The importance of research and its application in the community is being thrust into the limelight, especially in the midst of global debates about the role of universities flaring up again.

Prof Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation, recently convened a series of meetings with postgraduate students and academic research staff with the intention of gauging students’ research experiences at the masters and doctoral levels.

The initiative came hot on the heels of an extremely successful 2019 Research Day hosted by the university’s campus in Mahikeng on 26 April, with world-renowned researcher Prof Daniel Egbe in attendance.

The theme for this year was “Benefiting society through knowledge: Research for socio-economic advancement”.

According to Prof Nnenesi Kgabi who organised the event, the aim of the Research Day was to stimulate a vibrant research culture for all faculties of the NWU.

“The Research Day was also aimed at showcasing research projects and/or researchers, to motivate postgraduate students and encourage researchers to engage in meaningful collaborative research for socio-economic development,” explains Prof Kgabi.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof Daniel Egbe shed light on the importance of developing research capacity and support for upcoming researchers.

“China is investing 2,1% of its gross domestic product on research. We need funding to encourage research and development in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

He added that South Africa’s efforts in this regard are praiseworthy, and expressed the hope that research funding in this country would continue on the same trajectory as has been the case in the recent past.

The Research Day attendees also benefited from various other activities. These included panel discussions, researcher brag walls, faculty and research entity stalls, research posters of master’s and doctoral students, information on doctoral funding opportunities, and recognition for the best master’s and doctoral student posters.

Prof Daniel Egbe (in the middle wearing a yellow tie) is flanked by senior leaders and officials from the NWU’s research entities.

Prof Daniel Egbe says he is proud and grateful for having been invited by the NWU to talk about research and its importance to countries such as South Africa.