Research is our identity, being our very first strategic goal, the foundation on which we build knowledge that transforms lives. Aligned with the SPU Strategic Plan (2025-2029), this year’s Research Week promises to be a celebration and powerful showcase of the strides we are making in research, innovation and postgraduate development.
From 15 – 19 September 2025, SPU’s Research Office will bring together scholars, students, partners and innovators in a week-long programme designed to highlight our exponential growth and issue a bold call for even greater advancement. Expect an inspiring convergence of stakeholders, pioneering research centres and dynamic activities that underscore our unwavering commitment to impact, visibility and global contribution. Please click here to download the official Research Week 2025 poster.
Highlights of the week include:
- Publication and Funding Awareness sessions, featuring engagement with the NRF and DHET on research and innovation opportunities
- Premier Showcase: Innovation and Research Centres Day
- Celebrating Women in Research in the Humanities (WORTH), with keynote speaker Prof Zimitri Erasmus
- Faculty Research Showcases
- Launch and Gala Dinner of the Centre for the Advancement of Rural and Inclusive Education Research (CARIER)
- The Annual Postgraduate Research Conference, spotlighting student voices and mentorship
- A fitting finale with the celebration of World Postdoctoral Appreciation Week, honouring the contributions of SPU’s postdoctoral fellows
“This year’s programme and dynamic activities not only celebrate our exponential growth but also issue a resounding call for even greater advancement as we move forward,” says Prof Jesmael Mataga, Acting Director: Research. “From discovery to impact, SPU research continues to innovate, collaborate, and advance – making contributions that matter locally, nationally and globally.”
This September, join us as we continue our journey from discovery to impact – advancing knowledge, inspiring change and positioning SPU as a research-driven, future-facing university
