Stellenbosch University
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SU staff receive national awards
Author: Korporatiewe Bemarking / Corporate Marketing
Published: 20/05/2016

Two staff members of Stellenbosch University (SU) received national acclaim on Thursday (19 May 2016) for their contribution to research and innovation management in Southern Africa.

Maryke Hunter-Hüsselmann, Manager: Research Information and Strategy in the Division for Research Development, and Anita Nel, Senior Director: Innovation and Business Development and CEO of SU's technology transfer company, Innovus, won the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Southern African Research and Innovation Management (SARIMA) Excellence Awards for Research and Innovation Management in Southern Africa. 

Hunter-Hüsselmann and Nel received awards in the categories for Distinguished Contribution to the Research Management Profession and Distinguished Contribution to the Innovation Management Profession respectively.  The winners were announced on Thursday evening at a gala event at the Coastlands Hotel, Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.

The DST/SARIMA awards recognise individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the development of Research and Innovation Management during 2015.

Hunter-Hüsselmann was rewarded for her tangible contribution to the capacity building and professionalisation of research management in Southern Africa and for initiating innovative research management practices at SU. Some of these practices have since served as benchmark for other research management offices at institutions in South Africa and abroad. 

One of Hunter-Hüsselmann's initiatives, the Annual SU research report, of which she is the Editor, won the Excellence Award in the Research Reports category at the 2015 Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) awards ceremony. It was the fourth time the research report won this prize.

"I am truly honoured to have received the DST/SARIMA award and would also like to acknowledge my colleagues at the Division for Research Development. We are a team of dedicated, enthusiastic and service-oriented people. This award goes to all of them too."

"The DST/SARIMA awards recognise the importance of research management as a key element for strengthening and promoting the research endeavours of Higher Education Institutions."

Hunter-Hüsselmann has served as portfolio member on SARIMA's executive committee (2009), as Vice President: Capacity Building and Professionalisation (2012-2013), and Vice President: Research (2014-2015) of the same organisation.

She is one of a small number of non-academic members of the South African Academy for Science and Arts, and also an associate member of the Organisation of Women in Science in the Developing World.

"The DST/SARIMA award is not just for me, but also for my entire time at Innovus," Nel said. She also paid tribute to all the researchers at SU who have played their part in the success of Innovus.

Nel was instrumental in raising significant funding for the Nedbank Stellenbosch University LaunchLab a business incubator in partnership with Nedbank and the Department of Trade and Industry. She also secured significant external investment in Innovus activities and spin-out companies.

Nel implemented a campus-wide platform for entrepreneurship development and played an important role in the development and consolidation of the concept for an initiative that will lead to the establishment University Technology Fund for a number of South African universities to support early stage projects and start-up companies. 

She has also established a very strong business network over a period of many years by building professional relationships with not only industry partners but also investors and service providers.

Nel serves on various committees and company boards.

MORE ABOUT SARIMA

Established in 2002, the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association is a stakeholder organisation that provides a platform for the promotion and facilitation of best practice in research and innovation management in Southern Africa. It strengthens the research and innovation system to ensure the social and economic development of the Southern African region. For more information, visit www.sarima.co.za.

  • Photo: Anita Nel and Maryke Hunter-Hüsselmann