Annual Research Report 2020

43 Five-year Research Plan (2020–2024) The Faculty of Humanities’ five-year Research Plan is aligned to actively contribute to the Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) strategic goal on Research as entailed in its Second Strategic and Academic Plans 2020 –2024 . According the new Strategic Plan, and as part of its five strategic goals, SPU aims to become research-active in priori- tised niches. Our plan ties into this major shift in the University’s academic plans and is the focus of growing structures and capacity for research. We acknowledge that for this to happen, the institu- tion must attract the right calibre of academic and intellectually exciting research must be undertaken in niches that are locally rel- evant, while at the same time unlocking global interest. Pursuant to these goals and institutional strategic imperatives, the School will in the next five years focus on building capacity for relevant research, establish research niches, consolidate our research by attracting senior and acclaimed researchers, providing support for career growth for our emerging academics, consolidating our post- graduate studies and creating spaces and structures that engender research development. To achieve this, a pool of senior visiting academics will be needed to bolster the available academic ex- perience and support the capacity-building efforts focused on SPU emerging and early career academics. A critical aspect of our research trajectory will be the establishment of the Centre for Creative Writing in African Languages. Without precluding any other research fields in the school , our research priority areas have been determined as follows: Museums, Heritage and Local Communities African Languages: Preservation and Development Social Justice and Livelihoods in Rural and Small Urban Contexts Changing Environments and Human adaptation Critical Digital Humanities Our specific research key performance areas include: • Establishing a postgraduate writing hub • Establishing and consolidating multidisciplinary research clus- ters/groups in the School • Creating research centres focusing on specific issues • Building capacity for resourcing/fund-raising and collaboration among our academics for research • Enhancing the development of early career academics, con- ferencing, mentorship, hosting of research writing workshops, co-writing and publication workshops (workshopping papers in preparation) • Expanding partnerships and international collaboration • Increasing research support structures, infrastructure and equipment 2020 Highlights To enhance research capacity, the School recruited senior academics across the three departments. The school also established research thrusts and a research plan. To incul- cate a culture of research excellence among staff and the postgraduate students, the school created spaces for engen- dering scholarship among staff through seminars and public lectures. The School was scheduled to host one reputable international conference –the Biannual Conference of the Historical Association of Southern Africa (HASA) – but owing to Covid-19, this was postponed. The School is excited about the prospects of creating the SPU Centre for Creative Writing and will establish foundations for the Centre, as well as building intellectual/human resource capacity and exploring potential funding sources for the Centre. School of Humanities Prof. Jesmael Mataga Head of School