FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

Dr Prins Nevhutalu

To achieve this, we set ourselves an annual target of 10% growth in research and innovation. our institution is now nine years old, and given the progress that has been made since its inception, I am confident that this goal is achievable.

CPUT has a strategic framework in place to provide the parameters and impetus needed to make this growth rate possible. Vision 2020 is our overarching ten-year plan adopted in 2010 to guide the institution towards excellence. Research and innovation form an integral part of this vision to move from a “good” to a “great” university of technology. We seek to produce research and innovation which is relevant and aligned to the needs of the province, the country, the continent and beyond. Added to this is the CPUT Short Term Plan, in terms of which the following short-term targets have been identified for 2014 to 2015: To increase research publication output, to increase the number of rated researchers and to increase the qualifications of permanent academic staff.

Growth in research and innovation for the sake of growth alone is not sufficient if a university wants to play a significant role in uplifting and developing the society in which it operates. In order to be socially responsive, a university should encourage research uptake. This means that the knowledge which is generated should find its way to those who need it.

CPUT is proud of its association with the Development Research Uptake in SubSaharan Africa (DRUSSA) programme, an initiative aimed at promoting research uptake in the region. Through this association, our institution shows its commitment to social responsiveness in the region to ensure that our research output is disseminated to appropriate stakeholders who can use it to reach developmental goals.

Looking back at the year under review, am happy to report that much growth in research and innovation output and uptake occurred in 2014. In the first place, there was an increase of 23% in the research publications submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to claim subsidy for 2014. In the individual categories growth was as follows: journal articles (21% – audited), conference proceedings (28% – not audited yet), and books (14 % – not audited yet). The number of postgraduate students registered in 2014 increased by 22%, while 22 graduated with doctoral degrees.

The year under review also saw the creation and funding by Council of three more research chairs, the establishment of new research groups in fields such as quantum physics and renewable energy technology, the launch of a new academic journal, books penned by CPUT academics, and the development of innovative new products and services. By the end of 2014, CPUT had filed more than 30 patents. In addition, CPUT played a significant role in the World Design Capital (WDC) 2014, boasting the highest number of accepted WDC 2014 projects of all higher education institutions in Cape Town.

Congratulations to all our researchers and inventors on their fine achievements during 2014. You have done us proud.

As we look ahead to the new year, I want to appeal to all the researchers to double their efforts and continue to punch above their weight.

VAN DIE VISE-KANSELIER

Dr

Prins nevhutalu

Die Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) het vir haarself ’n ambisieuse doelwit gestel vir navorsing en innovering ten einde deel te kan wees van die tegnologie- en innoveringsvoetspoor in afrika. om hierdie doelwit te kan bereik, het ons ’n jaarlikse mikpunt gestel van 10% groei in navorsing en innovering. ons instelling is nou nege jaar oud, en gegewe die vordering wat gemaak is sedert ons ontstaan, is ek daarvan oortuig dat hierdie doelwit bereikbaar is.

CPUT het ’n strategiese raamwerk in plek wat die nodige riglyne en dryfkrag bied om hierdie groeikoers moontlik te maak. Visie 2020 is ons oorkoepelende tienjaarplan wat in 2010 aanvaar is om vir die instelling die weg te baan na uitnemendheid. Navorsing en innovering vorm ’n integrale deel van hierdie visie om te beweeg van ’n “goeie” na ’n “uitstekende” universiteit vir tegnologie. Ons streef daarna om navorsing en innovering te produseer wat relevant is en aansluiting vind by die behoeftes van die provinsie, die land, die kontinent en selfs verder. Hierby word ook gevoeg CPUT se Korttermynplan, waarvolgens korttermyndoelwitte vir 2014 tot 2015 geïdentifiseer is: Om die uitset van navorsingspublikasies te vermeerder, om die aantal gegradeerde navorsers te verhoog en om die kwalifikasies van permanente akademiese personeel te verbeter.

Groei in navorsing en innovering ter wille van groei alleen is egter nie voldoende vir ’n universiteit wat ’n beduidende rol wil speel in die opheffing en ontwikkeling van die gemeenskap waarin ons werksaam is nie. Om sosiaal reaktief te wees, moet ’n universiteit navorsingsaanwending aanmoedig. Dit beteken dat die kennis wat gegenereer word, moet uitkom by die mense wat dit nodig het. CPUT is trots op haar verbintenis met die DRUSSA-program, oftewel die “Development Research Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa programme”, ’n inisiatief wat navorsingsaanwending in die streek bevorder. Deur middel van hierdie verbintenis bewys ons as instelling dat ons toegewyd is daartoe om sosiaal reaktief in die streek te wees, ten einde te verseker dat ons navorsingsuitsette versprei word aan die gepaste belanghebbendes wat dit kan gebruik om ontwikkelingsdoelwitte te bereik.

