Unizulu celebrates research excellence

THE University of Zululand held its annual research awards ceremony to honour research initiatives conducted at the institution.

National Research Foundation (NRF) Executive Director, Dr Andrew Kaniki, presented a speech following the theme ‘Research excellence for international competitiveness and poverty reduction’, in which he spoke of the necessity in celebrating success and encouraged the institution to persevere.

‘I subscribe to the view that countries with research excellence and quality knowledge production are more internationally competitive, and will reduce poverty among its people much quicker than those who are not,’ said Kaniki.

‘On behalf of the NFR I wish to congratulate all who will be rewarded for your research excellence.

‘It is necessary that we celebrate successes as often as possible, because success breeds success, and as they say in sport, if you win more, winning becomes a habit.

‘You as individuals and collectively as a university must target achieving the set goals in research, teaching and learning, as well as community engagement,’ he said.

University Vice Chancellor Prof Fikile Mazibuko said it was an important day on the institution’s calendar to honour researchers for their valuable input.

‘Research contributes to the prestige profile of the University,’ she said.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation, Prof Rob Midley, said the ceremony was to commemorate the positive contribution made by the researchers to put Unizulu on the map.

‘This is to showcase the research done at our institution and to thank colleagues who are doing extremely good work, ‘said Prof Midgley.

‘It is important to make public the kind of things recognised as good research behaviour.’