Research and Innovation

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) embarked on a process of reviewing its strategic plan, which led to a Council approved Institutional Strategic Plan (ISP) 2020-2025. Accordingly, a new vision for TUT, “A people's university that makes knowledge work” and the new mission of the University, “We advance social and economic transformation through relevant curricula, impactful research and engagement, quality learning experiences, dedicated staff and an enabling environment” were also formulated. The ISP 2020-2025 has four pillars and ten goals that guided each environment to identify subgoals for the next six years and their related activities. In 2021, the Research, Innovation and Engagement’s (RIE) six-year plan subgoals were aligned with the ISP 2020-2025. Thus, the Directorate of Research and Innovation’s annual objectives and activities revolve around these subgoals as follows:  

Pillar 1:
  • ​Goal 1, Subgoal: A well-prepared cohort of the next-generation of researchers, postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
  • Goal 2, Subgoal: Entrepreneurial and innovative students.
  • Goal 4, Subgoal: Established platforms for national and international collaborations.
Pillar 2:
  • ​Goal 5, Subgoal: An enabling environment that will allow researchers to thrive.​
  • Goal 5, Subgoal: A critical mass of contented research leaders who inspire and mentor others (e.g. NRF rating programme).
  • Goal 5, Subgoal: The priority areas that provide TUT with a sustained reputation for solution focused, user-inspired research and, where research, teaching and engagement are closely linked.
  • Goal 6, Subgoal: A diversified and increased funding for research and innovation.
Pillar 3:
  • Goal 7, Subgoal: Effective and efficient governance and management systems.
  • Goal 8, Subgoal: An effective and efficient leadership.
Pillar 4: 
  • Goal 9, Subgoal: The digitalisation of the research environment.
  • Goal 10, Subgoal: Ensure compliance with governance systems.