Terugskouend oor die jaar van verslagdoening, is dit vir my aangenaam om te kan rapporteer dat baie groei wat betref navorsings- en innoveringsuitsette in 2014 plaasgevind het. Eerstens was daar ’n toename van 23% in die aantal navorsingspublikasies wat vir subsidie aan die Departement van Hoër Onderwys en Opleiding (DHOO) voorgelê is. In die individuele kategorieë was die groei soos volg: tydskryfartikels (21% – geoudit), konferensiestukke (28% – nog nie geoudit nie), en boeke (14% – nog nie geoudit nie). Die aantal geregistreerde nagraadse studente het in 2014 toegeneem met 22%, terwyl 22 doktorsgrade toegeken is.

Tydens die jaar van verslagdoening is drie verdere navorsingsleerstoele deur die Raad tot stand gebring en befonds, nuwe navorsingsgroepe in velde soos kwantumfisika en hernubare-energietegnologie is gevorm, een nuwe navorsingstydskrif is van stapel gestuur, boeke is geskryf deur akademici, en innoverende nuwe produkte en dienste is ontwikkel. Teen die einde van 2014 het CPUT meer as 30 patente ingedien. Hierbenewens het CPUT ’n beduidende rol gespeel in die World Design Capital (WDC) 2014 en spog ons met die hoogste aantal projekte wat aanvaar is deur WDC 2014 van al die hoëronderwysinstellings in Kaapstad.

Baie geluk aan al ons navorsers en innoveerders met hulle puik prestasies gedurende 2014. Ons is trots op julle.

Soos ons vorentoe kyk na die nuwe jaar, wil ek ’n beroep doen op alle navorsers om hard te werk en hoog te mik.

Ivela Kwinqununu Yeyunivesiti

Ugqirha-lwazi uPrins nevhutalu

I-Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) iye yazinikela ngokuzimisela okungathethekiyo ekuphuculeni uphando olugqwesileyo nakwimiba ethile yokuphucula uphando nobugcisa. oku sikwenze ngeenjongo zokuba ngumakhwekhwetha kubuchwepheshe nobugcisa kwi-afrika iphela. Ukufezekisa ezi njongo siye sazibekela umlinganiseli ongange-10% ngonyaka ukukhulisa uphando nobugcisa. Iziko lethu lineminyaka elithoba lasekwayo, yaye xa uqwalasela inkqubela-phambili yalo ngokuphathelele kule miba sele ikhankanyiwe ngentla oko lasekwayo, ndingatsho ngokuziqenya nokuzithemba okukhulu ukuba ezo njongo zizakufezekiswa.

ICPUT iye yenza amacebo asisakhiwo esomeleleyo okunikezela ngenkxaso nenkuthazo efunekayo ekwenzeni lula ukukhula kwezinga lophando nobuchwepheshe. Imibono yama-2020 (Vision 2020) sisicwangciso sethu seminyaka elishumi esingundoqo esasiqulunqwe kwavunyelwana ngaso ngonyaka ka-2010 ekuqhubeleni phambili ukugqwesa kweli ziko lethu. Uphando nobugcisa bokuphucula ubuchwepheshe kuyinxalenye yaye kudlala indima enkulu kwezi mbono ukusuka ekubeni yiyunivesiti “engcono nephucukileyo” ukuya

“kwegqwesileyo neyingangalala”, iyunivesiti yobuchwepheshe. Sinqwenela ukuveza iziphumo zophando nobugcisa bokuphucula ubuchwepheshe ezingqinelana nezixhasa iimfuno zephondo, zesizwe, izwekazi i-Afrika nasehlabathini. Ukongeza koku ke i-CPUT inezicwangciso sexesha elifutshane unyaka ka-2014 ukuya ku-2015, kwezi zicwangciso kuye kwaqwalaselwa ekukhuliseni le miba ilandelayo: ukunyusa inani lophando olupapashwe kwiijenali, ukunyusa inani labaphandi abakwinqanaba lokukhiphisana nabanye emhlabeni jikelele nokunyusa inani lezidanga zabasebenzi abangabahlohli abasisigxina.

