universit y of kw azulu-na tal research repor t 2008/2009 - UKZN ...

Professor Nelson IjumbaDeputy Vice-Chancellor: ResearchProfessor Cheryl PotgieterUniversity Dean of ResearchA Research-led UniversityIIn 2008/9 the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) continued to be trueIto its mission of being a research-led university. There was a notableIincrease in research productivity as well as the number of researchersIbeing recognised nationally and internationally for their excellence.IIn 2008, the publications units credited by the Department of HigherEducation and Training increased by 12 percent to 977.45, from the 2007figure, making it the third highest in the country. The weighted outputper staff member increased to 95 percent of the norm, compared to 80percent in 2007. In 2009, the research publications output increasedto 1108.20 (13 percent) units and the weighted output per staff to 112percent of the norm, which was an 18 percent increase over the 2008level. The proportion of research active staff increased from 69 percentto 75 percent (2009), while the proportion of staff with doctoratesincreased from 39 percent (2008) to 40 percent (2009). Accordingto the Academic Ranking of World of Universities (ARWU) system, in2009, UKZN improved its position in the top 500 universities.The number of researchers with NRF rating increased from 137 in2007 to 144 in 2008 and 156 in 2009. About 15 percent of the ratedresearchers were Black in 2008 and 13 percent in 2009. Femalesconstituted about 27 percent of the rated researchers in 2009, comparedto 23 percent in 2008. Of the rated researchers in 2008/9, the followinghad the prestigious A-rating: Professor Michael Chapman (School ofLiterary Studies, Media and Creative Arts), Professor Patricia Berjak(School of Biological and Conservation Sciences), Professor Rob Gous(School of Agriscience and Agribusiness), Professor Michael Henning(School of Mathematical Sciences) and Professor Steve Johnson(School of Biological and Conservation Sciences). In 2008, ProfessorSerban Proches from the School of Environmental Sciences wasawarded the P-rating, for his outstanding work as a young scientist.Programmes have been put in place by the Research Office to improvethe institutional participation in the NRF rating system as well asincrease the number of Female and Black rated researchers.UKZN continues to maintain its links with retired and other externalresearch active staff through Senior Research Associates (SRAs)and Honorary Research Fellow (HRFs) appointments. By the end of2009 there were 35 SRAs and 36 HRFs contributing actively to theinstitutional research productivity.In 2009, Professor Julian May was appointed NRF SARChI Chairfor Applied Poverty Reduction Assessment. This brought to eight thenumber of SARChI Chairs at UKZN, one of them being female. Duringthe period of review, a number of our researchers were recognisedand honoured for their excellent and significant contributions in theirrespective areas of expertise. Professor Anna Coutsoudis received the2009 Academy of Science of South Africa (Assaf) Gold Medal for heroutstanding research on public health issues for children in SouthernAfrica and other HIV endemic regions in the world. Professor SalimAbdool Karim received the prestigious Prize for Medical Sciencefrom the Third World Academy of Sciences for his exceptional anddistinguished contribution to public health and medicine, especiallyin HIV prevention and treatment. The Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorMalegapuru Makgoba was elected to the Scientific Advisory Board ofthe Mymetics Corporation of Switzerland, a biotechnology companyfocussing on the development of the next generation of preventivevaccines. Ms Celia Snyman won the “Fellowship for Women Scientists”in the South African Women in Science Awards of the Department ofScience and Technology.4 UKZN Research Report // 2008/2009 UKZN Research Report // 2008/2009 5