Fostering Impactful Collaborations with Mangosuthu University of Technology. How can we work together to make Science better?

On Monday, 09 September 2024, the NRF CEO, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo and his executive leadership team, visited the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), where they were welcomed by the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, and her leadership team.

The meeting formed part of a strategic NRF stakeholder engagement drive targeted at higher education institutions in South Africa. The initiative aims to enhance impactful collaborations between the NRF and the institutions and to provide a platform for fruitful discussions on how the NRF can provide tailored support to each institution.

Dr Nelwamondo’s delegation consisted of the Deputy CEO NRIP, Dr Angus Paterson; Acting Deputy CEO RIISA, Dr Gugu Moche; and Business Advancement Group Executive, Dr Thandi Mgwebi.

Prof Sibiya, with support from her leadership team, delivered a presentation that summarised MUT’s progress in terms of research. She also outlined some of the main challenges the institution was addressing.

As a historically disadvantaged institution (HDI), MUT experiences many challenges, particularly funding. A large proportion of the students depend on the NSFAS grants to complete their studies at the institution which means that the institution sees very low numbers in the programmes they offer outside of the undergraduate courses, such as their Advanced Diplomas, which are not funded by NSFAS. This, in turn, affects their research output efforts.

While low in number, the institution receives grants from the NRF and is actively working on interventions to increase them.

The NRF delegation made presentations about the NRF which included information about the grants as well as the NRF research facilities. Dr Nelwamondo emphasised the important value that Universities of Technology have within the national system of innovation and the country’s economic system.

“We need to deliberate and have conversations on the types of instruments we can create that would be best suited for universities of technology so we can enhance their true potential,” he said.

The NRF delegation commended the institution on the work already in progress to enhance the institution’s performance. They also welcomed the opportunity to provide relevant tailored support that would aid the institution on this journey. They deliberated on potential collaborations that could be formed between the NRF and the institution by taking advantage of specific projects with aligning interests, as per the institution’s key focus areas. National Facilities such as NRF-SAIAB and NRF-SAEON were identified as low-hanging fruits for potential collaboration between the NRF and the MUT Engineering Faculty.

The session ended on a positive note that marked the beginning of collaboration between the two institutions.