature reviews, Mncube warned of “algorithmic bias” and the need for human oversight. “AI should augment, not replace, human judgment,” she stated, committing to strict validation steps in her future studies.
Industrial Technician Thembani Dlamini emphasised the distinction between research ethics and integrity. “Ethical clearance does not remove the need for integrity throughout the research process,” Dlamini noted, highlighting the necessity of ongoing risk-benefit analyses. For Lab Assistant Ayanda Luthuli, the takeaway was simple yet profound: ethics is the very foundation of responsible research, not just a box-ticking exercise.
The momentum continued on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, with a workshop dedicated to Postdoctoral Fellows Capacity Development. This session shifted the focus toward the future of the University’s global standing, tackling “strategic” topics such as internationalisation. This topic examined expanding MUT’s footprint in the global academic community, while the industry partnerships discussed bridging the gap between theoretical research and commercial applications. The second day also saw the discussion of the publication strategy. The discussion aimed at enhancing the quality and reach of the University’s scholarly output.