On Friday 19 September 2025, SPU concluded Research Week in celebration of World Postdoctoral Appreciation Week. The programme recognised the vital contributions of postdoctoral fellows to advancing SPU’s research agenda and highlighted their role in building impact, visibility and global contribution, in line with the theme “From Discovery to Impact: Innovate, Collaborate and Advance.”
SPU has 23 postdoctoral fellows, a reflection of the university’s rapid growth and its commitment to producing impactful research that speaks to societal needs. The closing theme, Postdoctoral Fellow Appreciation, placed the spotlight on their role in strengthening SPU’s research profile and supporting the university’s strategic goals.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof Dipane Hlalele on Navigating the Postdoctoral Space in South Africa. He outlined the challenges of navigating the postdoctoral environment nationally and stressed the importance of mentorship, career development beyond publications and support for mental health and transformation on the journey towards professorship.
Prof Jesmael Mataga, Acting Director: Research, delivered a presentation titled Policy Awareness, Mentorship and Accountability: The Role of Hosts and Postdocs. He highlighted SPU’s research profiling and alignment with the strategic plan, encouraging postdoctoral fellows to think and work beyond contractual outputs. While fulfilling deliverables such as publications is essential, he emphasised that true growth comes from exploring opportunities that extend beyond the minimum requirements, benefiting both the researcher and the institution.
The programme featured reflections from four postdoctoral fellows: Dr Domonique-Marie Verkerk, Dr Darlington Chizema, Dr Simbarashe Jombo and Dr Deborah Arasomwan. They shared openly about the challenges they have faced, the growth they have experienced and their aspirations for future research.
The event highlighted that postdoctoral fellows are integral to SPU’s trajectory of growth and success. Their work strengthens institutional priorities, advances innovation and ensures that SPU research continues to generate knowledge that transforms lives.
Research Week 2025 comprised six significant events, from publication and funding awareness, innovation and the celebration of women in research in the humanities, to the launch of a research centre that stands as a beacon for rural education in the Northern Cape, postgraduate scholarship and postdoctoral appreciation, each affirming SPU’s growing strength in research and innovation. The week showcased the great strides SPU is making in its research mandate, celebrating growth while issuing a bold call for even greater advancement.
