Annual Research Report 2020

9 As a new university on the South African higher education land- scape, Sol Plaatje University prioritised its teaching and devel- opment of quality undergraduate programmes during the period 2014 to 2019. As a result, our research activity during that time was minimal. In its second development phase (2020 to 2024) the University has articulated one of its strategic goals as becoming research active in prioritised niches within a supportive institutional environment and culture. This 2020 Annual Research Report is a milestone in our develop- ment of becoming a fully-fledged comprehensive university in that it launches our research agenda by showcasing our activities in research and scholarship for this year. Through the nGAP our young research staff have been able to improve their research standing through the achievement of PhDs and Master’s qualifications and thereby providing research and supervision capacity for our growing postgraduate cohort. We are also fortunate that we have strong governance structures to oversee the management of our institutional research system which has now been bolstered by the establishment of a Research Office and the development of state-of-the-art research facilities. We can now embark on structured research partnerships; we can fully develop our themes, and effectively mobilise research funding. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided fertile ground for collabo- rative research in that the search for a cure and a vaccine has brought about unprecedented international research collabo- ration and leveraging of scientific and technical knowledge and resources. We will however have to overcome the myriad of challenges in the national research landscape before we can find purchase in collaborative research initiatives. The South African research envi- ronment is characterized by low investment by the private sector in research and development, coupled with a progressive decrease in incentive funding for academic researchers through the gov- ernment purse; the increasing focus on applied research at the expense of experimental research; the modest levels of research capacity in that we have a ratio of doctoral graduates that is low in comparison to international benchmarks; and a low critical mass of national research collaborative efforts which points to a research system that needs be strengthened before we can engage in effec- tive and successful international collaborative efforts. At Sol Plaatje University we have a unique opportunity to address the challenges that characterise the national research agenda. We are committed to creating an enabling institutional environment to support the research endeavours of academic staff; building the capacity of emerging and early career researchers; and launching special research centres as platforms to mobilise resources and activate research in our niche areas. I look forward to the future growth of the Sol Plaatje University research ecosystem in a way that takes us out of the current quagmire of the national research system and provides us with the tools and means to participate successfully as international research collaborators. Foreword by the Vice Chancellor and Principal Prof. Andrew Crouch Vice Chancellor and Principal