Annual Research Report 2020

40 Research Committee Report The year 2020 was an unprecedented one for the EMS Research Committee. The coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19) brought with it huge challenges to conduct the business of the Committee in ways we had become accustomed to. Lockdowns, motivated by public health considerations, caused a shock of uniquely ad- verse depth, and reach in our School, University and stakehold- ers. Despite being left in uncharted waters, the EMS Research Committee had to quickly adapt to the new environment so that the School continues to make progress in the research and development business of the School. 2020 marked a significant milestone for the School following the development and adoption of the School Research Plan. It signalled a new approach to the research and development model of the School which was previ- ously largely individual centric. The plan has a special focus on the University Strategic Goal 1 and outlines research themes, focus areas, phases, activities, and targets set to contribute to this goal for 2020 to 2024. The plan has 12 research focus areas underway with staff grouped according to these research areas. The aim is to provide a gateway into key research areas for researchers and students alike, as well as encourage team research collaboration. To give effect to the plan, in 2020 our staff contributed to the achievement of set targets by publishing peer-reviewed articles in accredited journals, as well as numerous reports, conference papers, seminar presentations, training materials and policy briefs. Research work covered a wide range of issues facing the economics and management sciences and policy in Africa, includ- ing Covid-19 pandemic impacts and recovery, organisational iden- tification among academics, logistics compatibility issues among SMEs, buyer-supplier commitment and competitive performance among SMEs, powers and functions and constitutional instruments of the Lesotho Monarchy, characterising categories of public policies in contemporary postcolonial and post-apartheid South Africa, foreign direct investments and productivity in sub-Saha- ran Africa and financing farm-level efficiency and technology for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. Prestigious confer- ences where staff presented papers include the WEI International Academic Conference on Business & Economics, Management, and Finance (WEI-BEMF-Barcelona 2020), 23rd Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis (GTAP) Conference, 11th International Conference on Social Sciences and 5th International Conference on Public Administration and Development Alternatives (IPADA). Staff members have fostered some strong partnerships during that period with the private and public sectors, academia and civil society on issues of relevance to strengthen business and organisa- tional practice as well as policy analysis. As part of academic cit- izenship, our staff members took it as their core responsibility to take academic research beyond publication in reputable journals and fulfil advisory roles where they shared their knowledge with government, the private sector and civic society. Our staff have increasingly attained external recognition through appointments as research fellows, invitations to give guest lectures and external examiners. Our hope for 2021 as the School Committee of Research is that we consolidate and keep momentum towards broadening the staff base, starting and sustaining their research publication trajecto- ries. This, in order to broaden the critical mass needed to help our University to be truly critically engaged in teaching and learning, research and development, while enhancing democratic practice and social justice in society in the coming years. Prof. Emmanuel Ramos Mabugu Chairperson