Ukukhula kophando nemiba ethile yokuphucula ubuchwepheshe ingesizathu nje sokukhulisa inani lophando akubalulekanga ukuba iyunivesiti ifuna ukudlala indima enkulu ekukhuliseni nasekuphuculeni uluntu oluyisebenzelayo okanye olusebenza ngayo okanye nalo.Ukuze ibonakalise inxaxheba eyiyo yophando eluntwini, iyunivesiti kufuneka ikhuthaze ukwenziwa nokubaluleka kophando. Ukucacisa oku ndingathi maludluliselwe eluntwini ulwazi olufumaneke kuphando olwenziweyo. ICPUT iyazidla iziqenya ngokunjalo ngentsebenziswano noqhagamshelwano enalo nenkqubo eyi-Development Research Uptake in Su-Saharan Africa (DRUSSA). Le nkqubo ibe yenye yeembono ezintsha ezisekiweyo ukufezekisa iinjongo zokukhuthaza inxaxheba yophando eluntwini kule ngingqi. Ngolunxulumelwano iziko lethu libonakalisa ukuzinikela eluntwini ngokuqinisekisa ukuba iziphumo zophando lwethu luya kubahlali besizwe abafanelekileyo ukuze lusetyenziswe kwizinto eziza kukhulisa isizwe.

Xa sijonga ngemva kulo nyaka uphantsi kophononongo, ndiyavuya ukunikezela ingxelo ethi lukhule ngakumbi uphando nemiba ethile yokuphucula ubuchwepheshe kanalonyaka wama-2014. Okokuqala izinga lophando olupapashiweyo lanikezelwa kwiSebe leMfundo ePhakamileyo noQeqesho (DHET) linyuke ngama-23%.

Ukuze kufumaneke isabelo sonyaka wama2014 xa siqaphela kwiindidi zophando ngalunye, ukukhula luhamba ngolu hlobo: iijenali (oluphononongiweyo ngama-21%), iingxelo zenkomfa (ngama-28% angakaphononongwa), iincwadi (i-14% alikaphononongwa). Inani labafundi ababhalisele izidanga zesibini eziphezulu lenyukile ngo-2014 ngama-22%, ngelilixa ingama-22 abafundi abafumene izidanga zobugqirha-lwazi.

Lo nyaka uphantsi kophononongo usizele nezitulo zophando ezintathu, amaqela ophando kwizifundo zobuchwepheshe bokwenza ntsha amandla nezobuNzululwazi emanzini, ukusekwa kwejenali entsha yabahlohli, iincwadi ezibhalwe ngabahlohli baseCPUT neemveliso neenkonzo ezohlukileyo. Ekupheleni kuka-2014 iCPUT iye yanamaxwebhu neziqinisekiso zokugqwezsa kuphando ezingama-30. Ukongeza koku iCPUT iye yadlala indima enkulu kwiprojekthi eyi-World Design Capital (WDC) 2014. Oku ke kusenze saziqenya saqhayisa kakhulu kuba siye safumana inani elikhulu kwiiprojekthi ezivunyiweyo kule projekthi iyi-WDC 2014 kuwo onke amaziko emfundo ephakamileyo apha eKapa.

Sithi halala kubaphandi bethu nakubavelisimveliso bezinto zobuchwepheshe njalo njalo ngempumelelo abathe bayizuza ngonyaka wama-2014. Nisenze mbeje-mbeje sababahle. Siyazidla ngani!

Xa sijonge kulo nyaka mtsha, siyangxengxeza kubo bonke abaphandi ukuba baluphindaphinde inani lophando nemizamo yabo ze linyuke ngakumbi izinga lophando lwethu.

FROM THE DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR

Research, Technology Innovation & Partnerships (DVC: RTIP)

Dr Chris Nhlapo

The CPUT 2014 research report provides a global picture of the university’s overall performance in the following seven focus areas that underpin the research, Technology and Innovation (rTI) Blueprint, our research roadmap to 2022:

• Bio-economy and biotechnology

• Space science and technology

• Energy

• Climate change and environment

• Human and social dynamics, including issues related to service delivery

• Economic growth and international competitiveness

• Design for sustainability

CPUT’s RTI Blueprint provides the strategic underpinning and operational framework for all RTI portfolios. The strategic pillars of the RTI Blueprint are:

• Excellence

• Strategic partnerships

• Unlocking staff and student potential

• Service and research uptake

• Multidisciplinary RTI focus areas

One of the driving forces behind the RTI Blueprint is interdisciplinary expansion, in order to encourage systems thinking in research. The resulting holistic approach yields innovative results and growth in output.

It is clear from the graph below that our research publications output has been growing in leaps and bounds. The 2014 submission of research output to the DHET reached a new record.

