Our impact

The REAL Centre is engaged in a wide range of cutting-edge international and local research projects and has developed a strong reputation for practical research grounded in empirical evidence. This has resulted in a high-quality publication record and an international network both in Africa and globally. The REAL Centre has participated in an extensive number of high-level policy processes in postschool and skills development systems, and our work has made, and continues to make, a significant impact on the policy environment, both in South Africa and internationally.

Key highlights of our recent achievements include:

• A strong trajectory in developing young researchers in a key research field

• Our Masters in Education and Work is a global leading programme, strongly rated by national and international reviewers, which has trained young researchers and mid-career policymakers.

• We have a strong cohort of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, with excellent representation from the continent as well as black South Africans.

• An impressive contribution to knowledge, as seen in a publication trajectory including books and important journal articles (available on request) that intervene in key debates and provide leadership and direction in the field.

Key contributions to policy and real-world solutions:

• We supported the Department of Higher Education and Training to develop the national COVID Skills Strategy, to support the Presidency’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Programme. This already has made major changes in many aspects of South Africa’s skills system.

• In 2021, on behalf of various South African ministries, we organised the ‘Skills Dialogues’ engagement, resulting in a framework to improve engagement on skills nationally, already being implemented in industrial sectors.

• Our research on qualifications and skill recognition feeds into interventions made by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and is contributing to ongoing learning through a regional community of practice on the recognition of skills and migration.

• Tools developed through our Green Skills research have been adopted by UNESCO-UNEVOC and the South African Department of Environmental Affairs for use in their training programmes.

• Our research into qualifications frameworks and learning outcomes has fed into policy debates and processes around the world.

• Our work on occupations and qualifications has allowed us to develop many policy, electronic and mapping tools which have been adopted by several national organisations in South Africa.