NRF rating outcomes

• A: Leading international scholar
• B: Internationally acclaimed researchers
• C: Established researchers with a sustained record of productivity
• Y: Promising young researchers
• P: Young researchers who are considered likely to become future leaders in their field

Research in a time of COVID-19

At SU, we use our research expertise to change society for the better and to make a significant and lasting impact in the world. When we adopted our new Strategic Framework 2019 – 2024 and Vision 2040 in 2018, we made it clear that we want to become Africa’s leading research-intensive university where knowledge is used in service of society. For this reason, we have identified Research for Impact as one of our six major institutional strategic themes. Through our continued investment in research, we have positioned ourselves well to respond to events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Our researchers, both established and emerging, have thus far made a valuable contribution in terms of addressing the challenges that our country faces right now. They have been working tirelessly to help meet the health-related needs of our people and to curb the spread of the virus. Some have looked at ways to improve sterilisation in the food and beverage industries as well as in medicine; to reduce respiratory viral infections associated within public transport; to develop models to evaluate the spread of COVID-19 in African countries. Others have turned bread into hand sanitisers; printed 3D ventilator parts and protective gear for health workers; and volunteered for the CrowdFight COVID-19 initiative in South Africa. Some of our academics are also producing opinion editorials on topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Click here for a list of COVID-19 related research projects and selected opinion pieces by SU academics.

In response to the current global Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the significant number of SU Covid19 projects that were submitted to us in response to our previous request for information in this regard, Prof Eugene Cloete has now earmarked part of his 2020 discretionary fund to stimulate urgent research and innovation activities in this area. Researchers were requested to submit proposals (submission date 4 May 2020). This call is open across all faculties, and that project proposals can be related to a wide variety of issues affected by the current pandemic, our understanding of it, and assisting with the local and global responses to it. The fund will serve as seed funding/co-funding of larger expensive research projects. A maximum of R100,000 per project can be allocated.

To assess the financial- and contractual risks on the research offering of SU via research grants and -contracts, the DRD has launched an impact assessment survey to determine the impact of business discontinuity due to the Covid-19 national lockdown (and subsequent ripple effect), over a 3 months vs a 12 months period. This survey is closing on 30 April and the reports will be made available to Top Management and Deans by 15 May 2020. This will inform Top Management and Deans’ strategic decision-making capabilities in allocating available funds to the most pressing areas of concern, as well as allow SU to negotiate with funders to assist continuance with the research offering.

The research ethics committees of the university were all able to seamlessly continue their work despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and linked national lockdown. The committees all held virtual meetings and applications for Covid-19 research was dealt with through expedited procedures. Applications for amendments to existing projects, due to the requirements for social distancing, were also expedited. The ethics offices expanded their online offer of research ethics training and also shared general tools for online data collection methods and tips.

The Postgraduate Office (PGO) integrates relevant learning courses, capacity-building workshops, seminars and postgraduate group interactions into its regular offering on an ongoing basis, in order to help postgraduate students take charge of their research journey in a supported manner. During COVID-19, the PGO has managed to keep supporting postgraduate students virtually and compiled a range of helpful tips and resources to help students continue to progress during lockdown.

Postgraduate students can access additional online resources under the PGO’s SUNLearn online training module. The resources housed under this module currently include a new research ethics podcast series, covering basic ethical principles and important information to consider when carrying out one’s research; an academic writing integrity course on avoiding plagiarism; and videos that cover tips and guidance on good academic writing.
The PGO is further working to adapt the face-2-face workshop offering for the second half of 2020 and expanding the animated series on writing and ethics.