In 2014, we also launched our new internationalisation strategy. To date, 800 mobility scholarships have been granted, of which CPUT had 55 successful applicants. There were 16 Department of Science and Technology-National Research Foundation (DST-NRF) interns hosted at the university, and a sizable number of postgraduates graduated from our institution, which augurs well for our throughput rate. Our postdoctoral fellows also contributed immensely to the research endeavour.

It is therefore, my great pleasure to present the 2014 Research Report. wish to thank all the researchers, faculties, centres and institutes for the work well done and for their unwavering support. I conclude with a quote from the great French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900–1944): “Our task is not to foresee the future, but to enable it.”

DHET Subsidised Output 2008 – 2014

FROM THE HEAD OF RTI STRATEgIC INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS (RTI-SIP)

Prof shaun Pather

The rTI Blueprint, which was adopted in November 2012, provides the strategic underpinning, and hence the framework, of all of the activity in the rTI-SIP portfolio. In the current phase of renewed energy and action, CPUT seeks to transition its rTI activity to new heights, and in so doing to firmly establish itself as the leading university of technology in South africa, africa and globally. In June 2012, the DVC: rTIP established a portfolio for research & Technology Innovation Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships. over its inception period, the Strategic Initiatives portfolio has been a resounding success, with a number of visible advancements and achievements. We are pleased to report on some of the 2014 highlights.

RTI Blueprint Implementation Plan

One of the initial tasks of the Strategic Initiatives portfolio was to finalise, incept and manage the adoption of CPUT’s long term strategy for advancing research and innovation. Following on this, a detailed RTI Blueprint implementation plan was tabled at Senate in November 2013. The key mandate of the RTI-SIP office has been to fast-track the implementation plan by prioritising key initiatives which advance our long term RTI strategic objectives. To this end the RTI-SIP office facilitated a strategic planning workshop of the entire CPUT RTI portfolio in 2014, at which both short and medium to long term plans were aligned with the RTI Blueprint.

Research uptake

RTI-SIP has been at the forefront on the development of CPUT’s research uptake strategy, which has been identified as a critical component in how we distinguish our RTI effort in the higher education landscape. As such, CPUT’s involvement in the DRUSSA programme provides an important impetus. During 2014 CPUT participated in a benchmarking survey and subsequent conference, which indicated that our progress towards research uptake implementation is well-placed when compared to the other 21 Sub-Saharan university partners. Prof Pather was also invited to present the CPUT Research Uptake strategy at the annual Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) conference in Botswana in November 2014.

DVC appointed to top research panel

CPUT RTI Focus Areas Programme

In 2014, the RTI-SIP office finalised the framing of the CPUT RTI Focus Areas Programme. The programme provides a basis on which we will build critical mass and make effective use of limited resources. In 2014 the DVC: RTIP was successful in garnering a R53.9m grant to support the Focus Areas Programme. To this end the RTI-SIP office implemented the Focus Areas Funding Programme which comprises:

• Five research chairs (R1.5m p.a. per chair over five years)

• Three prestigious projects (R1m p.a. per project over five years)

• Seven niche areas startup seed funding (R100k p.a. over two years)

Grants will be finalised and awarded during 2015.

As part of the DRUSSA skills development programme, we participated in a bibliometrics and scientometrics short course. The skills transferred during this workshop will serve as a basis for CPUT to put in place more formidable institutional research evaluation mechanisms. The CPUT Libraries is a key partner with RTI-SIP with regards to the latter. A strategic project which has been incepted is the development of an indicator set to measure knowledge production of CPUT. In addition, the RTI-SIP office implemented CPUT’s first science communication workshop for researchers.

Dr Chris Nhlapo, DVC: rTIP, has been appointed to serve on the DHeT’s research output evaluation Panel.

Regional partnerships

The RTI-SIP office plays a key role in fostering regional partnerships. The office represents CPUT at various forums, including that of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC). This includes a CHEC-Western Cape Government (WCG) joint task team which manages a unique regional partnership in which the CHEC universities support provincial, social and economic development priorities.

This is the first time that CPUT will be represented on this panel, which annually evaluates university research outputs submitted to the DHeT for subsidy claims. The panel’s task is governed by the department’s Policy and procedures for the measurement of research output of public higher education institutions. This policy aims to encourage research productivity at universities by rewarding quality research outputs.

Dr Nhlapo is serving a three-year term and, along with the other 14 panel members, will be responsible for recommending improvements and changes to the policy and the implementation thereof.