FOREWORD

The Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation’s Mission for 2021-2025 is Making Research and Innovation Count through Connecting Possibilities. The Office has built on the strengths and successes of the university through the Institutional Operational Plan 2021-2025 which aims to be, a research-led university responsive to the needs of a changing world through excellence in learning, teaching and research and the generation and application of new knowledge.

Thus in order to address the local, national and global challenges through research, we have supported innovation and excellence as a collective. We have continued to identify opportunities for UWCs interdisciplinary research strengths while building critical mass in areas that are globally relevant and strategically important.

Through the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG), UWC endeavours to create a vibrant and enabling environment for researchers to push the boundaries of innovative research. The Office remains committed to supporting, encouraging and inspiring researchers to strengthen their track record whilst tackling key societal challenges that benefit communities.

We congratulate those who feature in this issue and hopefully, they will inspire future UWC researchers and the broader community. We will continue facilitating interdisciplinary research collaborations, capacity building, training and support for our emerging researchers and our broader research community.

Dr. Thabile Sokupa (Ph,D)Director: Strategic Projects and Partnership (UWC)