Page 8 - DUT 2025 Engagement Report Q2

2. KEY FOCUS AREAS AND INITIATIVES
2.1 RESEARCH ENGAGEMENT
2.1.1 Highlights of Research Programmes, Grants, and Publications
In the second quarter of 2025, DUT researchers demonstrated strong research productivity, contributing a diverse range of publications to leading local and international Q1 and DHET- accredited journals and books. These contributions, originating from various faculties and research institutes, covered critical areas such as peace, agricultural technologies, biotechnology, engineering, mining, finance, AI, entrepreneurship, politics, gender and human rights, sports education, media and communications, and related fields. Furthermore, many DUT academics and researchers presented their work at conferences worldwide, showcasing the institution’s global reach and impact.
Key Initiatives and Collaborations:
Civil Engineering and Geomatics Collaboration:A Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between DUT, UKZN, and the KZN Department of Transport has yielded grants covering tuition fees for three DUT staff members pursuing PhDs.
Mechanical Engineering’s Project-Based Learning: In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, a project-based learning initiative was rolled out in Q2 2025, involving the development of a solar panel cleaning system with integrated water recycling. This initiative incorporates design thinking, entrepreneurship, and sustainability principles aligned with SDG 7, fostering innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving among students. This initiative advances both sustainability consciousness and the development of locally relevant, action-oriented pedagogies that address challenges facing the Global South.
KZN IEETR and GIZ Partnership: As part of the KwaZulu-Natal IEETR initiatives, GIZ’s Train the Trainers programme successfully trained 100 women TVET lecturers in energy-related courses nationwide.These lecturers are now cascading the training to their students, amplifying the programme’s impact. Funding proposals have been submitted to national energy bodies to support student internships, further enhancing practical training opportunities.
Postgraduate Capacity Building with ICON: New cohorts of master’s and doctoral students are engaged in research capacity- building workshops led by the International Centre of Nonviolence. These initiatives reinforce DUT’s strategic focus on nurturing future academic supervisors and improving postgraduate research quality. Ongoing scholarly contributions by ICON include a book project, participation in editorial teams for two volumes under the BRICS Research Institute, currently under review by Taylor & Francis, and co-editing four volumes on themes including culture and people- to-people engagement in BRICS, non-traditional security threats, domestic violence, and United Nations reform.
PhD Support through FAFU Collaboration: The CI is working closely with DUT’s Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate (RPS) and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) in China to support DUT staff in pursuing PhD studies at FAFU. FAFU has extended remarkable support by admitting staff under a newly established PhD quota dedicated to DUT, bypassing the usual competitive procedures. This initiative has been designated as a pilot programme by FAFU leadership to demonstrate its feasibility and encourage wider participation from DUT.
Global Research Engagement via IEP Directorate: The IEP Directorate continues to play a pivotal role in advancing DUT’s global research engagement.Through strategic collaborations, DUT is actively integrated into UNIT Africa and the African Consortium of Higher Education Researchers, supporting knowledge exchange and capacity building aligned with its Africa-centred internationalisation agenda. The Directorate also contributes to the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competencies, promoting interdisciplinary research and training initiatives that strengthen DUT’s global presence. Research partnerships and collaborations
Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability: DUT’s participation in networks such as the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa and the DHIK network further highlights its commitment to technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Moreover, through its leadership in the UNESCO South-South University Cooperation Network, DUT is driving a flagship project focused on embedding sustainability within the curriculum.
2.1.2 National and International Collaborations
DUT actively engages in national collaborations to drive pedagogical innovation, research excellence, skills development, and sustainable energy solutions across various sectors and in international collaborations to enhance its global presence, foster research innovation, and promote sustainable development on a global scale.
National Collaborations:
SCORESHIELD Acne Initiative: In a landmark demonstration of national academic synergy, DUT, along with the University of Limpopo, University of Zululand, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Nelson Mandela University, and University of Fort Hare, have united under a collaborative framework to advance pedagogical innovation and research excellence in support of the SCORESHIELD acne initiative.
DUT actively participated in national webinars focused on critical issues such as:
Ethics in AI Use in Organisations: This webinar addressed the complex ethical challenges arising from the increasing integration of artificial intelligence in organizational decision-making, marketing, operations, and HR functions. The session emphasized the importance of equipping business leaders and professionals
6 DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY