Science Technology and Innovation for Human
Settlements Roadmap HCD and STI priorities report
July 2019
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DOCUMENT RETRIEVAL PAGE
Report Number: CSIR/BE/XX/XX/####/####/#
Report Title: Human Capital Development and STI priorities report
Authors: Peta de Jager, Lorato Motsatsi, Coralie van Reenen, Sheldon Bole
Reviewers STI 4 SHS Planning Committee
Date: 04 December 2019
Project Number: 60C4033
Project Title: Innovation for Inclusive Development (STI 4 SHS Roadmap)
DST Ref no.:
Acknowledgement:
This project is funded by Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) as part of the South African Government’s initiative to promote and support Innovation for Inclusive Development.
Report title: Project number:
Science Technology and Innovation for Human 59C4033 Settlements Roadmap: Work package 2 – HCD and STI priorities report
Prepared for:
Prepared by: Technology Innovation Agency
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Cc Department of Science and Technology
P.O. Box 395, Pretoria, 0001
Contact person: Ashaal Roopchan
Contact person: Peta De Jager Email: [email protected]
Tel: +27 12 841 3007
Email: [email protected] Contact person: Tshepang Mosiea
Email: [email protected]
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Contents
List of figures ...... 5 List of tables ...... 6 Abbreviations ...... 7 Executive Summary ...... 10 Background ...... 12 Priorities ...... 12 NDP ...... 12 White Paper on STI ...... 14 NSDP and the “new” SETA “landscape” ...... 15 Human settlement priorities related to HCD ...... 16 SARChI ...... 17 Key role-players in HCD for STI and SHS ...... 17 South African Higher Education Institutions...... 18 Agencies and Science Councils ...... 19 Approach ...... 19 Academic Advisory Panel...... 19 Academic engagements ...... 20 Capability analysis ...... 20 Findings ...... 23 Mapping from STI4SHS National Forum database ...... 23 Researcher ratings in the sector ...... 27 Mapping from survey questionnaires ...... 30 Mapping from NETD ...... 32 Innovation Bridge Portal ...... 36 Public universities and universities of technology ...... 37 TVET colleges ...... 40 Private Further Education and Training (FET) colleges ...... 41 Other ...... 42 The African Research Universities Alliance ...... 42 Stellenbosch University School of Public Leadership ...... 47 Discussion ...... 48
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Summary of HCD capacity and maturity...... 48 Sector absorption capacity ...... 48 Potential roles for academia in the STI 4 SHS Roadmap ...... 48 Input costs ...... 51 Attrition assumptions ...... 52 Cost benefit ...... 52 Research Agenda ...... 52 Purpose of the research agenda ...... 52 Approach to developing the research agenda ...... 53 Scope, limits and application ...... 53 Key themes and example topics ...... 54 Key theme 1: The environmental sustainability imperative ...... 54 Key theme 2: 4IR, disruptors and transformative technology ...... 55 Key theme 3: Innovative building technologies and construction methods ...... 56 Key theme 4: Improved living and health conditions in a household ...... 57 Key theme 5: Smart ICT ...... 58 Key theme 6: Culture, social acceptance and community involvement ...... 59 Key theme 7: Models and policy innovation ...... 59 Key theme 8: Preparing the next generation of STI 4 SHS researchers and entrepreneurs ...... 60 Recommendations and way forward...... 61 Acknowledgements ...... 64 References ...... 65 Appendix ...... 66 Questionnaire ...... 66 Capability heat-maps ...... 80 Innovations applicable to human settlements from the Innovation Bridge Portal ...... 90 NRF A-rated Scientists in the past two-years (n=96), active in fields relevant to STI 4 SHS...... 93 Academic Advisory Panel Sessions ...... 96 Centres and Units at Universities with direct/ indirect relevance to STI 4 SHS ...... 98
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List of figures
Figure 1: SIP 14 - Higher Education Infrastructure (2016) ...... 18 Figure 2: Number of institutions supporting STI in Human Settlements ...... 31 Figure 3: Number of human settlement/ housing dissertations per annum and total number of dissertations (de Jager et al., 2019) ...... 33 Figure 4: Human settlement/ housing dissertations as a percentage of all dissertations (de Jager et al., 2019) ...... 34 Figure 5: Housing and human settlements dissertations on NETD of South Africa’s public universities (de Jager et al., 2019.) ...... 34 Figure 6: Publications from South African public Universities and Research Councils on Scopus for 2018 ...... 38 Figure 7: Distribution of 2018 Human Settlement/ Housing Publication by Subject Area ...... 39 Figure 8: Distribution of 2018 Human Settlement/ Housing Publication by Topic in Social Sciences.... 39
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List of tables
Table 1: Table of institutions invited to participate and participating in survey ...... 21 Table 2: National Forum: Role in Industry vs Field within Human Settlements ...... 23 Table 3: Human Capital Development sector: Role in Industry vs Field within Human Settlements ..... 24 Table 4: Human Settlements sector: Role in Industry vs Field within Human Settlements ...... 25 Table 5: STI sector: Role in Industry vs Field within Human Settlements ...... 26 Table 6: STI research applicable to human settlements Capability – Maturity ...... 32 Table 7: Themes and originating institutions of human settlement/ housing dissertations in South Africa (1994 – 2019)(de Jager et al, 2019) ...... 36 Table 8: STI research applicable to human settlements Capability – Maturity ...... 80
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Abbreviations
4IR Fourth Industrial Revolution
BIM Building Information Management
CAD Computer-Aided Drawing/Drafting
CET Community Education and Training colleges
CHE Council on Higher Education
CoE Centre of Excellence
COGTA Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
DEA Department of Environmental Affairs
DHET Department of Higher Education and Training
DoE Department of Energy
GBCSA Green Building Council of South Africa
DHS Department of Human Settlements
DST Department of Science and Technology
FET Further Education and Training
HCD Human Capital Development
HEMIS Higher Education Management Information System
HSRC Human Sciences Research Council
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IoT Internet of Things
NDP National Development Plan
NETD Electronic and Thesis Database
NHBRC National Home Builders Registration Council
NRF National Research Foundation
NSI National System of Innovation
NSDP National Skills Development Plan
NUA New Urban Agenda
PMU Project Management Unit
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RD&D Research, development and deployment
RDI Research, development and innovation
SALGA South African Local Government Association
SARChI South African Research Chair Initiative
SDG Sustainable Development Goal
SET Science, Engineering and Technology
SETA Sector Education and Training Authority
SHS Sustainable Human Settlements
SME/SMME Small, medium (and micro) enterprises
STI / ST&I Science, Technology and Innovation
TIA Technology Innovation Agency
TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training
UISP Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme
WRC Water Research Commission
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A UNIVERSITY DOES NOT MERELY PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE WIDE VARIETY OF ROLES IN AN INNOV ATIVE ECONOMY ; ITS HIGHER MISSION IS TO “DISCOVER AND INVENT THE FUTURE .”
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
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Executive Summary
A mapping exercise was undertaken to determine current capabilities of South African universities, science councils and agencies regarding Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) which can be applied in the field of, and in pursuit of sustainable human settlements (SHS). The report reflects on the Human Capital Development (HCD) and STI priorities for SHS, current capacity, and maturity.
The approach to characterising the current HCD was multi-faceted. Academia was engaged throughout to provide input as to priority focus areas for research. The current landscape of investment and research interest in HCD was mapped via data analysis of the registration database STI 4 SHS National Forum. A survey was conducted for the purpose of capability mapping in STI as applied in the sustainable human settlements sector targeting 76 South African universities, universities of technology, science councils and agencies, collectively representative of the National System of Innovation (NSI). A desktop study of past dissertations and theses for 25 years, and a review of one year of publication outputs for 76 institutions was performed. A review of prominent researchers in the field was performed. Innovation profiles on a public electronic online innovations register were examined.
This research showed that there has been a sustained and increasing investment by tertiary academic institutions in HCD in housing and human settlement studies since 1994 in South Africa. Based on outputs, the focus has been heavily sociological in nature, with relatively lesser attention paid to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) focus. Academia have had a leading role to play in thought leadership in policy innovation in the SHS field, but have not gained similar traction in driving technological innovation.
Sustainability is emerging rapidly as a popular topic of study for postgraduate studies in the sector, representing a significant contribution to research from academia to date. Sustainability and climate change are national and global priorities and apart from addressing a survival imperative, offer excellent opportunities to access investment and to deepen SET-informed responses. There is a dominance of urban and informal settlements case studies in theses – a predisposition which should be interrogated in light of the status quo of spatial and market fragmentation, and policy moves to strive for integration and a seamless housing market.
Nearly all HCD activity found in the research originated at public academic institutions, and then in the universities and universities of technology.
Based on a systematic analysis of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) unit standard titles applicable Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges it can be concluded that, whereas these institutions are instrumental in imparting the traditional trades and artisan skills, such as bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing - involving the routine use of established systems, technologies and practices already in the mainstream - they do not prioritise STI or set out to develop innovation skills. The National Skills Development Plan, 2030 (NSDP) recognises the TVET sector to be underdeveloped and to hold potential to create valuable, practical skills which can boost employment at meaningful scales. This is therefore identified as an important opportunity for the Roadmap to take
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into its planning. In a review of 435 private higher education institutions1, no course titles relevant to STI 4 SHS were identified. Amongst science councils and agencies, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Water Research Commission (WRC) emerged as mature and well established institutions actively engaged in a variety of RDI activities related to STI applicable to SHS.
The need for graduates studying housing and human settlements and sector absorption capacity is not immediately available, and beyond the scope of this study, but is discussed in preliminary terms in the report. As unemployment of graduates across sectors grew in South Africa from 4.4% in 2011 to 6.7% in 2018 (StatsSA) and there are binding resource constraints, there is a burning need to study the demand and supply of graduates, with a view to targeting HCD investments to needs. This view is consistent with that expressed in the National Development Plan (NDP), which call for Sector Plan, and identifies housing as a priority need. Department of Science and Technology (DST)-sponsored research, development and innovation (RDI) roadmaps currently in implementation have demonstrated great success in support of HCD (CSIR, 2019).
In the Waste RDI Roadmap and the Water RDI Roadmap, honours, masters and doctoral students were supported as part of building a pipeline of RDI capacity. In these particular roadmaps, HCD definition excluded undergraduate, artisan, informal, in-service and peer learning models. The ICT Roadmap and Solar Energy Technology Roadmap make provision for workforce and installation capacity development. Given its focus on mainstreaming, and government prioritisation of TVET colleges, a broader conception of HCD, i.e. inclusive of artisan, workforce development and education and training, is an important consideration for the STI 4 SHS Roadmap. Furthermore, the DST’s White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (henceforth the “White Paper”) identifies important roles for Community Education and Training (CET) colleges and the private sector, neither of which appear to be active in STI or SHS fields at present.
From the analysis of international and local trends and needs, this report proposes a draft research agenda in order to structure, coordinate and orientate local, regional, and global research activities and mobilise partnerships. The research agenda proposes eight key themes, focusing on environmental sustainability; the fourth industrial revolution; innovative building technologies and construction methods; improved living and health conditions in a household; smart ICT, culture, social acceptance and community involvement, models and policy innovation; and preparing the next generation of STI 4 SHS researchers and entrepreneurs.
Reflecting on current and recent professional capacity building efforts may be instructive on how the academic sector can gear itself to make the most valuable contribution to the discourse on our future human habitats. This report can guide future research direction in the field of human settlements’ curriculum enhancement and system-wide capacity building. Finally, the report concludes by
1 Studied via the List of Registered Private FET Colleges which serves as the National Register of Private FET Colleges and is published in accordance with Regulation 15(3) of the Regulations for the Registration of Private Further Education and Training, 2007.
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describing the next steps to complete definition the STI 4 SHS Roadmap, and pave the way for its implementation. Background
HCD is described as the process of developing an individual’s abilities to perform in certain areas. Often HCD refers to the academic progress of individuals, however formal development can also be achieved through non-degree courses, in-house training and mentorship.
The purpose of the STI 4 SHS Roadmap is to unlock the potential of South Africa’s human settlements for a decent standard of living; safe, resilient and sustainable households and neighbourhoods via the smart uptake of science, technology and innovation. As such, the focus is on the upscaling and mainstreaming of technologies.
In the context of the STI 4 SHS Roadmap, the value of HCD should be evident in improved uptake of innovation in the human settlements sector, technologies of the future, preparing the youth for new professions, and setting the technology agenda. This report considers the current capacity of academic institutions to meet the need to develop human capacity towards this objective.
Priorities
This section of the report identifies key government priorities in terms of HCD for STI and SHS. They include a discussion on the NDP, The White Paper, NSDP and the “new” SETA “landscape”, Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation priorities and the SARChI initiative.
NDP
The National Development Plan 2030 (NDP) supports the DHET priority areas, including:
strengthening the institutional capacity of vocational education and training institutions, increasing access and improving success in programmes leading to intermediate and high learning, and ensuring a dynamic interface between workplaces and learning institutions
South Africa has a strong and growing science and technology system, including world-class universities. In 2014, total university enrolments (2/3 contact and 1/3 distance) approached 1 million, with postgraduate students constituting about 16 per cent of total enrolments (the NDP target is 25 per cent). Foreign students accounted for some 60 000 enrolments, mostly at postgraduate level. Undergraduate SET enrolment remains close to 30 per cent of the total. Several flagship programmes to address the shortage of researchers have been introduced, including the South African Research
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Chairs Initiative2 and the centres of excellence. However, more programmes are needed. The DST has been working to increase the number of researchers by providing systematic bursary funding that compares favourably with entry-level salaries at each qualification level. The introduction of the Systematic Bursary Programme that targeted honours students improved the retention of postgraduate students. Doctoral awards have more than doubled in the period 2002-2014. While the number of PhDs has increased to 41,8 per million of the population in 2015, it is still lower than the NDP target of 100 per million by 2030. An important driver in the production of doctoral graduates is the number of PhD-qualified staff at universities. By 2014, 43 per cent of research and teaching staff at universities had a PhD, which, although a substantial increase, is still far off the 75 per cent target set in the NDP. While the number of PhD-qualified staff increased by 65 per cent, the number of enrolled students increased by 350 per cent, leading to a supervisory bottleneck. This has been partly addressed through the increased number of postdoctoral students.
According to the NDP, more research is needed on SMMEs. No data was found on SMMEs in STI 4 SHS, supporting the NDP conclusion for the sector of interest. The projection is that 90% of jobs “will be created in small and expanding firms”. According to the research behind the NDP, “Net new employment is not typically created on a significant scale in existing businesses.” There is a need to build research capacity “to address the paucity of data currently available on small, medium and micro enterprises and scale up public communication on available opportunities”. Skills gaps need to be addressed, including improving the system of identifying critical skills.
The NDP priorities and targets are further discussed in the NSDP promulgated in terms of the National Skills Act (DHET, 2019).
Chapter 9 of the NDP sets a range of numerical objectives to be met by 2030 as indicated below:
1. Expand the college system with a focus on improving quality. Better quality will build confidence in the college sector and attract more learners. The recommended participation rate in the TVET college sector of 25 percent would accommodate about 1.25 million enrolments;
2. Provide 1 million learning opportunities through Community Education and Training Colleges;
3. Improve the throughput rate to 80 percent by 2030;
4. Produce 30,000 artisans per year by 2030;
5. Increase enrolment at universities by at least 70 percent by 2030 so that enrolments increase to about 1,62 million from 950 000 in 2010;
2 The term of office of SARChI chairs is described in the following document: https://www.nrf.ac.za/sites/default/files/documents/SARChI%20Process%20for%20Phaseout%20or%20Discontinuation%20 of%20SARChI%20Research%20Chairs.pdf
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6. Increase the number of students eligible to study towards maths and science based degrees to 450,000 by 2030; 7. Increase the percentage of PhD qualified staff in the higher education sector from the current 34 percent to over 75 percent by 2030;
8. Produce more than 100 doctoral graduates per million per year by 2030. This implies an increase from 1,420 in 2010 to well over 5,000 a year; and
9. Expand science, technology and innovation outputs by increasing research and development spending by government and through encouraging industry to do so.
White Paper on STI
The White Paper (DST, 2019) mentions housing or human settlements at three points:
1. It acknowledges housing as a priority area of the NDP, and reaffirms the role of STI in addressing the NDP goals;
2. It asserts that in pursuit of an inclusive innovation system, particular attention will be given to supporting SMEs in informal settlements, rural areas and cooperatives; and
3. It notes that the DST will develop the process for the selection of focus areas, including identification of national STI priorities based on the Sustainable Development Goals and the NDP objectives.
It cites that such priorities would include the need for a more inclusive economy (Key theme 1&6); areas of social need, for example housing, health and education (Key theme 4); opportunities for firm growth, exports and job creation (Key theme 8); environmental sustainability (Key theme 1); preparing for a more digitally advanced world (Key theme 5) and the disruption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Key theme 2); building smart cities as centres of growth (all themes), and improving network infrastructure (Key theme 5).
The White Paper, (DST, 2019) recommends the realisation of the full potential of knowledge by expanding research outputs and transforming the research institutional landscape, for instance, through programmes to improve the performance of historically disadvantaged universities. This has been taken as a recommendation in the conclusion of this report.
Furthermore, the White Paper supports a diversity of post-secondary education opportunities and the prioritisation of the development of technical skills for the economy, including a focus on education and training for a future of digital jobs. (Key theme 5)
Twinning programmes with research-intensive universities and international institutions will assist in addressing the shortfall. (see final section of this report). To improve demographic representation among established researchers, the DST and the DHET will target and retain a significant number of black and women doctoral graduates in the postdoctoral fellowship programme, particularly South Africans. This is noted as a principle in concluding section of this report.
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Increased absorption of doctoral graduates into the economy is possible only if the acquired PhD- level skills and training are appropriate to the needs of industry, government and science councils, among others. Government and industry must be co-creators of human resources and nurture an increased appetite for PhD-level skills. To this end, a research agenda is included as a coordinating tool as part of this document. The White Paper states that government will invest in “tracer studies to understand the career paths and mobility of people with PhDs across different sectors (such as universities, science councils and industry).”(This has therefore been included as a research topic under Key theme 8).
Conditions for research training grants and research development programmes to science councils and public universities (e.g. research chairs and centres of excellence) will make it mandatory for recipient individuals and institutions to communicate their research to the public. To this end government supports the Open Science approach, refers to an approach to research based on greater access to public research data enabled by information and communications technology tools and platforms, broader collaboration in science – including the participation of non-scientists – and the use of alternative copyright tools for diffusing research results. This principle is adopted in the concluding section of this report.
NSDP and the “new” SETA “landscape”
The NSDP 2030 is due to come into effect in 2020. The NSDP seeks to ensure that “South Africa has adequate, appropriate and high quality skills that contribute towards economic growth, employment creation and social development.” (South African Government, 2019:5).
The NSDP seeks to bring effect to skills development parts of the NDP. It notes that while the NDP requires progress on a broad front, three priorities stand out:
1. Raising employment through faster economic growth;
2. Improving the quality of education, skills development and innovation; and
3. Building the capability of the state to play a developmental, transformative role.
In pursuit of an equitable and integrated system, the NSDP advocates the transformational and redress imperatives in SA through a strong focus on addressing equity in relation, amongst others, to class, gender, race, youth, geography and disability. The NSDP seeks to ensure that skills development interventions reach those already in employment and provides for opportunities for new entrants to the labour market to gain work experience.
The NSDP characterises the role of SETAs as intermediary, tasked with critical role of matching workplace demand and supply of skills, as follows:
On the demand side:
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Conduct labour market research and develop Sector Skills Plans;
Develop Strategic Plans, Annual Performance Plans and Service Level Agreements; and submit quarterly reports.
On the supply side:
Address sector skills needs and priorities;
Address scarce and critical skills (PIVOTAL) through implementation of learning programmes (i.e. Artisans and Learnerships);
Facilitate easy access and different entry points (Articulation and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)); and
To collaborate with the relevant Quality Council, especially the Quality Council for Trade and Occupations to ensure quality and provision of learning programmes.
The NSDP encourages, where applicable, the use of Centres of Specialisation, as a potential vehicle to satisfy high-demand occupations, rather than relying on supply to generate demand. The NSDP identifies that increased workplace training of workers already in employment is required in order to improve productivity and the overall growth and development of the economy. It then signals that SETAs will be required to support employed workers with associated grant budget adjustments.
Community Education and Training (CET) institutional type in expanding skills development in the country. The CET colleges will cater for the knowledge and skills needs of the large numbers of adults and youth requiring education and training opportunities, unemployed people, and those employed but in low or semi-skilled occupations. The CET colleges link directly with the work of public programmes to provide appropriate skills and knowledge, in programmes relevant to the human settlements sector such as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), Community Works Programmes (CWPs), the state’s infrastructure development programme, and economic and social development initiatives such as the Community Development Workers (CDW). Such programmes can provide work-integrated learning opportunities while the colleges provide classroom and workshop based learning.
Human settlement priorities related to HCD
No sector skills development plan could be located by the researchers. The Framework for the participation and empowerment of youth in human settlements (Department of human settlements, n.d.) makes provision for Skills Transfer and Economic Empowerment3 of youth. The human settlements youth service programme is focused around three streams for youth participation namely, hard skills training, professional development and entrepreneur development. The policy
3 This process supports the empowerment through participation of youth in human settlements delivery through service. This participation brings about personal development and community development
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recognises the challenges facing the department as the need for high level scarce and priority skills required for effective human settlements delivery and the socioeconomic development of the country. The critical scarce skills required within the human settlements domain are specifically identified as Project Management, Artisan, Engineering (Industrial and Civil), Monitoring and Evaluation, Town and Regional Planning, Housing as well as Economics. The main focus of HCD in the youth policy is on conventional skills development, however it does not preclude innovation. In reflecting on an enabling environment for youth engagement in human settlements, the policy advocates “flexibility and openness towards new and innovative methods and opportunities for youth participation in human settlements delivery” during the implementation phase.
SARChI
The South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) was established in 2006 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). This Funding Instrument is managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF) through a contractual agreement with the DST. SARChI is a strategic intervention of the South African government designed to attract and retain excellence in research and innovation at South African universities, Research Councils and National Research Facilities. Tier 14 SARChI Research Chairs have tenure for five years, renewable for two further five-year periods giving a total lifespan of 15 years, subject to satisfactory performance. SARChI Research Chairs from tier 2 institutions have tenure for five years, renewable for a further five-years, for a maximum term of 10 years, subject to satisfactory performance. (NRF, 2018).
There are no current SARChI Chairs in the field of human settlements.
Key role-players in HCD for STI and SHS
There are a number of key role-players in the NSI in South Africa who play a direct role in HCD or in RDI relevant to either STI or SHS or both. A desktop exercise was undertaken to systematically identify relevant stakeholders from South African higher education institutions, agencies and science councils. The next section discusses the identified stakeholders, available datasets and constraints for making use of these as a resource for establishing the current capabilities in the STI 4 SHS sector.
4 Tier 1 is for Chairs who are Established Researchers that are recognised internationally as leaders in their field and have received substantial international recognition for their research contributions. Tier 2 is for Chairs who are Established Researchers, with a strong research, innovation and human capital development output trajectory, and the potential to achieve substantial international recognition for their research contributions in the next five to ten years (source NRF, 2018).
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South African Higher Education Institutions
Figure 1 below, maps South Africa’s 26 public Higher Education Institutions (pink), and 50 TVET colleges (yellow) active in 2016. In addition, there were 123 registered private Higher Education Institutions, 279 registered private colleges and nine CET colleges (Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), 2018). There are various databases which record various metrics at institutions of higher learning in South Africa, including:
Education and Training Management Information System (CETMIS)
Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS)
Higher Education Quality Committee Information System (HEQCIS)
Private College Education and Training Management Information System (PCETMIS)
Skills Education and Training Management Information System (SETMIS)
TVET Management Information System (TVETMIS)
Figure 1: SIP 14 - Higher Education Infrastructure (2016)
These databases provide a Classification of Educational Subject Matter (CESM) and report on annual enrolment at South African institutions of higher learning.
A challenge to using this data and establishing a base-line of HCD for science, technology and innovation in human settlements and housing, is that this field straddles across a number of professional disciplines and vocations. This means that the data contained in databases listed above cannot be used for the purposes of categorising and quantifying enrolment; or examining current
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academic throughput in the sector, or for ascertaining demographic characteristics such as gender, race, and age of students and graduates. The approach to characterising the current HCD has therefore been multi-faceted, and is described in a later section of this report.
Agencies and Science Councils
The following science councils (and one Commission) were identified:
Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
Council for Geoscience
The CSIR
Human Science Research Council (HSRC)
Medical Research Council (MRC)
The WRC
The NRF hosts the DST- sponsored Research Information Management System (RIMS), which is intended to provide the nine science councils and 23 higher education institutions with a Research Administration System, to support the administration of research through a modularised ICT based system. Ultimately this will allow for, amongst others, the reporting of research outputs, storage of information pertaining to publicly funded research and a view of the impact of publicly funded research and the return on investment. However this is in its infancy. The DST, StatsSA and the HSRC have published the South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development Statistical Report, but due to the cross-cutting nature of R&D in the SHS sector, there is no practical way of extracting meaningful data on research investment and priority.
Approach Academic Advisory Panel
The STI 4 SHS Roadmap is supported by an Academic Advisory Panel (see Acknowledgements) which is constituted to provide group and or/ individual advice and recommendations for consideration; in guiding the STI 4 SHS Roadmap definition process or technical arrangements necessary for successful roadmapping; to provide expert opinion, thought leadership, guidance, and specialist knowledge. Two suitable academic representatives holding academic research chairs in prominent South African Universities of Technology were asked to participate in the formal engagements, and to identify colleagues. Participation in the STI 4 SHS Roadmap process is voluntary, free and open to all stakeholders by registering at www.sti4shs.co.za. This HCD and STI priorities report has been circulated to the Academic Advisory Panel for input and has benefitted from feedback in an early and an advanced draft.
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Academic engagements
The following key opportunities for HCD were identified by members of the Academic Advisory Panel:
Production of MSc and PhD students with an interest in HCD
Beneficial use of Post-doctoral fellows
Use of ageing researchers
Twinning research-focussed universities with research-informed ones
Developing know-how to precipitate involvement of non-academic and private institutions in HCD
Unblocking red-tape and delays in instituting short-courses
Quality mentorships and mentoring of mentors
Synergies between government, science councils and academia
Consider the absorption capacity of the sector, with reference to the African context
Artisan training at scales which will yield impact Capability analysis
To characterise the capabilities of existing institutions to develop knowledge in areas related to innovation and human settlements, a multi-faceted approach was taken.
STI 4 SHS National Forum Registration database: The current landscape of investment and research interest in HCD was mapped via data analysis of the registration database STI 4 SHS National Forum;
A survey: (henceforth referred to as “survey” based on a bespoke questionnaire, henceforth “survey questionnaire”) was conducted for the purpose of capability mapping in STI as applied in the sustainable human settlements sector;
NETD Database: A desktop study of past dissertations and theses for 25 years using the National Electronic Theses and Dissertation (NETD) database;
Scopus review: Review of one year of publication outputs for 76 institutions using Scopus;
Profiling NRF-rated researchers: Review of NRF-rated researchers in the field was performed using NRF database; and
Innovation profiles on a public electronic online innovations register Innovation Bridge Portal.
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With the exception of the STI 4 SHS National Forum Registration database, all data is from the public domain. With STI 4 SHS National Forum Registration database care was taken to delink and anonymise data.
With the exception of Innovation Bridge Portal database, all academic measures relate to publication outputs. A systematic desktop review of patents prepared for and appended to the STI 4 SHS Status quo report yielded no patents originating in the sub-Saharan African region using “waste”, “water”, “energy” or “building materials”, and this exercise was not repeated.
The survey questionnaire was informed by the capabilities questionnaire obtained from the Waste (Research, development and innovation) RDI Roadmap development process, and was circulated to the STI 4 SHS Planning Committee for input prior to distribution. The final survey questionnaire template is appended to this report, and addressed the following research questions:
Number of researchers involved in the area
Number of bursaries and scholarships supported
Number of publications
Amount of internal expenditure on research in the area
Amount of funding received for research in the area
Maturity of research organisations in the area (seniority and number of researchers)
Skills development capabilities Participants were recruited from the STI 4 SHS National Forum and through a thorough search for tertiary institutions offering courses, degrees or post-graduate studies in the field of human settlements (including engineering, architecture, urban, regional and town planning, public service management, digital arts and construction management). The survey questionnaire was distributed to 76 academic institutions, research organisations and research-supporting organisations, as listed in the table below. (Responses are indicated in the Table are discussed in the Findings section of this report.)
Table 1: Table of institutions invited to participate and participating in survey
COLLEGES (FET, TVET, PRIVATE) – number of OTHER ORGANISATIONS – number of UNIVERSITIES – number of responses responses responses Cape Peninsula University Of Artisan Training Institute DHS Technology 1 Central University Of Technology Boland TVET College DST 2 Durban University Of Technology Buffalo City College SALGA Mangosuthu University of Capricorn TVET College DEA Technology Nelson Mandela University Central Johannesburg TVET College DoE 1 North West University Coastal TVET College NHBRC Tshwane University Of Technology College Of Cape Town FET College GBCSA 1 UNISA Damelin College DWS 1 University Of Cape Town Eastcape Midlands College WRC 1 21 | P a g e
University Of Fort Hare Ehlanzeni TVET College Agrément 1 University Of Free State Ekurhuleni East TVET College 1 TIA University Of Johannesburg Ekurhuleni West TVET College 1 University Of KwaZulu-Natal Elangeni TVET College University Of Pretoria Esayidi TVET College 1 University Of The Witwatersrand False Bay TVET College 1 University Of Zululand Flavius Mareka Walter Sisulu University Gert Sibande TVET College Vaal University Of Technology Goldfields TVET College Stellenbosch University Ikhala FET College Ingwe FET College Inscape Design College King Hintsa FET College Lephalale TVET College Letaba TVET College Lovedale FET College Maluti TVET College Mnambiti TVET College Monash South Africa Motheo TVET College Mthashana TVET College New World Mission International Univ & Partners Nkangala TVET College Port Elizabeth FET College Qualitas Career Academy Sekhukhune TVET College South West Gauteng TVET College Thekwini TVET College Tshwane North FET College Tshwane South FET College Umfolozi TVET College Umgungundlovu TVET College Vhembe TVET College Waterberg TVET College Thubelihle Graduate Institute
20 approached 7 44 approached 0 10 approached 5 response rate 35% 0% 50% Total 74 16%
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An analysis of electronic theses and dissertations over the past 25 years was undertaken. The National Electronic Theses and Dissertations (NETD) portal was searched for papers with the keywords “human settlements”, “innovation”, “technology”. The objective was to map the breadth (fields of study) and depth (number of studies) of interest in research relating to STI for human settlements.
Findings Mapping from STI4SHS National Forum database
The information provided by individuals registered on the STI 4 SHS National Forum was analysed to determine where the key areas of current activity and interest lie. The following heat map shows Role in Industry (horizontal axis) plotted against a Field within Human Settlements. A map has been prepared for all sectors combined (Table 2), and then for each of the three sectors of interest disaggregated, HCD (Table 3), human settlements (Table 4) and STI (Table 5).
up)
-
standards
orisation
ALL
Advisory Auth Building Capacity Designer/Specifier (pilot) Funding (scale Funding (seed) Funding sharing Information Inspection activism Lobbying/ auditing Monitoring/ Other development Policy implementation Project protection Public R&D Regulation Setting planning Strategic Supplier/Manufacturer assistance Technical Total Grand Arts, culture & 5 3 2 4 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 4 4 3 2 4 4 4 2 3 59 entertainment Education 12 5 13 6 5 3 5 6 3 4 6 5 7 15 2 10 5 6 10 7 10 145
Efficiency 12 3 9 4 4 3 2 6 5 1 6 1 8 11 3 9 3 7 8 7 10 122
Employment 7 3 8 5 4 2 3 6 3 2 5 3 7 8 2 5 5 5 8 4 5 100
Energy 31 9 15 11 11 7 8 11 10 11 15 11 19 22 7 23 13 11 20 14 23 302 Equity & 10 4 9 2 3 2 2 4 3 2 5 2 9 9 3 5 4 2 8 2 5 95 access Food 7 4 7 4 7 3 5 3 2 5 5 4 6 7 2 9 5 3 7 4 5 104
Governance 20 5 11 4 3 2 2 8 4 5 12 3 22 19 3 12 5 6 19 2 11 178
Health 9 4 10 6 4 2 3 5 5 4 5 2 9 13 3 11 5 8 9 8 9 134
ICT 10 3 6 4 4 3 3 6 4 1 3 4 5 9 2 7 4 3 4 2 8 95
Other 12 3 6 2 1 1 1 4 4 4 7 10 7 13 2 9 4 3 10 7 11 121
Privacy 5 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 2 3 54
Resources 9 3 7 3 3 2 2 5 4 3 4 2 5 5 3 6 4 3 4 2 8 87
Roads & Rails 8 5 4 4 2 2 2 5 6 1 7 3 7 8 3 9 6 5 9 5 13 114
Safety 9 6 3 6 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 2 6 7 3 5 5 5 7 5 10 101
Security 6 4 4 5 2 2 2 4 4 3 3 1 6 6 2 4 3 3 6 2 5 77
Shelter (building & 30 5 22 12 9 7 4 14 10 9 11 8 26 51 5 33 13 14 21 22 24 350 materials)
Waste 18 5 11 7 6 4 4 8 6 8 9 5 10 13 4 10 7 7 12 9 11 174
Water 26 8 18 10 5 2 5 10 7 8 12 8 14 19 4 21 8 8 13 8 18 232
Grand Total 246 84 167 102 79 53 59 114 88 79 121 76 181 242 59 193 107 106 182 114 192 2644 Table 2: National Forum: Role in Industry vs Field within Human Settlements
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up)
-
sharing
Human Capital Development
Advisory Authorisation Building Capacity Designer/Specifier (pilot) Funding (scale Funding (seed) Funding Information Inspection activism Lobbying/ auditing Monitoring/ Other development Policy implementation Project protection Public R&D Regulation standards Setting planning Strategic Supplier/Manufacturer assistance Technical Total Grand Arts, culture & 1 1 1 1 4 entertainment
Education 1 6 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 17
Efficiency 1 1
Employment 1 1 1 1 4
Energy 2 2 2 3 9
Equity & access 1 1 1 1 4
Food 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 9
Governance 2 1 1 1 1 1 7
Health 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 8
ICT 1 1 1 1 4
Other 1 1 1 3
Privacy 1 1 1 1 4
Resources 1 1 1 1 1 5
Roads & Rails 1 1 1 1 4
Safety 1 1 1 1 4
Security 1 1 1 1 5
Shelter (building & 2 1 1 1 1 1 9 materials)
Waste 1 1 1 1 1 6
Water 2 1 1 1 1 7
Grand Total 22 11 5 18 21 5 2 19 3 2 1 114 Table 3: Human Capital Development sector: Role in Industry vs Field within Human Settlements
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ce
up)
-
(scale
Human Settlements
Advisory Authorisation Building Capacity Designer/Specifier (pilot) Funding Funding (seed) Funding sharing Information Inspection activism Lobbying/ auditing Monitoring/ Other development Policy implementation Project protection Public R&D Regulation standards Setting planning Strategic Supplier/Manufacturer assistan Technical Total Grand Arts, culture & 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 3 2 1 2 3 3 1 2 35 entertainment
Education 5 2 3 3 2 1 2 4 1 5 2 1 5 1 3 3 4 5 2 4 58
Efficiency 6 1 4 3 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 6 2 3 2 5 3 2 4 56
Employment 3 1 3 3 2 1 1 5 2 5 1 3 5 1 2 2 3 4 2 2 51
Energy 12 6 10 9 3 3 4 6 5 6 10 3 10 13 4 9 7 6 16 5 15 162 Equity & 5 2 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 1 5 4 2 1 2 1 5 1 1 46 access Food 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 3 1 1 2 1 3 3 2 3 2 2 38
Governance 15 3 6 3 1 1 1 6 3 3 10 16 14 2 5 3 5 16 1 6 120
Health 5 2 4 4 1 1 1 3 3 2 3 3 7 2 3 3 5 4 4 4 64
ICT 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 3 2 1 1 3 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 35
Other 4 2 5 2 1 3 3 5 8 5 8 2 3 4 2 7 7 71
Privacy 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 29
Resources 5 1 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 4 38
Roads & Rails 4 2 3 3 1 1 1 2 3 5 1 3 4 1 4 3 2 7 3 8 61
Safety 5 2 2 5 1 1 1 3 3 2 4 1 4 5 2 2 3 4 6 1 8 65
Security 3 2 3 4 1 1 1 3 3 1 3 4 4 1 2 1 2 5 1 4 49
Shelter (building & 16 2 13 10 3 2 2 7 6 5 8 5 17 40 3 11 8 9 15 10 16 208 materials)
Waste 9 3 7 5 2 1 1 5 3 3 7 1 6 9 2 3 4 4 9 4 8 96
Water 13 5 11 8 2 1 2 6 4 4 8 3 7 11 2 6 5 5 9 3 12 127
Grand Total 119 41 87 74 27 21 25 66 52 33 88 29 95 147 34 65 60 67 123 45 111 1409 Table 4: Human Settlements sector: Role in Industry vs Field within Human Settlements
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up)
-
Science,
Technology and Innovation
Advisory Authorisation Building Capacity Designer/Specifier (pilot) Funding (scale Funding (seed) Funding sharing Information Inspection activism Lobbying/ auditing Monitoring/ Other development Policy implementation Project protection Public R&D Regulation standards Setting planning Strategic Supplier/Manufacturer assistance Technical Total Grand Arts, culture & 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 19 entertainment
Education 6 2 4 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 1 2 4 7 1 6 1 2 4 5 6 67
Efficiency 6 1 5 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 1 5 5 1 6 1 2 4 5 6 64
Employment 2 1 4 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 2 3 1 3 39
Energy 17 3 5 2 7 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 5 7 3 14 3 5 4 9 8 126 Equity & 3 1 4 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 4 1 4 1 1 2 1 4 40 access Food 5 1 4 2 5 2 3 1 1 3 2 2 3 4 1 6 1 1 3 2 3 55
Governance 2 1 5 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 4 3 1 6 1 1 3 1 4 44
Health 3 1 5 2 3 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 4 5 1 8 1 3 5 4 5 61
ICT 6 1 4 2 3 2 2 3 1 1 1 2 3 6 1 6 1 1 2 1 6 55
Other 5 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 4 5 1 2 5 3 39
Privacy 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 21
Resources 3 2 4 1 2 1 1 3 2 1 2 2 3 2 4 2 2 2 1 4 44
Roads & Rails 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 2 1 2 3 2 5 2 3 2 2 5 46
Safety 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 4 2 31
Security 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 23
Shelter (building & 10 2 6 2 6 3 2 6 3 3 3 1 7 9 2 20 3 5 5 11 7 116 materials)
Waste 8 2 4 2 4 3 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 4 2 7 2 3 3 4 3 72
Water 9 2 6 2 3 1 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 8 2 14 2 3 3 5 6 91
Grand Total 96 29 65 27 51 30 34 45 35 36 33 27 59 80 25 122 27 39 51 64 78 1053 Table 5: STI sector: Role in Industry vs Field within Human Settlements
In the Human Settlements cohort, the strongest capabilities apparent from the mapping was project implementation, followed by strategic planning and advisory activities. Somewhat weak capability was identified in activities related to funding for scale-up (n=27), seed (n=25) and pilot (n=21).
In the STI cohort, the strongest capabilities apparent from the mapping were R&D, advisory activities and project implementation. The weakest capability in the STI related to public protection, regulation and designing/ specifying activities.
From the tables shown above, it can be concluded that, overall there is a good mix and distribution of capability. The following capability gaps may exist in the STI 4 SHS sectors, due to no activity recorded in the area:
Science technology and innovation for monitoring or auditing for safety, security and employment
Human settlements activity for lobbying and activism for road and rails, ICT, food, employment, efficiency and education
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Human capital development generally, except in activities related to policy development, regulation, advisory, (strong capability) as well as capacity building, lobbying/ activism, project implementation, R&D, strategic planning, supplier/ manufacturer and technical assistance.
Researcher ratings in the sector
The National Research Foundation rates researchers according to their professional standing according to the following rating system.
A – Leading international researchers (n=0)
B – Internationally acclaimed researchers (n=3)
C – Established researchers (n=21)
P – Prestigious Awards (n=0)
Y – Promising young researchers (n=10)
The most recent NRF rating list (NRF, 13 March 2019) which list 3924 researchers was examined with reference to the keywords “settlements”; “house/ing” or “innovation”. Research directly relevant to contemporary activities are shown below. “Cross-cutting research expertise” indirectly of relevance such as climate change, GIS, mathematical modelling, energy, water and transport, are generally omitted from the list below unless explicitly applied to neighbourhoods, settlements or housing. Six NRF-A Rated scientists were identified with cross-cutting expertise were identified and their short biographies are appended to this report.
B Huchzermeyer MH Prof University of the Witwatersrand Rental housing, Housing policy, Urban policy, Informal settlements, Informal settlements, Upgrading
B Hamann R Prof University of Cape Town Corporate strategy, Corporate social responsibility, Cross-sector innovation, Social-ecological systems, Business sustainability
B Tregenna FM Prof University of Johannesburg Industrial policy, Development economics, Heterodox economics, Sectoral structure (Economics), Deindustrialisation, Industrial development, Innovation and technological change - Economic aspects
B Shakantu WM Prof Nelson Mandela University Building economics, Building management, Build environment, Construction industry - Information technology, Construction industry - Technological innovations, Construction management, Construction materials, Construction site - Management, Construction Industry Development, Construction procurement
C Tanga PT Prof University of Fort Hare AIDS (Disease) - Social aspects, Household poverty dynamics, Household food security, Aged - Economic aspects, Youth - Social services, Adolescent health, Child and family wellbeing, Social justice and human rights, Affordable housing, Gender studies (Women)
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C Sutherland CG Dr University of KwaZulu-Natal African urbanisation, Environment, Ecosystem governance, Social-ecological resilience, Water governance, Urban governance, Environmental sustainability, Informal housing, Traditional governance
C Rubin MW Dr University of the Witwatersrand Cities and towns, Governance, Housing, Informal housing, Informal economy, African regional governance
C Osman AOS Prof Tshwane University of Technology Architecture, Housing, Open building principles, Informal housing, Architectural historians, African modernism, Architectural interpretation, Architectural education, Architectural design and Construction, Architectural theory
C Du Plessis C Prof University of Pretoria Regenerative design, Architecture and design of resilient urban landscapes, Sustainable human settlements
C Jenkins P Prof University of the Witwatersrand Cities and towns, African, Cross-cultural studies, Architecture, Modern, Land use - Planning, Urban studies, Urban design, Urban anthropology, African urbanisation, Informal housing, Design and build
C Tucker WD Prof University of the Western Cape ICT for development, Information and communication technologies innovation system, Technology transfer, Rural broadband communications, Assistive technology
C Khan W Prof Stellenbosch University Applied microbiology, Control of water treatment, Rainwater harvesting, Emerging pathogens, Applied molecular diagnostics, Biological wastewater treatment, Household water treatment methods, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Antimicrobial agents, Surfactants
C Landman K Prof University of Pretoria Housing - Planning, Housing - South Africa, Architecture and design of resilient urban landscapes, Urban design, Public space, Sustainable cities and neighbourhood development, Urban security
C Low I Prof University of Cape Town Design build research, Space and transformation, Post occupancy evaluation, Housing and Community, Schools and Education
C Marais JGL Prof University of the Free State Housing policy, Urban health, Small towns
C May JD Prof University of the Western Cape Poverty - Measurement, Poverty analysis, Poverty and health, Poverty and inequality, Food and agricultural policy -Analysis, Food security - Developing countries, Household food security, Low-income consumer food markets, Official statistics, Information technology and socio-economic development
C Mbhenyane XG Prof Stellenbosch University Public health nutrition, Indigenous foods in nutrition and health, Child health, Maternal health, Micronutrients, Household food security, Capacity building, Nutrition - Education, Food Environment
C Mbohwa C Prof University of Johannesburg Energy and Sustainability, Sustainability Engineering, Environmental life cycle assessment, Sustainable life cycle management, Renewable energy-Biofuels, Life cycle engineering, Cleaner production, Resource efficient production engineering, Climate change mitigation and Adaption, Greenhouse gases 28 | P a g e
C Pretorius MW Prof University of Pretoria Technology and innovation management
C Windapo AO Dr University of Cape Town Building economics, Building management, Building technology, Building materials, Construction management, Occupational health - Law and legislation, Housing - Law and legislation, Affordable housing, Construction industry -Development, Sustainable construction
C Du Preez ND Prof Stellenbosch University Business model innovation, Innovation strategy, Knowledge and innovation leadership, Technology and innovation management, Enterprise architecture, Enterprise engineering, Government business enterprises - Finance, Design and planning
C Jacobs P Dr Human Sciences Research Council Food security Poverty measurement Rural development, Poverty, Economics of agrarian change and rural development, land reform, Small- scale farming, Agro-food markets, Agricultural development - Rural, Food security - Developing countries, Land reform (Agriculture), Economic development, Innovation, Rural livelihoods, Sustainable rural development, Heterodox political economy
C Herselman ME Prof Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Community informatics, Mobile technology, User experience, Health Informatics, Information and communication technologies innovation system
C Mulaudzi PA Prof University of South Africa Lexicography, African languages - Translations, Terminology, African languages - Morphology, Community development, Sustainable development, Technological innovations, Decentralisation, Appropriate technology, Capacity building
Y Rennkamp B Dr University of Cape Town Political sciences and public policy, Climate change and sustainable energy, Discourse analysis, Network analysis, Innovation policy, Energy and Sustainability, Politics and government - Brazil, Politics and government - South Africa
Y Pereira LM Dr Stellenbosch University Socio-ecological systems, Indigenous knowledge and development, Sustainable development, Climate change -Adaptation, Adaptive management, Food governance, Food systems, Inclusive innovation, Futures studies, Global environmental governance
Y Thondhlana G Dr Rhodes University Co-management, Sustainable rural livelihoods, Household poverty dynamics
Y Thopil GA Dr University of Pretoria Energy, Energy management, Electrical energy management, Energy modelling, Energy policy, Environmental impact assessment, Energy balance, Energy, climate and development, Electricity market, Electricity pricing
Y Brown-Luthango MM Dr University of Cape Town Sustainable urban development, land and land markets, human settlements, informal settlement upgrading, community development, coproduction
Y Aigbavboa CO Prof University of Johannesburg Affordable housing, Construction Engineering and Management (CEM), Construction - Education and training, Construction industry - Technological innovations, Construction - Project management, Sustainable construction,
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Construction economics, Reconstruction and development programme, Housing - South Africa, Sustainable housing
Y Erwin K Dr Durban University of Technology Sociology, Urban, Community based research, Ethnography, Sociology - Race, Class and Gender , Urban housing, Race
Y Ijasan C Dr University of the Witwatersrand Real estate management, Real estate market research, Housing - Management, Urban renewal, Real estate investment, Urban planning
Y Booyens I Dr Human Sciences Research Council Geography and Tourism, Responsible tourism, Local economic development and tourism, Small business - Innovation, innovation and inclusive development, Creative economy
Y Chan KY Dr University of Pretoria Technology management, Organisational studies, Innovation - Management, Project management
Mapping from survey questionnaires
The response rate to the circulated survey questionnaires was variable: public universities was acceptable at 35%, whereas the response from TVET was zero. The adequate response rate is probably attributable to three factors; namely, the fact that the relevant universities generally have an established relationship with the researchers, whereas the TVET institutions do not, so that the emailed survey questionnaire will have not been followed up in person; that it is possible that the survey questionnaire did not reach the relevant individual, despite care was taken to identify the most relevant contact departments and persons; and there is a high likelihood that the advantage of participating in the research was not evident to TVET recipients. Furthermore, a thorough desktop evaluation of the unit standards titles could not identify a single instance of innovation as a topic of focus in the relevant trades.
The number researchers employed in STI in the field of human settlements at various institutions provides an indication of the potential strength of interest in HCD and/ or RDI in this area. The figure below illustrates that the majority of institutions have less than five people involved in such STI for human settlements research.
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>20
11-20
6-10
1-5
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Number of Organisations supporting researchers
Academic institutions Other organisations
Figure 2: Number of institutions supporting STI in Human Settlements
This shows that only one institution has significant capacity for research and development in the human settlements sector (this is a government department).
One out of the sample (n=12) provides bursaries in the field of STI in human settlements. This institution provides between 6 and 10 bursaries to honours/bachelors students per year.
Two out of the sample (n=12) provides between three and ten scholarships in the field of STI in human settlements.
Five out of the sample (n=12) produce publications based on research in the field of STI for human settlements per year. Three of these produce between one and ten per year while one produced between 11 and 20. Three institutions (all academic) reported needing specialised equipment to perform STI in human settlements research; two reported spending R1-10 million per year and the other less than R1 million.
No organisations reported creation of new products, technologies or patents.
From this is can be concluded that the number of organisations supporting research in the specific field of science, technology and innovation in human settlements is low – generally less than half the sample, and the numbers are low.
Five academic institutions (out of seven) report receiving external funding to conduct research in STI for human settlements. The value of external funding for four of the five report receiving less than R 1 million per year and the other reports receiving between R 1 million and R 10 million per year. Most of this funding originates from the National Research Foundation (NRF).
An analysis of the distribution of capability across different areas of human settlements was prepared into heat maps which provide quick visual reference to gaps and strengths. The heat maps are appended to this report. In general there is a very good distribution of capacity across all topics addressed, with no topic which did not have at least one respondent identifying competence and activity in the area. 31 | P a g e
STI research applicable to human settlements Capability – Maturity
Maturity Staff Senior Staff Junior staff or Students
Subcritical Single researcher 0-1 0-3
Emerging Dedicated Senior researcher 1-3 3-5
Building Dedicated Principal or Chief 3-5 5-10 researcher with a small Research Group OR Centre of Excellence or Competence
Mature Established Centre of >5 >10 Excellence or Competence with Principal/Chief researchers, Senior researchers, Junior staff and admin staff
Table 6: STI research applicable to human settlements Capability – Maturity
Maturity was assessed with reference to the framework provided above. Academia shows a very good diversity of research group sizes across topics of interest. There is a diversity of research group sizes, particularly when academia and science councils are combined. An analysis of the heat maps shows the following possible areas of vulnerability, in that there is only subcritical capacity, and such capacity is limited to one institution:
Capability in infrastructure for food
Urban networks and regional connectivity
Decision support
However, whilst this may be indicative of a “gap”, this does not necessarily align with a corresponding “need”. Mapping from NETD
The National Electronic Theses and Dissertations (NETD) portal hosts a homologated catalogue of openly accessible theses and dissertations from 22 of South Africa’s 26 public academic institutions.
1 795 of 176 654 contain the words “housing” or “human settlements”. Quantitative analysis was used to investigate topical and typological themes over time. Figure 3 below shows the number of housing/human settlements titles per year since 1994, as well as the total number of dissertations5 in NETD. It is apparent from the data that there has been an exponential increase in papers in housing/human settlements, peaking in 2014, and then reducing. The overall trajectory of human
5 In this report, the term “dissertation(s)” is used to denote “thesis/theses” and “dissertation(s)” and “mini-dissertation(s)”.
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settlement/ housing titles follows a similar trajectory to all papers, which led the research team to conclude that the recent reduction in published papers is attributable to the lag in uploading dissertations onto the NETD site, which is further supported by the observation that the number of dissertations uploaded on NETD increases daily. This increase in output until 2014 approximates exponential growth, which can be understood in the context of a national average increase in enrolled university students of 5.47% per annum (MacGregor, 2014).
3000 60
2500 50
2000 40
1500 30
1000 20
500 10
0 0
Year
total HS
Figure 3: Number of human settlement/ housing dissertations per annum and total number of dissertations (de Jager et al., 2019)
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4.00 %
3.50 %
3.00 %
2.50 %
2.00 %
1.50 %
1.00 %
0.50 %
0.00 % 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
Figure 4: Human settlement/ housing dissertations as a percentage of all dissertations (de Jager et al., 2019)
Figure 5: Housing and human settlements dissertations on NETD of South Africa’s public universities (de Jager et al., 2019.)
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Figure 4 above shows human settlement/ housing as a percentage of all dissertations, which shows strong increase trend over time. Of 1 795 human settlement/ housing dissertations, a purposive sample was found using the search terms “science”, “technology” or “innovation”, to yield 241 titles (13%).
Figure 5 above shows the number of masters and doctorate published dissertations per institution from the 241 titles since 1994. The term “science” appeared in 113 of the titles, by virtue only of the degree being satisfied. 13 titles appeared in the search with reference to degree or various universities of technology. Upon investigation, it was found that “science”, “technology” or “innovation” was used as a descriptor for applied methods in over 90% of the remaining papers. This means that science, technology or innovation were the focus or topic of study, rather only incidentally referenced in the catalogue in only eight of the 1 795 human settlement/ housing dissertations. The term “Engineering” appeared in three of the titles.
A thematic heat-map was developed as shown in Table 7: Themes and originating institutions of human settlement/ housing dissertations in South Africa (1994 – 2019)(de Jager et al, 2019).
Cape Peninsula University of 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Technology
Central University of Technology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Durban University of Technology 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 University
North-West University 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Rhodes University 2 1 7 1 1 1 0 4 1 3 8 0 0 0 2 0 4 0
Stellenbosch University 1 1 6 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 3 0 1 7 0 5 1
Tshwane University of Technology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
University of Cape Town 1 1 8 1 0 3 1 7 4 6 5 0 1 0 4 0 13 0
University of Fort Hare 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
University of Johannesburg 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
University of KwaZulu-Natal 0 1 13 5 2 0 2 8 3 0 3 0 2 2 1 0 12 0
University of Limpopo 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
University of Pretoria 0 0 6 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 5 1 3 1
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University of South Africa 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
University of the Free State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
University of the Western Cape 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
University of the Witwatersrand 0 0 5 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0
University of Venda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
University of Zululand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Vaal University of Technology 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Walter Sisulu University 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 8 52 9 4 5 9 25 16 11 21 7 7 7 21 2 42 3
Table 7: Themes and originating institutions of human settlement/ housing dissertations in South Africa (1994 – 2019)(de Jager et al, 2019)
Infrequent themes from dissertations:
Science, technology and innovation
Rural settlements
High income/ private sector
Mixed use, high density
Gender issues
Frequent themes from dissertations:
Local case studies
Informal settlements
Sustainability and related topics Innovation Bridge Portal
An analysis was done of emerging technologies as hosted on the Innovation Bridge Portal which are applicable to human settlements or housing. The Innovation Bridge Portal is an online platform which aims to create linkages between innovators, industry, public- and private technology development, and commercialisation funding partners. It is an online technology matchmaking platform for researchers, innovators, technology developers, and entrepreneurs on which to present their technology innovation offerings, and funders and technology users, to present challenges that can be addressed (DST, 2019).
50% (n=60) of the 120 listed technologies on the Innovation Bridge Portal are lodged by higher education institutions, and furthermore, 19 (15.8%) were found to be applicable in human
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settlement or houses (see Appendix). Of the 19 innovations, six were submitted by small business, one by the CSIR and the remaining from public academic institutions of higher learning (n=12).
Of note is that three of the institutions which registered inventions on the Innovation Bridge Portal, namely Walter Sisulu University of Technology, University of Zululand and University of Venda did not feature in any other HCD capability methodology applied, namely: Mapping from survey questionnaires and Mapping from NETD. Moreover, from the five most prolific academic institutions in human settlements (by virtue of published dissertations) only two innovations were registered on the portal. On the other hand, the five institutions which produced the sixth to tenth highest numbers of published dissertations registered seven innovations on the portal between them. Public universities and universities of technology
South Africa’s public universities and universities of technology all provide a wide range of undergraduate and post-graduate programmes are aimed at producing leaders, managers and professional cohorts to support the South African economy. Although there is only one undergraduate programme (Bachelor of Social Sciences (housing)) explicitly dedicated to housing in South Africa (at University of KwaZulu-Natal), which address the built environment, human settlements and or/ housing at a variety of scales and from a diversity of perspectives. Relevant programmes are distributed in engineering, architecture, urban, regional and town planning, geography, public service administration/ management, digital arts and construction management programmes at most institutions. Science, technology and innovation are manifest in many of the programmes discussed above in a variety of ways, for example as follows:
1. Instrumentally: Infrastructure, processes, policies, systems, and tools which are scientific and technological in nature. Prominent examples of relevance are tools for data collection, analytics, visualisation, modelling, prototyping, and testing, (GIS, CAD, BIM) etc.
2. Didactically: Where students and partners are formally trained in scientific research methods, and exposed to enriched developmental activities, which are intended to foster critical, analytical and problem-solving skills. Prominent examples are design thinking (foundational for innovation) which is embedded in architecture and engineering courses. Entrepreneurship is offered at most at most universities and universities of technologies both embedded in courses, as well as stand alone.
3. Engagement: Universities provide spaces and places for people to be able to collaborate together, facilitate inter-disciplinary projects in the course programmes; and provide platforms for partnerships and collaborations.
4. Topically: The course content and research topics in the programmes mentioned above are dependent on course curricular, research interests of the student and supervisory capacity within institutions, are responsive to changing needs over time and contain and explore a host of scientific and technological subject matter.
Academic affiliates of South Africa’s public universities and universities of technology are prolific publishers, with a total of 72 publications, for 2018, from Scopus (with “housing” and “human
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settlement(s)” as keywords). Using all the institutions listed in Table 1, the following was observed. Activities recorded on the Scopus database include journal articles (n=55), conferences (n=10), book chapters (n=3), with the remaining being editorial, reviews, and an article in press.
Distribution of Publication per Institution
University of Zululand
University of South Africa
University of Pretoria
University Of KwaZulu-Natal
University of Johannesburg
University of Fort Hare
University of Cape Town
North West University
Multiple/ local
Multiple/ international
University of the Free State
Durban University of Technology
Central University Of Technology
0 5 10 15 20 25
Figure 6: Publications from South African public Universities and Research Councils on Scopus for 2018
Figure 6 above shows the distribution of publications per institution which reach a maximum of 11 (University of Johannesburg), excluding multi-institutional publications. Taking into account joint publications, CSIR was the only Science Council with a published record; and one joint publication included a private university (Monash). Taking into account joint publications of the universities Vaal University of Technology, Walter Sisulu University of Technology, Nelson Mandela University and Cape Peninsula University of Technology did not record any publications.
Potential twinning was observed as follows:
Previously disadvantage SA university with previously elite university (n=3) Peer collaboration between local universities and non-university partners was found to be more common (n=11) International collaboration was found to be most common (n=21).
Foreign sites were the site of research considered in 10 of the publications with n=2 in Africa, the majority in Europe (n=4), one in the United States, and the remaining studies in Asian countries. There has been a sustained and increasing investment by tertiary public universities and universities 38 | P a g e
of technology in HCD in housing and human settlement studies since 1994 in South Africa. As shown in figure 7, below, based on publications, the study focus has been on social sciences, accounting for 46 % of publications, with a very limited science, engineering and technology (SET) focus, with the top three being energy management (16%), environmental/ public health (14%) and thereafter Physics and engineering related to energy (7%).
Distribution of Publications by Subject Area
3% 1% 16% 6% Ecosystems - Conservation
Ecosystems - Development 14% studies Energy management
1% Environmental/ Public health 7% Historical studies
6% Physics and engineering - Energy 46% Physics and engineering - IoT
Figure 7: Distribution of 2018 Human Settlement/ Housing Publication by Subject Area
Figure 8: Distribution of 2018 Human Settlement/ Housing Publication by Topic in Social Sciences
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As shown in Figure 8, above, social sciences publications are distributed between developmental studies (31%), humanities (31%), economics (19%) and policy (19%) as categorised by the researcher’s discretion based on titles.
There are a plethora of research units and centres located at the universities, with focus on various aspects of primary or secondary interest to the field of housing and human settlements. A desktop scan was systematically conducted of all universities and universities of technologies shown in Table 1 and the summary data were tabulated and are appended to this report.
The result of the desktop research is the finding that the universities and universities of technology are mature, with unequal but considerable capacity, particularly in developmental studies in the field of housing and human settlements.
TVET colleges
South Africa’s TVET colleges provide education and training with a view towards a specific range of jobs, employment or entrepreneurial possibilities. Colleges offer courses in industry fields such as agriculture; arts and culture; business, commerce and management; education, training and development; engineering, manufacturing and technology; services; building construction and security.
According to the TVET database6, SHS-relevant courses are offered as follows: Type Colleges Campuses
National certificate Engineering and Related Design 48 85
National certificate Civil Engineering and Building Construction 43 60
National certificate Information Technology and Computer Science 41 55
Report 191 Engineering (Civil) 40 69
Report 191 Engineering (Electrical) 50 123
Report 191 Engineering (Mechanical) 45 92
Report 191 Engineering (Water and Waste) 5 8
National certificate Transport and logistics 13 13
6 http://www.tvetcolleges.co.za/Site_CollegeCourses.aspx
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Based on a systematic analysis of unit standards titles of TVET Colleges it may be concluded that these institutions do not address innovation in human settlements, whereas they are instrumental in imparting the traditional trades and artisan skills, such as bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing which are employed in conventional building practices involving the routine use of established systems, technologies and practices already in the mainstream. The TVET sector is recognised to be underdeveloped (NSDP) and to hold potential to create valuable, practical skills which can boost employment at meaningful scales.
Academics affiliated with South Africa’s TVET colleges do not routinely publish, with a total of 0 publications, for 2018, from Scopus (with “housing” and “human settlement(s)” as keywords).
Private Further Education and Training (FET) colleges
Course titles were reviewed for 435 private higher education institutions via the List of Registered Private FET Colleges which serves as the National Register of Private FET Colleges and is published in accordance with Regulation 15(3) of the Regulations for the Registration of Private Further Education and Training, 2007. No courses were identified of relevance to STI 4 SHS.
From the foregoing it can be concluded, that of the tertiary academic institutions, the public universities and universities of technologies already contribute significantly to the capacity building required for STI and SHS, and have the most mature research capability. There is a bias towards studies of a sociological nature, over those of a scientific, technological or innovative nature, which could be strengthened.
Currently under-resourced, and poorly integrated into the workplace, TVET colleges are seen as the future cornerstone of the post-school education and training system for South Africa. Significant expansion of TVETs is identified as a priority for government in order to absorb the largest enrolment growth in the post-school system (NSDP, 2019). This sector therefore provides an important opportunity for partnering for technological know-how in scale-up as STI are identified for mainstreaming in SHS.
Science councils The HSRC conducts valuable work of indirect relevance to STI 4 SHS (such as measuring impact of STI investments, inclusive development studies, quality of life studies etc.). However no direct R&D investment was found in relation to STI 4 SHS and the HSRC was non-responsive to the survey. The CSIR and WRC were considered in the study. No other research councils were deemed likely to be conducting research of interest. Of the thirteen agencies recognised by the NRF only one, the Technology Innovation Agency, was likely to conduct research relevant to STI 4 SHS, but it declined to participate in the HCD study.
The CSIR has a mature research capability in a range of SHS and STI fields. At the time of writing, the CSIR is embarking on a substantive restructuring process and redefining its strategic focus as well as its research agenda. The capabilities in terms of energy, waste, water, materials sciences, roads and transport, climate science, planning and the built environment will remain. In 2017/18, the CSIR had
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approximately 200 researchers in the built environment unit with a team of five researchers focussed primarily on human settlements.
Other
The African Research Universities Alliance
According to its website7, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) is a network of universities from different countries and different historical backgrounds, but with a common vision. The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) is pursuing its goal of enhancing research and graduate training in member universities through a number of channels, including the setting up of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to be hosted by member universities. The ARUA CoEs are intended to be focal points for aggregating world-class researchers from member universities to undertake collaborative research in priority thematic areas while providing opportunities for graduate students from the region and elsewhere to work with the researchers. The Centres of Excellence are tabulated below, including their stated objective and participating partner institutions. CoE Objectives Partners Climate and Africa’s existing socioeconomic The African Climate and development development challenges will be greatly Development Initiative at UCT compounded under climate change. The The Institute for Climate Change fundamental twin challenge is to enable Adaptation at the University of development that is (i) resilient to existing Nairobi The Institute for and expected climate risks and impacts, and Environment and Sanitation Studies at University of Ghana (ii) low carbon, avoiding substantial African contributions to the amount of global warming in the future: this challenge has been variously termed “climate compatible development” of “climate resilient, low carbon development”. The ARUA CoE in Energy is intended to Stellenbosch University (lead) enhance the integrative links between and a network of 15 African Renewable Energy (RE), Water and Food, Universities and thereby achieve sustainable agricultural development in Africa. The ARUA CoE in Energy has prioritized the integration of RE into systems that address the food, nutrition and water supply challenges of Africa. Whereas energy, water and food are often
7 http://arua.org.za/
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described as a nexus of stumbling blocks in socio-economic development, the CoE in Energy considers such integration of technologies to offer opportunities for socio-economic advancement through the associated self-sufficiency. Such integration of RE into water and food supply systems is expected to enable sustainable intensification of agriculture, improved postharvest processing and preservation of foods, and the supply of water, as these are critically dependent on energy availability. The implementation of integrated, self- sufficient energy-water-food systems will substantially improve agricultural productivity and the supply of highly nutritious foods to Africa. Furthermore, the self-sufficient, integrated energy-water-food systems will be highly efficient in its use of natural resources, thus minimizing the environmental impacts of food production, and moving towards a sustainable regime for agricultural production and post- harvesting processing. Food security The African Research Universities Alliance University of Pretoria (lead), in (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Food Security collaboration with the (ACoE) brings together ARUA members from University of Ghana, Legon and East, West and Southern Africa, and two the University of Nairobi. historically disadvantaged South African universities as associate members (i.e. Universities of the Western Cape and Fort Hare), as well as a broader consortium of African and international partners working on food security research, policy and capacity development to exponentially increase the networks of each participating institution, and to maximise the translation of knowledge into impact at the grassroots and/or policy levels.
Inequalities The establishment of the African Centre of University of Cape Town (UCT), research Excellence for Inequality Research (ACEIR) which also hosts the southern directly addresses the analytical and African node. The eastern and measurement needs that are required for western African nodes are hosted by the University of 43 | P a g e
policy interventions and civil society action Ghana, Legon, and the to turn the tide against inequality. University of Nairobi respectively.
Africa needs to ensure that it is included in the international measurements, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, and for this reason the Centre will enhance the quality of relevant data on inequalities across and within African nations. Equally important is that the continent must ensure that the specifics of its societies are considered in the analysis both of the factors causing inequality and the consequences of inequality. Understanding how data from each country work together to illuminate the status of inequality – and the implications for policy – is the important intellectual agenda of the Centre.
Good governance The Center for Federalism and Governance The CFGS while serving as the Studies (CFGS), established in 2006, is a hub and a leading center for Department within the College of Law and this project, it partners with Governance Studies of Addis Ababa two departments of Addis
University. It was established with the vision Ababa University (school of to be a leading center of excellence in law, political science and teaching, research and consultancy in international relations), three multilevel government (federalism, other institutions within the devolution, good governance, local African continent that are government) with a view to promoting unity members of ARUA and has in diversity, good governance, peace, institutional linkage with other development and regional integration in the relevant academic institution Horn of Africa. The Center runs an both in the Horn and beyond. interdisciplinary M.A Program in Federalism These include the Dullah and Governance Studies and a PhD Program in Federalism and Governance. In addition Omar Institute for Constitution, to students from Ethiopia, applicants to the Governance and Human Rights MA and PhD programs include students of the University of the from South Sudan and Somalia. Western Cape (formerly Community Law Centre), Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa (ICLA), Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, the Katibba Institute of Nairobi,
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Kenya, University of Nairobi, Kenya, Institute of Federalism of Fribourg University
Switzerland, and Institute for Studies on Federalism and Regionalism (EURAC), South
Tyrol-Italy.
Migration and ACMS will be conducting a five-year University of Witwatersrand Mobility research programme entitled Mobility and five other African and Sociality in Africa’s Emerging Urban. universities. This initiative is a scholarly response to unprecedented levels of urbanisation and mobility driven by conflict, ambition, and respatialising economies. It is intended to develop African based contributions to theories of human mobility and transforming modes of social engagement, authority, representation, and expression.
This initiative brings together five African universities dedicated to cultivating a generation of African scholars dedicated to reshaping global social theory and scholarly conversations on mobility, cities, and social change. It promises to open novel scholarly frontiers and enhance pedagogy and partnerships in ways that positively transform the continent’s universities. The initiative is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinarity, engagement with the arts, and creative research and outreach methodologies.
Materials, There will be a range of research University of the Energy and focusses, from fundamental to prototype Witwatersrand (lead), Nanotechnology devices, which should identify and Universities of Pretoria, develop new opportunities in an African Nairobi and Ghana. context, e.g. minerals beneficiation, advanced manufacturing, off-grid energy technologies, housing and materials recycling. The ARUA CoE-MEN will become a hub for materials science and 45 | P a g e
engineering in Africa, as well as the ideal environment in which to build research capacity and human capacity for Africa. The new ARUA CoE is positioning itself to be a centre for training African students and academics and to undertake relevant and innovative research, which will help to solve some of Africa’s problems. Taking the African response to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Non- Secure competitive grants to conduct University of Ghana and 17 communicable multidisciplinary research on the major and universities in Africa, Europe, diseases neglected non-communicable diseases North America, Asia and the (NCD). Our areas of focus will include Middle East. epidemiological surveillance, population level risk reduction, drug discovery/safety/efficacy, access to medicines, medical treatment and management (including palliative care), medical pluralism, self-care, social protection and health systems strengthening. Establish and maintain an observatory on NCD research, practice and policy in Africa, that tracks and documents research, practice and policy trends on a virtual platform for African and global NCD communities. Train and mentor African doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and early career researchers across the centre’s range of disciplines. Champion NCD advocacy for Africa by engaging national, regional and global research, practice, policy and lay communities with evidence for action.
Urbanisation and The Centre’s core activities are in Housing University of Lagos, Nigerian habitable cities research, urban regeneration and advocacy, UK Housing Society (NUHS) and Postgraduate education and capacity its partner, UK’s Chartered building for practitioners. Activities are Institute of Housing, England centred around multi-disciplinary groups (CIH). from academia and industry. A research hub for bringing together researchers from other African Countries to address the salient and often intractable problems
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associated with urbanization in African Cities, therefore impacting on spatial efficiencies, the well-being of urban dwellers and city sustainability. Addressing these urbanization issues will unleash vast opportunities that will propel and consolidate Africa’s growth and development. To achieve this, it is imperative that impactful, trans-disciplinary is carried out in the short term; and that such research outcomes are tied into governance and policy frameworks to ensure implementation and impact. Water To conserve and use water wisely, Universities of Rhodes, Addis integrated catchment-level approaches to Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Lagos water resources management are essential. and Cape Town. Thus, all the core partners envisage the Water theme as encompassing the scholarship and practice of integrated water resource management. Each of the partners will offer a specific area of excellence, with supporting expertise from other nodes to strengthen our collective capacity to secure research funding, successfully supervise highly capable post-graduate students, and produce excellent research outputs that contribute significantly to engaging the acute and chronic freshwater challenges facing the continent. The hub will apply effective engagement mechanisms that support the partnership and its projects.
Unemployment No info available and skills development
Stellenbosch University School of Public Leadership
The School of Public Leadership at the University of Stellenbosch has a post-graduate diploma for Executive Leadership and Management Programme in Sustainable Human Settlement Development. The course was developed to respond to the need to professionalise human settlement development policies and implementation. The objective is to “nurture collective common understandings for collaborative and progressive praxis in the interrelated spheres of housing, social justice, social
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development, and inclusive urban growth.” This is a 3-year part-time degree for professionals. Details of the course are available here. Discussion Summary of HCD capacity and maturity
There is considerable HCD capacity in STI or SHS (although not often across both) in South Africa in the universities and universities of technologies. The nature of activity is very diverse in focus, almost exclusively locally focussed (at the expense of studying international and global or foreign trends which may enhance competitiveness). There is strong and increasing interest in critical areas such as understanding the conditions of the most vulnerable. The preponderance of urban and informal settlements case studies should be reconsidered in light of the status quo of spatial and market fragmentation, and policy moves to strive for integration and a seamless housing market.
Sustainability is a popular topic of study for postgraduate studies in human settlements, representing a significant contribution to research from academia to date. Sustainability and climate change are national and global priorities and offer excellent opportunities to access investment and to deepen SET-informed responses. The strength of the sector is that it is very multi-disciplinary.
Very limited STI 4 SHS HCD arises in CET, TVET and private sector academic institutions. Targeted technical direction and financial investment is required. There appears to be a high level of variability in the productivity, quality of HCD programmes and outcomes, and support is needed to improve consistency.
Sector absorption capacity
Unemployment of graduates grew in South Africa from 4.4% in 2011 to 6.7% in 2018 (StatsSA). It would therefore be very prudent to study the demand and supply of graduates, with a view to targeting study investments to needs, as noted in the NDP. The need for graduates studying housing and human settlements and sector absorption capacity is not directly available, and beyond the scope of this study.
However, the following observation may be instructive. Whilst considerable capacity is developed in various institutions, the incentives are not in place for professionals to apply their skills to the most vulnerable and needy settings. For example, although architects and engineers could potentially play a vital role in place-making and improving quality of life in informal settlements, there are very limited resources, so that these professional services are seen as a luxury. Built environment professionals are likely to continue to serve the elite (who can afford their fees), unless a mechanism can be found to monetise their involvement. Potential roles for academia in the STI 4 SHS Roadmap
Support to precedent roadmaps has been in the form of:
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Strengthening post-graduate qualifications (such as seed funding for development of new degrees);
Post-graduate scholarships (post-doctoral; doctoral and masters);
Internships; and
Platforms for learning and knowledge exchange.
Generically academia can play a variety of roles in the innovation value chain. Academic institutions can:
produce and disseminate knowledge;
prepare the next generation for the wide variety of roles in an innovative economy and to have a direct role to play in human settlement production;
prepare the future generation of academics, who have a snowball influence;
test innovation (contribute to a vibrant technology pipeline);
transfer technology from the academic realm into industry and the marketplace;
indirectly influence the communities and cultures in which they operate; and
generate income for universities through “third generation streams” via commercialisation activities.
HCD types for support in the STI 4 SHS Roadmap According to the White paper, to realise the intended impacts of STI in terms of sustainable and inclusive development (as envisaged in the Sustainable Development Goals and the NDP, progress will be measured in inputs (e.g. investment in STI), outputs (e.g. increases in graduates, publications and patents) and outcomes (e.g. improved partnerships between NSI actors and increased policy coherence, yielding improved innovation performance). (DST, 2019: xiii). An example on how this might be applied in STI 4 SHS, based on initial targets is shown below. This will be refined as the STI 4 SHS Roadmap Implementation Plan is formulated. Inputs Outputs Outcomes
Skills development 1500 200 upscale solar installation franchise in informal trained franchises settlements upscale back-yard shack upgrade project upscale two-storey framework (in-situ) upscale grey-water technologies
Graduates (under- 10 10 cataloguing grad)
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Graduates (post-grad) 20 20 Grey-water technology localisation Fire protection international product localisation Absorption capacity in human settlements for graduates Various vetting requirements and protocols Catalogue protocol Digital ecosystem (baseline, feasibility, pilot) Etc.
Publications (popular) 4 4 National grey-water recycling standards Fire protection standards Natural building instructables Digital catalogue
Publications (peer 50 50 (as per post-graduates) reviewed)
Patents 3 3 Storm-water management Inspection-eye theft protection IoT Affordable high-performance materials
Licences
Trade-marks
Patterns
Designs 20 5 Storm-water management Informal settlement upgrading technologies Etc. Technical services Technology vetting capability
Industrial research and R 210m development
Continuing Support to community of practice professional IBT guides for consulting practitioners development Design thinking training for government officials
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Input costs
The following input costs, based on current published NRF and market rates have been placed provisionally in the cost model, with an adjusted annual increase for inflation, as follows: 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/30
International flights R 15 000 R 15 600 R 16 224 R 16 873 R 17 548 R 19 654
Local flights R 4 000 R 4 160 R 4 326 R 4 499 R 4 679 R 5 240
Daily car hire R 300 R 312 R 324 R 337 R 350 R 392
Transfers R 200 R 208 R 216 R 225 R 234 R 262
S&T R 350 R 364 R 379 R 394 R 410 R 459
Local accommodation/ R 1 200 R 1 248 R 1 298 R 1 350 R 1 404 R 1 572 night
Conference package R 450 R 468 R 487 R 506 R 526 R 589 delegate/day
Website and internet R 3 000 R 3 120 R 3 245 R 3 375 R 3 510 R 3 931
Mobile, data and R 150 R 156 R 162 R 168 R 175 R 196 communications (monthly)
Patent (provisional) R 250 000 R 260 000 R 270 400 R 281 216 R 292 465 R 327 561
Certification R 120 000 R 124 800 R 129 792 R 134 984 R 140 383 R 157 229
Masters degree (2 years) R 50 000 R 52 000 R 54 080 R 56 243 R 58 493 R 65 512
Doctoral degree (3 years) R 90 000 R 93 600 R 97 344 R 101 238 R 105 288 R 117 923 based on NRF
Travel masters R 10 000 R 10 400 R 10 816 R 11 249 R 11 699 R 13 103
travel doctoral R 15 000 R 15 600 R 16 224 R 16 873 R 17 548 R 19 654
consultant hourly rates R 1 500 R 1 560 R 1 622 R 1 687 R 1 754 R 1 964 (exec)
consultant hourly rates R 1 000 R 1 040 R 1 082 R 1 125 R 1 170 R 1 310 (senior)
consultant hourly rates R 750 R 780 R 811 R 843 R 877 R 982 (mid)
consultant hourly rates R 500 R 520 R 541 R 563 R 586 R 656 (junior)
daily training rates R 2 500 R 2 600 R 2 704 R 2 812 R 2 924 R 3 275
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Doctoral degree (3 years) R 145 000 R 150 800 R 156 832 R 163 105 R 169 629 R 189 984
Internships (per annum) R 52 000 R 54 080 R 56 243 R 58 493 R 60 833 R 68 133
Average grant based on R 2 980 000 R 3 099 200 R 3 223 168 R 3 352 095 R 3 486 179 R 3 904 520 waste roadmap
Project management unit R 2 450 000 R 2 548 000 R 2 649 920 R 2 755 917 R 2 866 154 R 3 210 092
NOTES:
Including VAT @15%
Assumed inflation 4%p.a
Attrition assumptions
The following attrition rates are used for the cost model.
Prototype iterations per technology package 3.00
Success rate of technology transfer 0.60
Success rate for commercialisation 0.30
Success rate of registered patents 0.35 No. successfully licenced /commercialised
Success rate of postgraduate studies 0.80
No. of years to graduation (masters) 3
No. of years to graduation (doctoral degree) 4
Overheads 8% Cost benefit
Costs and benefit are considered at the level of the initiative in the STI 4 SHS Roadmap and are discussed in the STI 4 SHS Cost benefit report.
Research Agenda Purpose of the research agenda
The draft research agenda has been prepared in order to structure, coordinate and orientate local, regional, and global research activities and mobilise partnerships. The objectives of the research agenda are to:
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Articulate and communicate common research interests for the pursuit of STI 4 SHS Roadmap objectives to stakeholders,
Signal areas of investment need to funding and academic partners,
Guide resource allocation for key departments,
Inform R&D grant call formulation,
Inform bursary and scholarship formulation
Influence researchers, research organisations, and students in South African academic institutions and NSI in planning for academic and research activities,
Facilitation of research partnership and collaboration with the private sector,
Prepare young people to succeed in the innovation economy,
Discover and invent the future, and support South Africa’s global competitiveness.
Approach to developing the research agenda
The following draft research agenda has been crafted with reference to international and local trends (STI 4 SHS Status quo Report); White Paper (DST, 2019); Research Roadmap Report Smart City Vision (CIB, 2016a); Intelligent and Responsive Buildings (CIB, 2018); Research Roadmap Summary Offsite Production and Manufacturing (CIB, 2013); Clients and Users in Construction (CIB, 2016b) and a synthesis of inputs from various stakeholders who were engaged through various means8. An initial set of key themes and topics were proposed by the DST, and have been further refined by the authors and the Planning Committee, as set out below. The draft research agenda has been circulated to the STI 4 SHS National Forum, Planning Committee, and Academic Advisory Panel for critical review and input. Scope, limits and application
The scope of the research agenda includes rural, peri-urban and urban settings. The research agenda spans scale from the micro-scale (for example components or elements of housing), through to medium (neighbourhood) to the macro-scale (spatial planning).
The key themes and topics identified are not exhaustive, and vary in complexity, and achievability. The research agenda represents a “wish-list” of sorts and it is unlikely that all of these will be pursued. Nevertheless, they reflect a broad scope of possible research activities and interest, and convey a number of important priorities and emerging opportunities. It is proposed that the
8 1. Six consultative workshops; 2. Expert consultative workshop; 3. Industry-meets-science; 4. Academic Advisory Panel; 5. Innovation Roundtable; 6. STI 4 SHS Planning Committee 53 | P a g e
research agenda is reviewed annually throughout the Roadmap implementation and considered a “live document”.
The limitation of proposing a research agenda thematically (as below) is that this approach may tend to be aligned with conventional disciplines, and thereby deepen the “silo” effect of research. An example is in disaggregating the food, water, energy nexus where activities in one domain can affect another. In applying the research agenda, this should be taken into account, for example by engaging trans- or interdisciplinary research methods, encouraging partnerships and by designing calls toward a common objective (for example “Future House”).
Key themes and example topics
Key theme 1: The environmental sustainability imperative
Rationale: Sustainable development is dependent on lowering ecological footprint and particularly on lowering CO2 emissions to mitigate climate change effects. Lowering ecological footprint entails preservation of natural habitats; restoring biodiversity (with reference to the indigenous); protecting the soil, air and water from pollution and other harm. Maintaining ecological goods and services is necessary for sustainable development, and can contribute to water and food security and climate resilience. The theme aligns with the NSDP goal of taking advantage of new opportunities in the knowledge and green economies, which improve capacity to meet the SDG, and NDC commitments.
Examples: reduced ecological footprints (for example through densification), circular economy, renewables, carbon neutral, net zero energy, carbon positive, energy plus, waste reduction, restoring and managing ecological goods and services, avoiding or recycling construction waste, reuse of waste water grey-water recycling, household water leak detection, bio waste to energy, organic waste to compost and organic material reuse, e-waste recycling, net zero waste, urban food production.
Priority research topics:
1. Future mobility for reduced CO2
a. Mobility as a service
b. Multi-modal transport
c. Super-efficient technologies
2. Mechanisms for achieving settlement densification and improved logistic efficiency (and thereby reduce emissions, improve access and reduced resource use)
3. Critical review and replication potential appraisals of pilots for:
a. Grey-water recycling and unlocking other alternative sources of water
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b. storm-water management
c. Water Sensitive Design and efficiency interventions
d. renewable energy mini-grids
e. biogas to energy
f. off-grid solutions (waste, energy, water and sanitation)
g. Social innovations
4. Green villages
5. Storm-water harvesting for water security
6. Incentives innovation to enhance partnerships toward an integrated housing economy
7. Net zero and energy plus – optimisation and redistribution solutions
Other:
8. Grey-water recycling, alternative sources and water efficiency technologies, standards, policies and skills development
9. Storm-water retention technologies and application decision support
10. Research on application of green approaches in the public sector
11. Circular economy potential in repurposing of inner city buildings at scale
12. Local e-waste management opportunities
Key theme 2: 4IR, disruptors and transformative technology
Rationale: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is an unprecedented global phenomenon featuring rapid and fundamental technological transformation precipitated by the convergence of digital, physical and biological technologies. 4IR is widely viewed as a disruptor of existing industries, production and consumption of goods and services, which, if embraced and harnessed, holds keys to delivering us from some of our most intractable problems, for example by improving productivity, and enhancing global competitiveness. However, attention must be paid to mitigating real and perceived negative effects, such as the threats of machines taking over human’s work and 4IR widening the inequality gap.
Examples: Cybernetics. Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data and machine learning. Robotics. Internet of things (IoT). Information Communication Technologies (ICT): Internet, gadgets and apps. Home automation: security, connectedness of home appliances and home data to a mobile app, home computer box, home help, iRobot, home medical applications, independent living applications. Additive manufacturing (3D printing). Virtual reality.
Priority research topics:
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1. South African visions for the “smart (intelligent?) city” – and the role of STI and SHS
2. Safety and security in the home and neighbourhood using IoT and AI
3. Augmented and virtual reality, and new data-driven (smart) technologies for houses and neighbourhoods: hope or hype?
4. Next generation disaster detection and response
5. IOT, AI and machine learning for environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and economical Life Cycle Costing (LLC)
Other:
6. 4th Industrial Revolution: Future Technologies for human settlements
7. 4th Industrial Revolution: Economic Opportunities in human settlements
8. 3D printed built environment
9. Sentient buildings
10. Biofilia
a. Bio- facades using smart bricks embedded with microbes that generate electricity
b. Chemo luminescence---like the fireflies or angler fish-- for lighting without electricity c. Algae living walls to harvest and derive bio- gas d. Use of walls with artificial leaves using photosynthesis to generate hydrogen 11. Built environment curriculum and the embrace of technological advancement skills
Key theme 3: Innovative building technologies and construction methods
Rationale: Advanced materials and manufacturing can potentially impact on improving access to decent jobs, improved cost, quality and speed of delivery of housing and neighbourhoods of the future, with reduced ecological cost.
Examples: Innovation Building Technologies (IBT): Building Methods, Building Analysis and Building Material Capability IBTs, cement from plastic, phase change materials, modulated alternative methods, methods to assembly houses like car, insulated concrete forms, precast technology, interlocking brick technology, phase change materials, permeable pavements, heat reflective roofs
Priority research topics:
1. Affordable alternative materials with acceptable performance parameters) and innovative models/pathways to achieve these at scale
2. Cool roofs at scale
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3. De-escalating unplanned settlements: can STI satisfy the demand for managed land and self- build technology?
4. Warranties and risks assignment for IBTs – do these need strengthening in South Africa?
Other:
5. Transforming the backie builder into the purveyor of advanced building systems
6. Plastic roads case studies : policy implications
7. Role of academic institutions in promoting innovative human settlements designs through student projects
Key theme 4: Improved living and health conditions in a household
Rationale: Modern human beings spend up to 80% of their time indoors, over 90% in the built environment more broadly, and approaching 100% of their time in anthropogenic environments (landscapes changed at the hands of humans). The built environment impacts on vitality, health, wellbeing and productivity in myriad ways, with the most vulnerable often exposed to the poorest built environments conditions. Utility costs are rising, and putting pressure on households, especially the poor. Utility provision can be made more cost effective, resource efficient and smart with STI.
Examples: Smart and efficient household services (monitor household energy consumption, energy smart sensors, house as an independent energy unit, innovative sanitation, off grid sanitation, off- grid renewable energy, and products). Air pollutant detectors, health mirrors
Priority research topics:
1. Innovation to reduce operational costs and improvement of efficiency for waste, energy, water and sanitation utilities for a variety of settings, such as emergency housing provision and informal settlements
2. Investigation into policy changes needed to unlock innovative utility technologies (e.g. procurement policy)
3. Alternative and affordable approaches to heating, cooling, lighting and ventilating housing for safety, health and wellbeing
4. Maximising passive design of housing according to climatic conditions
5. Architectural and engineering infrastructure development guidelines to facilitate climate responsive design and adaptation at the scale of the household and neighbourhood
6. Liveable cities through watercourses providing amenities, natural air-conditioning, support for bio-diversity etc.: the role of innovative storm-water design and engineering
7. Technologies for informal settlement upgrades
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Other:
8. Innovative sanitation technologies
9. Green spaces and leisure – the role of STI
10. Decision support tools for selection of appropriate innovative technologies
11. Bioelectromagnetically friendly intelligent and responsive buildings and technologies
12. Health mirrors
13. Air-pollutant sensors for the home
Key theme 5: Smart ICT
Rationale: Research and Development: Smart data collection and use in the context of resource- constraints, as a tool for empowerment, decision-support and resolution of human settlements’ development challenges.
Examples: Building Information Management (BIM) and Computer Aided Design: Information and Software. Observatories.
Priority research topics:
1. Smart infrastructure and technologies for near-real-time monitoring and metering for reduced resource loss, demand side management and supply side decision support for energy and water
2. Putting near real-time data on the desktops of decision-makers
a. Case studies of current observatory models
b. Detailed needs and opportunities
c. Feasibility
3. Transformative decision support tools
4. Governance can be improved by ICT in the human settlements sector: how?
5. A critical review of current observatories – costs and benefits
6. A researched recommendation for the application of 3- 4- and 5-D BIM in the South African SHS context
Other:
7. Observatories for rural settlements: what is feasible?
8. Recommended data sets, interoperability, exchange and data privacy protocols and standards for observatories
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9. (Semi)-automated BIM plan compliance examination software
10. Data visualisation (e.g. BIM) vs certification as incentives for green building uptake in clients
11. ICT for development, sustainability and the environment
12. ICT in support of smart settlements e.g. smart cities, e-government services, municipal smart infrastructure, e-services in education and agriculture
13. Digital inclusion in support of township and rural economies : Community wireless technologies
Key theme 6: Culture, social acceptance and community involvement
Priority research areas:
1. Advancing Public-Private-People Partnerships in STI
2. Are we ready to build and live in tall buildings? – for “smart cities”; densification, user preparedness, quality of the built environment
3. Smart resource use and behavioural awareness
4. Enjoining key constituencies (such as the rural and the poor) to embrace new technologies: perceptions, values and attitudes
5. Research on the implementation and (lack of) uptake of new concepts and technologies
6. Waste and responsibility throughout society – finding effective models for transformative behaviour change
7. Contemporary indigenous, post-natural building, and regenerative design
Other:
8. Pathways for grass-roots and living labs research to reach the mainstream
9. Establish culture of innovation and influence social – cultural perceptions for innovation in society
10. Integrate innovation in sustainable human settlements into community level innovation hubs/living labs, etc.
11. Tools for effective participatory processes
12. Housing and neighbourhood design which stimulates entrepreneurial involvement
Key theme 7: Models and policy innovation
Priority research areas: 59 | P a g e
1. Transformative change in human settlements using technology and innovation
2. Finance innovation to improve access to adequate housing
3. Alternative design and delivery mechanisms
4. Tenure innovation to improve access to adequate housing
5. Innovation to eradicate housing market segregation
6. Spatial transformation to overcome legacy planning and realise sustainable human settlement: unpacking the role of STI?
7. Informal settlements upgrade models : case studies and critical review
Other:
8. Bullet train?
9. Tracking the impact of STI policy change on SHS
10. Research on governance and its role in promoting human settlements delivery
11. Infrastructure policies fragmentation and its impact on delivery
12. Policy development and implementation
13. Design and detailing for change over time
Key theme 8: Preparing the next generation of STI 4 SHS researchers and entrepreneurs
Rationale: High youth unemployment, rising unemployment amongst graduates, high student drop- out rates couple with accelerating rates of technological change necessitates a targeted approach to HCD development, a need to continuously forecast and align with changing needs (which entails life- long learning); access to opportunities for those otherwise excluded.
Examples: Curricular, new models (MOOCs, e-learning, blended learning), interdisciplinary work in support of innovation.
Priority research areas:
1. Sector skills needs and foresight
2. STI 4 SHS capacity absorption studies
3. Appropriateness of current research methods for STI 4 SHS
4. Advancing Public-Private-People Partnerships in HCD
5. Relooking models for skills capacitation for STI 4 SHS
6. Support testing and certification for quality of local developed technologies
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7. Tracer studies to understand the career paths and mobility of people with STI or SHS PhDs across different sectors (such as universities, science councils and industry)
Other:
8. Innovation to improve the access to professionals for STI for SHS in affordable housing markets and informal settlements
9. Case studies of franchising of STI 4 SHS installation and maintenance
10. Harnessing social media to foster STI 4 SHS uptake in communities
11. Technology SME development as supplier to government
12. SMEs preferential accelerated patent protection system
13. Civil society innovation: baseline support study and support programme design
Recommendations and way forward
The NSDP seems to concur with the five main job drivers identified in the National Skills Development Strategy as:
1. Substantial public investment in infrastructure both to create employment directly, in construction, operation and maintenance as well as the production of inputs, and indirectly by improving efficiency across the economy;
2. Targeting more labour-absorbing activities across the main economic sectors – the agricultural and mining value chains, manufacturing and tourism and high-level services;
3. Taking advantage of new opportunities in the knowledge and green economies;
4. Leveraging social capital in the social economy and the public services; and
5. Fostering rural development and regional integration.
Academia could potentially contribute meaningfully to the STI 4 SHS Roadmap implementation by:
communicating the STI 4 SHS Roadmap with any interested academic stakeholders at all public institutions of higher learning (universities, universities of technologies and TVET colleges) with an interest in STI in or applicable to housing or human settlements studies;
actively identifying potential or current activity in academia of relevance to the purposes of the Roadmap, and subject to ethical considerations, such as intellectual property protection,
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make such STI known to the Roadmap Implementation Team in order to support and encourage such activities;
encouraging knowledge production and dissemination which is aligned with the Roadmap, through programmes including:
o artisan development,
o formal tertiary education,
o skills development,
o continuing professional development and o engagement with industry and civil society
Supporting the production of MSc and PhD students with an interest in HCD;
Exploiting the use of post-doctoral fellows and ageing researchers by:
o Twinning research-focussed universities with research-informed ones o Quality mentorships and mentoring of mentors
o Tasking them to precipitate involvement of non-academic and private institutions in HCD
Leading in unblocking bureaucratic delays in instituting short-courses in synergy with government, science councils and academia;
Considering the absorption capacity of the sector, with reference to the African context by contributing to the sector skills plan, with a view to incorporating values of innovation;
Co-investing (especially in kind);
Co-creating the national research agenda and contribute to international and national funding proposals; and
Critically reflecting on academic contribution to the STI 4 SHS Roadmap goals in order to replicate successes.
Priorities for activities should align with national and international goals as defined in the NDP, SDG, NUA, and IUDF, as well as those identified through the STI 4 SHS Roadmap definition process. Initial priorities identified through consultation (as described in detail in 2.6 Synthesis report) include academic work aimed at localisation of technologies, not yet mainstream in South Africa, which are mature internationally; work which supports job creation, SME’s and SMME’s; the establishment and institutionalisation of capability for independent testing and vetting for STIs.
In return, the Roadmap Implementation Team should endeavour to:
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support tertiary academic studies, particularly at master’ and PhD level in the innovative economy and for STI in human settlement, via targeted investments in bursaries and scholarships;
provide a platform to test and showcase relevant technologies and innovation;
co-invest;
co-create the national research agenda and contribute to international and national funding proposals;
assist and support the transfer technology from the academic realm into industry and the marketplace; and
provide monitoring and evaluation and feedback to academia on ongoing Roadmap progress, priorities and opportunities.
It is suggested that the following considerations, aligned with the White Paper and DHS policy are to be taken into account in determining HCD initiatives of the STI 4 SHS Roadmap:
Support improvement in the performance of historically disadvantaged universities by prioritising investments under leadership of these institutions
Transformation
Youth targeting
Open science
Alignment with and contribution to the human settlements sector plans
Reflecting on current and recent professional capacity building efforts may be instructive on how the academic sector can gear itself to make the most valuable contribution to the discourse on our future human habitats. Such data can guide future research direction in the field of human settlements’ curriculum enhancement and system-wide capacity building.
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Acknowledgements
Various draft versions of this report, and surveys upon which it is based and sections of it were widely circulated for comment and input. Authors are greatly appreciative of the contributions made by the academic community, including, but not limited to the contributors recognised below.
Members of the Academic Advisory Panel and other contributors
Dr Jeffrey Mahachi, University of Johannesburg
Dr Sithembiso Myeni, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Prof Sijekula Mbanga, Nelson Mandela University
Prof Soyez, University of Potsdam (Germany)
Dr Philip Stott, Central University of Technology Bloemfontein
Dr Darlington Onojaefe, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Prof Amira Osman, Tshwane University of technology
Prof Mark Napier, CSIR
Dr Jeremy Gibberd, CSIR
Prof Babatunde Agbola, Mangosuthu University of Technology
Prof David Everatt, University of Witwatersrand
Ms Shanna Nienaber, Water Research Commission
Mr Tshepang Mosiea, Department of Higher Education and Training
Dr Anitha Ramsuran, Technology Innovation Agency
Dr Anita Venter, Free State University
Dr Nana Mhlongo, Council for the Built Environment
Ms Sizo Sebake, CSIR
Dr Monwabisi MacClean, Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Dr Nomvuyo Diko, Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Dr Jennifer Mirembe, Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Professor Neil Armitage, University of Cape Town
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References
CIB, 2013. Research Roadmap Summary Offsite Production and Manufacturing. https://www.cibworld.nl/site/roadmaps.html [2019, June 09].
CIB, 2016a. Research Roadmap Report Smart City Vision. https://www.cibworld.nl/site/roadmaps.html [2019, June 10].
CIB, 2016b. Clients and Users in Construction. https://www.cibworld.nl/site/roadmaps.html [2019, June 14].
CIB, 2018. Intelligent and Responsive Buildings. https://www.cibworld.nl/site/roadmaps.html [2019, June 14].
Council on Higher Education (CHE). 2019. Higher Education Data | Council on Higher Education. Available: https://www.che.ac.za/faqs/higher_education_data [2019, May 03].
CSIR, 2019. STI 4 SHS Roadmap Review Report.
De Jager, P., van Reenen, C. Napier, M., Sebake, N.T., Bole, S. 2019. SASUF 2019 Proceedings A landscape study of South African dissertations in the field of human settlements between 1994 and 2019
DST. 2019. White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation. https://www.dst.gov.za/images/2019/White_paper_web_copyv1.pdf
DST. 2019. Innovation Bridge Portal https://www.innovationbridge.info/ibportal/?q=content/whathttps://www.innovationbridge.info/ibp ortal/?q=content/what-can-ib-portal-do-mecan-ib-portal-do-me
Jensen, P.A., Maslesa, E. and JBrinkø Berg, J. 2018. Sustainable Building Renovation: Proposals for a Research Agenda Sustainability 2018, 10, 4677.
MacGregor, K. 2014. Major survey of international students in South Africa. Available: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20140905134914811 [2019, May 03].
National Academy Press 2013. Trends in the Innovation Ecosystem: Can Past Successes Help Inform Future Strategies? https://www.nap.edu/read/18509/chapter/5
The Presidency, 2012. National Development Plan, 2030. Pretoria
DHET, 2019. National Skills Development Plan, 2030. Gazette Number: 42290. Pretoria. http://www.chieta.org.za/Portals/0/ndp2030.pdf.
Tissington, K. 2011. A resource guide to housing in South Africa 1994-2010: Legislation, policy, programmes and practice. Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI). Available: https://www.seri-sa.org/images/stories/SERI_Housing_Resource_Guide_Feb11.pdf [2018, April 10].
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Appendix Questionnaire
CAPABILITY MAPPING IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION to be applied in the sustainable human settlements sector
Please distribute to all Departments within your Organisation (University, agency or science council) currently involved in Science, Technology and Innovation which can be applied for advancement of sustainable human settlements
Attention: Head of Department or Executive Director
The purpose of this Capability Mapping exercise with South African Universities, Agencies and Science Councils is to determine current Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) capabilities which can be applied in the field of SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS.
The information will be collated and matched against expected future STI needs for the country’s human settlements, currently being determined as part of Science Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Human Settlements (STI 4 SHS) Roadmap project. The purpose of the STI 4 SHS Roadmap is to unlock the potential of South Africa’s human settlements for a decent standard of living; safe, resilient and sustainable households and neighbourhoods via the smart uptake of science, technology and innovation. As such the focus is on upscaling and mainstreaming of technologies.
Gaps between current capabilities and future needs will identify priority areas for e.g. research investment, capacity development, technology development, etc., which will guide future investment and support by the DST and other partner organisations within the National System of Innovation.
Individual institutions will not be identified in published reports. The questionnaire should take 20 minutes to complete. Your participation is greatly appreciated.
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NOTE: The focus of this capability mapping exercise is on Science Technology and Innovation which can be applied in our HUMAN SETTLEMENTS that is, houses and neighbourhoods. This includes science technology and innovation for water and sanitation, energy, shelter and materials, infrastructure for food, resources and governance, equity and access for social goods and services (education, jobs, and health), privacy, safety and security, and connected neighbourhoods (road, rail and ICT).
Where capability is distributed between departments within the organisation, a consolidated single form or multiple forms can be returned, as convenient. Kindly coordinate internally so that data is not double-reported.
Section A. Basic Organisational Information
1. Name of Organisation:
2. Completed for (Department name):
3. Completed by (Person name):
4. Designation of completing person:
5. Date completed (dd – mm – yyyy):
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Section B. People – Number of Employees / Researchers
6. How many employees / researchers do you have that conduct STI research applicable to human settlements? N/A 0 1-5 6-10 11-20 >20
7. How many of your employees / researchers that conduct STI research applicable to human settlements have a PhD/Post-doc (as highest level)? N/A 0 1-2 3-5 6-10 >10
8. How many of your employees / researchers that conduct STI research applicable to human settlements have a Masters Degree (as highest level)? N/A 0 1-2 3-5 6-10 >10
9. How many of your employees / researchers that conduct STI research applicable to human settlements have an Honours Degree (as highest level)? N/A 0 1-5 6-10 11-20 >20
Section C. People – Bursaries
10. Do you provide any bursaries in the field of STI study applicable to human settlements? N/A Yes No
11. If yes, how many bursaries (honours, bachelors) do you provide on an annual basis? N/A 1-2 3-5 6-10 11-20 >20
12. Do you provide any scholarships / studentships for study of advance degrees (M and PhD) in STI research applicable to human settlements? N/A Yes No
13. If yes, how many scholarships / studentships (M and PhD) do you provide on an annual basis? N/A 1-2 3-5 6-10 11-20 >20
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Section D. People – Publications in STI research applicable to human settlements
14. Does your organisation publish any scientific articles (journal, conference papers, etc) on STI research applicable to human settlements? N/A Yes No
15. If yes, what is the estimated number per year? N/A 1-5 6-10 11-20 >20
Section E. Investment – In STI research applicable to human settlements
16. Do you have any expenditure (e.g. salaries, equipment, labs, students, etc) for STI research applicable to human settlements? N/A Yes No
17. On an annual basis how much do you spend (in Rands) on STI research applicable to human settlements? N/A <1 million 1-10 million 11-20 million >20 million
Section F. Funding – For STI research applicable to human settlements
18. Does your organisation receive external funding to conduct STI research applicable to human settlements? N/A Yes No
19. On an annual basis how much do you receive in external funds (in Rands) for STI research applicable to human settlements? N/A <1 million 1-10 million 11-20 million >20 million
20. If yes, what is the source of your STI research applicable to human settlements funding? NRF TIA THRIP Other Gov NGOs Private/Industr Other
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Section G. Maturity – STI research applicable to human settlements
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE FOLLOWING TABLES
1. Please complete Tables 1-5 if your Department is currently involved in research, development or innovation in the field of Sustainable Human Settlements. 2. Each table relates to a different sub-sector in the field of interest. 3. Rate the strength of your Department’s Science, Technology and Innovation capabilities (people and infrastructure) in Sustainable Human Settlements using the Maturity Assessment Framework (definitions provided below). 4. If your Department does not have capability in a specific field (row) leave the row blank. 5. If there is an area of capability ‘missing’ from the table, please add an additional row in the corresponding table and indicate your current capabilities against this new field. 6. Feel free to elaborate on research, development and innovation capabilities below the tables particularly where the capability is cross-cutting or categories are missing.
Note: The following ‘Maturity Assessment Framework’ is to be used as the basis for completing your Department’s capability mapping for Table 1-5 (STI research applicable to human settlements Capabilities – Maturity).
Maturity Assessment Framework
STI research applicable to human settlements Capability – Maturity Maturity Staff Senior Staff Junior staff or Students Subcritical Single researcher 0-1 0-3
Emerging Dedicated Senior researcher 1-3 3-5
Building Dedicated Principal or Chief 3-5 5-10 researcher with a small Research Group OR Centre of Excellence or Competence Mature Established Centre of >5 >10 Excellence or Competence with Principal/Chief researchers, Senior researchers, Junior staff and admin staff
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Please adhere to the interpretations (and range in scale) for Subcritical, Emerging, Building and Mature when completing your questionnaire.
FOR EXAMPLE PURPOSES ONLY
Sustainable Human Settlements STI Capability Subcritical Emerging Building Mature leadership and governance X innovation policy X technology testing X specification, selection or procurement technology manufacture or supply X Markets and marketing uptake, implementation, installation or construction X Maintenance and use End-of-lifecycle, recycling, decommissioning or disposal
TABLE 1: CAPABILITY IN – BROAD AREAS AS PER THE TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES
Sustainable Human Settlements STI Capability Subcritical Emerging Building Mature water and sanitation energy Shelter, structure and materials infrastructure for food resources and governance equity and access for social goods and services (education, jobs, and health privacy, safety and security connected neighbourhoods (road, rail and ICT) waste Other Please feel free to elaborate:
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TABLE 2: CAPABILITY IN – BROAD AREAS AS PER THE STI VALUE CHAIN
Sustainable Human Settlements STI Capability Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Leadership and governance innovation Policy innovation Technology testing Specification, selection or procurement Technology manufacture or supply Markets and marketing Uptake, implementation, installation or construction Operations and maintenance End-of-lifecycle, recycling, decommissioning or disposal Skills or capacity development Other Please feel free to elaborate:
TABLE 3: CAPABILITY IN – FIELDS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS RESEARCH IMPACTS
Human Settlements Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Human Settlements technologies Human Settlements & environment Human Settlements & human health Human Settlements & climate change Human Settlements & resource economics Human Settlements behaviour Human Settlements & society Human Settlements governance, policy and legislation Human Settlements STI for strategy and planning Human Settlements STI information and information systems Human Settlements STI classification and analysis Human Settlements & social service provisioning Decision support Investment Other
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Please feel free to elaborate:
TABLE 4: CAPABILITY IN – STI RESEARCH SCALE & BUILT ENVIRONMENT TYPE FOCUS
Human Settlements scale Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Urban networks and regional connectivity Multi-nodal urban regions and corridors Cities (including secondary and intermediary cities) Inner Cities, urban nodes and development corridors Towns and rural service nodes Informal Settlements Government provided housing, Social housing Neighbourhood scale Household – In formal urban settlement Household – In rural formal and traditional settlements Other Please feel free to elaborate:
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TABLE 5: CAPABILITY IN – STI RESEARCH FOCUS
Human Settlements scale Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Formal sector Informal sector Other Please feel free to elaborate:
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Section H. Maturity – Human Settlements Capacity and Skills Development Capabilities
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE FOLLOWING TABLE
1. Please complete Tables 6 if your Department is currently involved convening, leading or hosting capacity and skills development activities in the fields of STI in Sustainable Human Settlements. 2. In the past year, what has the extent of engagement been between your organisation and the following stakeholders for the purposes for capacity and skills development for science technology and innovation for sustainable human settlements? Kindly place the number of persons benefiting/ delegates attending/ students enrolled in the applicable column. 3. If your Department does not have capability in a specific field (row) leave the row blank. 4. If there is an area of capability ‘missing’ from the table, please add an additional row in the corresponding table and indicate your current capabilities against this new field.
FOR EXAMPLE PURPOSES ONLY
For example, if your organisation hosts a quarterly community of practice breakfast meeting for about 10 officials, and has two lectures a year on innovation in the undergraduate housing programme with 30 enrolled students, as well as two doctoral students with STI in human settlements-focussed topics, the table should appear as follows:
Human Settlements stakeholders <8 hrs per 8-40 hrs per 40 – 200 >200 hrs annum annum hrs per per annum annum Grassroots innovation Community outreach School-based or junior programmes Entrepreneurs Undergraduate formal programme 30 Honours programme Masters studies Doctoral 2 Post-doctoral International partnerships Peer networks 10
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Continuing professional development Conferences Summits Meetings
TABLE 6: CAPABILITY IN – HUMAN SETTLEMENTS TECHNOLOGIES CAPACITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Human Settlements stakeholders <8 hrs per 8-40 hrs per 40 – 200 hrs >200 hrs per annum annum per annum annum Grassroots innovators Community / outreach School-based or junior programmes Entrepreneurs Undergraduate formal programme Studentships/ internships Honours programme Masters studies Doctoral Post-doctoral International partnerships Peer networks Continuing professional development Conferences Summits Meetings Other
Please feel free to elaborate:
Section H. Infrastructure – Facilities and equipment
21. Do you have specialised research centres / centres of excellence in Human Settlements STI? N/A Yes No
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22. If yes, how much do you invest (in Rand) in such centres per annum? N/A <1 million 1-10 million 11-20 million >20 million
23. Do you have manufacturing capability / production facilities for Human Settlements-specific products / technologies? N/A Yes No
24. If yes, how many plants / production facilities do you have? N/A 1 2-3 4-5 >5
25. Do you require specialised equipment to perform your Human Settlements STI? N/A Yes No
26. If yes, how much capital expenditure (in Rand) do you spend on these equipment per annum? N/A <1 million 1-10 million 11-20 million >20 million
Section I. Human Settlements Technologies
27. Does your organisation create any new products / technologies / patents in Human Settlements? N/A Yes No
28. If yes, what is the estimated number per year? N/A 1-2 3-5 6-10 >10
TABLE 6: CURRENT HUMAN SETTLEMENTS TECHNOLOGIES UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY YOUR DEPARTMENT
Note: In order to map the current STI landscape in South Africa, please indicate below any specific STI research or development applicable in the sustainable human settlements field currently under development by your organisation; the Human Settlements type which is being addressed by the technology; and the current level of technology readiness of the technology.
Product, process or technology name/description Problem area addressed by the Technology technology readiness level
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NB: Please do not disclose any information in the above Table which may compromise your, or your organisations, Intellectual Property (if not yet protected)
Where the definitions of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) are as follows:
TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported TRL 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated TRL 3 Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept TRL 4 Component and/or development model validation in a laboratory environment TRL 5 Component and/or development model validation in a relevant environment. TRL 6 System/subsystem model of prototype demonstration in a relevant environment. TRL 7 System prototype demonstration in an operational environment. TRL 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration. TRL 9 Actual system proven through successful pilot operations.
Where: TRL 1-3 measure the initial technology proof-of-concept development stage
TRL 4-6 measure the readiness for simulated or near-real operational demonstrations with prototype models, and
TRL 7-9 measure the readiness for use in an operational environment and full-scale deployment
The purpose of the STI 4 SHS Roadmap is to unlock the potential of South Africa’s human settlements for a decent standard of living; safe, resilient and sustainable households and neighbourhoods via the smart uptake of science, technology and innovation.
29. What should count as
“mainstreaming”?
30. What should count as “innovation”?
Please return this completed questionnaire to Peta de Jager of the CSIR
Email: [email protected]
Direct enquiries to 012 841 3007
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For more information on the STI 4 SHS Roadmap or to register for the National Forum go to www.sti4shs.co.za
T
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Capability heat-maps
The categories Subcritical, Emerging, Building and Mature reflect the level of maturity of institutions in terms of the number of researchers involved as follows:
Table 8: STI research applicable to human settlements Capability – Maturity
STI research applicable to human settlements Capability – Maturity
Maturity Staff Senior Staff Junior staff or Students
Subcritical Single researcher 0-1 0-3
Emerging Dedicated Senior researcher 1-3 3-5
Building Dedicated Principal or Chief 3-5 5-10 researcher with a small Research Group OR Centre of Excellence or Competence
Mature Established Centre of >5 >10 Excellence or Competence with Principal/Chief researchers, Senior researchers, Junior staff and admin staff
The results show that in most areas, South African institutions have subcritical or emerging maturity, with building maturity in a few areas. The results were tabulated below show overall results for each question, followed by results categorised into academic institutions and other organisations.
Table 1: Capability in – Broad areas as per the TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES Sustainable Human Settlements STI Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Capability water and sanitation 3 1 2 1 energy 3 3 1 0 Shelter, structure and materials 1 3 1 3 infrastructure for food 3 1 1 0 resources and governance 3 1 2 2 equity and access for social goods and services 4 2 0 2 (education, jobs, and health privacy, safety and security 2 1 3 0 connected neighbourhoods (road, rail and 2 4 1 0 ICT) waste 1 3 2 1 Other 0 0 2 0
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Table 1a: Capability in – Broad areas as per the TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES in Academic institutions Sustainable Human Settlements STI Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Capability water and sanitation 2 1 1 0 energy 1 3 0 0 Shelter, structure and materials 0 3 1 1 infrastructure for food 2 1 1 0 resources and governance 1 1 2 1 equity and access for social goods and services 2 2 0 1 (education, jobs, and health privacy, safety and security 0 1 3 0 connected neighbourhoods (road, rail and 0 1 3 1 ICT) waste 0 3 1 0 Other 0 0 2 0
Table 1b: Capability in – Broad areas as per the TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES in non- academic organisations Sustainable Human Settlements STI Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Capability water and sanitation 1 0 1 1 energy 2 0 1 0 Shelter, structure and materials 1 0 0 2 infrastructure for food 1 0 0 0 resources and governance 2 0 0 1 equity and access for social goods and services 2 0 0 1 (education, jobs, and health privacy, safety and security 2 0 0 0 connected neighbourhoods (road, rail and 1 1 0 0 ICT) waste 1 0 1 1 Other 0 0 0 0
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Table 2: Capability in – Broad areas as per the STI VALUE CHAIN Sustainable Human Settlements STI Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Capability Leadership and governance innovation 1 3 1 2 Policy innovation 2 2 2 2 Technology testing 1 2 0 3 Specification, selection or procurement 3 0 1 0 Technology manufacture or supply 3 2 0 0 Markets and marketing 3 2 0 0 Uptake, implementation, installation or construction 2 0 3 0 Operations and maintenance 2 1 1 0 End-of-lifecycle, recycling, decommissioning or disposal 3 2 0 0 Skills or capacity development 2 1 2 3 Other 0 1 0 0
Table 2a: Capability in – Broad areas as per the STI VALUE CHAIN in Academic institutions Sustainable Human Settlements STI Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Capability Leadership and governance innovation 0 3 1 1 Policy innovation 0 2 2 1 Technology testing 1 2 0 1 Specification, selection or procurement 1 0 1 0 Technology manufacture or supply 1 2 0 0 Markets and marketing 1 2 0 0 Uptake, implementation, installation or construction 1 0 2 0 Operations and maintenance 1 1 0 0 End-of-lifecycle, recycling, decommissioning or disposal 1 2 0 0 Skills or capacity development 1 1 1 2 Other 0 1 0 0 Table 2b: Capability in – Broad areas as per the STI VALUE CHAIN in nonacademic organisations Sustainable Human Settlements STI Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Capability Leadership and governance innovation 1 0 0 1 Policy innovation 2 0 0 1 Technology testing 0 0 0 2 Specification, selection or procurement 2 0 0 0 Technology manufacture or supply 2 0 0 0 Markets and marketing 2 0 0 0 Uptake, implementation, installation construction 1 0 1 0 Operations and maintenance 1 0 1 0 End-of-lifecycle, recycling, decommissioning or disposal 2 0 0 0 Skills or capacity development 1 0 1 1
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Other 0 0 0 0
Table 3: Capability in – Fields of Human Settlements Research IMPACTS Human Settlements Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Human Settlements technologies 2 2 0 2 Human Settlements & environment 1 2 4 1 Human Settlements & human health 2 2 2 2 Human Settlements & climate change 3 2 2 1 Human Settlements & resource economics 2 4 1 0 Human Settlements behaviour 2 2 1 0 Human Settlements & society 1 3 1 1 Human Settlements governance, policy and legislation 2 2 2 2 Human Settlements STI for strategy and planning 3 3 1 1 Human Settlements STI information and information 2 1 1 1 systems Human Settlements STI classification and analysis 2 1 2 1 Human Settlements & social service provisioning 1 4 0 1 Decision support 2 1 1 0 Investment 3 1 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0
Table 3a: Capability in – Fields of Human Settlements Research IMPACTS in Academic institutions Human Settlements Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Human Settlements technologies 1 2 0 1 Human Settlements & environment 0 2 3 0 Human Settlements & human health 0 2 2 1 Human Settlements & climate change 1 2 2 0 Human Settlements & resource economics 0 4 1 0 Human Settlements behaviour 0 2 1 0 Human Settlements & society 0 3 1 1 Human Settlements governance, policy and legislation 0 2 2 1 Human Settlements STI for strategy and planning 1 3 1 0 Human Settlements STI information and information 1 1 1 0 systems Human Settlements STI classification and analysis 1 1 2 0 Human Settlements & social service provisioning 0 4 0 0 Decision support 1 1 1 0 Investment 1 1 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0
Table 3b: Capability in – Fields of Human Settlements Research IMPACTS in non-academic organisations Human Settlements Subcritical Emerging Building Mature
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Human Settlements technologies 1 0 0 1 Human Settlements & environment 1 0 1 1 Human Settlements & human health 2 0 0 1 Human Settlements & climate change 2 0 0 1 Human Settlements & resource economics 2 0 0 0 Human Settlements behaviour 2 0 0 0 Human Settlements & society 1 0 0 0 Human Settlements governance, policy and legislation 2 0 0 1 Human Settlements STI for strategy and planning 2 0 0 1 Human Settlements STI information and information 1 0 0 1 systems Human Settlements STI classification and analysis 1 0 0 1 Human Settlements & social service provisioning 1 0 0 1 Decision support 1 0 0 0 Investment 2 0 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0
Table 4: Capability in – STI research Scale & Built environment type Focus Human Settlements scale Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Urban networks and regional connectivity 2 2 2 0 Multi-nodal urban regions and corridors 1 3 2 1 Cities (including secondary and 2 2 2 2 intermediary cities) Inner Cities, urban nodes and 1 2 2 2 development corridors 1 Towns and rural service nodes 1 3 1 2 Informal Settlements 2 3 1 Government provided housing, Social housing 2 3 3 1 Neighbourhood scale 2 1 3 2 Household – In formal urban settlement 2 2 2 1
Household – In rural formal and traditional settlements 1 2 2 1
Other 0 0 0 0
Table 4a: Capability in – STI research Scale & Built environment type Focus in Academic institutions Human Settlements scale Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Urban networks and regional connectivity 1 2 2 0 Multi-nodal urban regions and corridors 0 3 2 Cities (including secondary and 0 2 2 1 intermediary cities) 0 2 2 1 Inner Cities, urban nodes and 0 development corridors
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Towns and rural service nodes 3 1 1 Informal Settlements 0 2 3 0 Government provided housing, Social housing 0 3 3 0 Neighbourhood scale 0 1 3 1 Household – In formal urban settlement 0 2 2 0 Household – In rural formal and 0 2 2 0 traditional settlements Other 0 0 0 0
Table 4b: Capability in – STI research Scale & Built environment type Focus in non- academic organisations Human Settlements scale Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Urban networks and regional connectivity 1 0 0 0 Multi-nodal urban regions and corridors 1 0 0 1 Cities (including secondary and 2 0 0 1 intermediary cities) 0 0 1 Inner Cities, urban nodes and 1 development corridors Towns and rural service nodes 1 0 0 1 Informal Settlements 1 0 0 1 Government provided housing, Social housing 2 0 0 1 Neighbourhood scale 2 0 0 1 Household – In formal urban settlement 2 0 0 1 Household – In rural formal and 1 0 0 1 traditional settlements Other 0 0 0 0
Table 5: Capability in – STI research Focus Human Settlements scale Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Formal sector 2 2 3 1 Informal sector 1 1 3 1 Other 0 0 0 0
Table 5a: Capability in – STI research Focus in Academic institutions Human Settlements scale Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Formal sector 0 2 3 0 Informal sector 0 1 3 0 Other 0 0 0 0
Table 5b: Capability in – STI research Focus in non-academic organisations Human Settlements scale Subcritical Emerging Building Mature Formal sector 2 0 0 1 85 | P a g e
Informal sector 1 0 0 1 Other 0 0 0 0
Table 6: Capability in – Human Settlements Technologies CAPACITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 40 – 200 <8 hrs per 8-40 hrs >200 hrs Human Settlements stakeholders hrs per annum per annum per annum annum Grassroots innovators 0 0 0 1 Community / outreach 0 201 0 0 School-based or junior programmes 0 10 0 0 Entrepreneurs 102 0 0 0 Undergraduate formal programme 150 284 0 0 Studentships/ internships 0 0 1 0 Honours programme 0 0 0 52 Masters studies 0 0 6 49 Doctoral 0 0 8 0 Post-doctoral 0 0 2 0 International partnerships 0 1 16 1 Peer networks 0 18 0 0 Continuing professional development 0 1 0 0 Conferences 0 1285 1 0 Summits 0 10 0 0 Meetings 7204 20 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0
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Table 6a: Capability in – Human Settlements Technologies CAPACITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT in Academic institutions 40 – 200 <8 hrs per 8-40 hrs >200 hrs Human Settlements stakeholders hrs per annum per annum per annum annum Grassroots innovators 0 0 0 1 Community / outreach 0 201 0 0 School-based or junior programmes 0 10 0 0 Entrepreneurs 10 0 0 0
Undergraduate formal programme 150 284 0 0
Studentships/ internships 0 0 1 0
Honours programme 0 0 0 52 Masters studies 0 0 6 49 Doctoral 0 0 8 0 Post-doctoral 0 0 2 0
International partnerships 0 1 16 1
Peer networks 0 18 0 0
Continuing professional development 0 1 0 0
Conferences 0 685 1 0 Summits 0 10 0 0 Meetings 50 20 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0
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Table 6b: Capability in – Human Settlements Technologies CAPACITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT in non-academic organisations 40 – 200 <8 hrs per 8-40 hrs >200 hrs Human Settlements stakeholders hrs per annum per annum per annum annum Grassroots innovators 0 0 0 0 Community / outreach 0 0 0 0 School-based or junior programmes 0 0 0 0 Entrepreneurs 92 0 0 0 Undergraduate formal programme 0 0 0 0 Studentships/ internships 0 0 0 0 Honours programme 0 0 0 0 Masters studies 0 0 0 0 Doctoral 0 0 0 0 Post-doctoral 0 0 0 0 International partnerships 0 0 0 0 Peer networks 0 0 0 0 Continuing professional development 0 0 0 0 Conferences 0 600 0 0 Summits 0 0 0 0 Meetings 7154 0 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0 Table 6: Capability in – Human Settlements Technologies CAPACITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 40 – 200 <8 hrs per 8-40 hrs >200 hrs Human Settlements stakeholders hrs per annum per annum per annum annum Grassroots innovators 0 0 0 1 Community / outreach 0 201 0 0 School-based or junior programmes 0 10 0 0 Entrepreneurs 102 0 0 0 Undergraduate formal programme 150 284 0 0 Studentships/ internships 0 0 1 0 Honours programme 0 0 0 52 Masters studies 0 0 6 49 Doctoral 0 0 8 0 Post-doctoral 0 0 2 0 International partnerships 0 1 16 1 Peer networks 0 18 0 0 Continuing professional development 0 1 0 0 Conferences 0 1285 1 0 Summits 0 10 0 0 Meetings 7204 20 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0
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Out of the twelve respondents, two academic institutions reported having a specialised research centre for STI in human settlements but none of the non-academic organisation reported having such a centre. None of the respondents reported having any manufacturing or production capabilities.
Table 6a: Capability in – Human Settlements Technologies CAPACITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT in Academic institutions 40 – 200 <8 hrs per 8-40 hrs >200 hrs Human Settlements stakeholders hrs per annum per annum per annum annum Grassroots innovators 0 0 0 1 Community / outreach 0 201 0 0 School-based or junior programmes 0 10 0 0 Entrepreneurs 10 0 0 0 Undergraduate formal programme 150 284 0 0 Studentships/ internships 0 0 1 0 Honours programme 0 0 0 52 Masters studies 0 0 6 49 Doctoral 0 0 8 0 Post-doctoral 0 0 2 0 International partnerships 0 1 16 1 Peer networks 0 18 0 0 Continuing professional development 0 1 0 0 Conferences 0 685 1 0 Summits 0 10 0 0 Meetings 50 20 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0
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Innovations applicable to human settlements from the Innovation Bridge Portal
Luminophorous Powder Recycling Rare Earth Recycling Technologies, in conjunction with researchers from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, rare earth Solid waste TRL6 UKZN https://www.innovationbri Plant metal reclaim have developed the LPX Luminophorous Powder Treatment Process. This process recovers valuable materials, dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte such as rare earth metals from the luminophorous powder, whilst simultaneously capturing the mercury in a natural, non- nt/luminophorous- toxic form that it can be safely disposed of as. The recovery of rare earth metals from the luminophorous powder drastically powderrecycling-plant reduces the costs of treating the powder via this method. The income from the sale of the rare-earth metals potentially converts this waste treatment process into an income generating venture. A pilot plant, commissioned at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, capable of processing small volumes of luminophorous powders on a batch basis has been constructed to test this process.
DIY downlighter from recycled material lighting fixture that is designed as a surface mounted holder for down lights. This surface mounted unit affordable Energy Global power https://www.innovationbri lighting, eliminates the need to install additional wiring and wall switches when increasing the number of light recycle waste solutions dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte nt/diy-lighting-unit fixtures thereby reducing electrical costs. The DIY unit is manufactured from recycled plastic, the colour of which is completely customisable. The unit eliminates the need for bulk heads providing a modern retro look and can be coupled with either 4, 7 or 8 additional electrical sockets. The unit also has an adaptor feature that allows multiple fixtures to be added without the need for additional wiring."
Sol-gel Long Lasting Power (lithium-ion These long lasting and significantly safer batteries are novel because of a sol-gel base. A uniform eg recharge electric Construction TRL5 UNISA https://www.innovationbri batteries) carbon coating process produces high-performance lithium-ion batteries. This method makes use of cars material dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte organic phosphoric acid as carbon and phosphoric sources to produce the coated lithium-ion nt/high-performance-li- batteries. This overcomes challenges of low capacity and low energy density which ultimately ionbatteries contribute to battery failure. Ideal for applications that need a long life cycle.
Aquatrip Saving water is absolutely imperative in South Africa and increasingly, other parts of the world as trip switch for overuse Water supply TRL8 https://www.innovationbri well. AquaTrip can be installed for any kind of property to monitor dynamic water consumption, management dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte protecting the entire selected plumbing system. If excessive water is suddenly consumed, AquaTrip nt/aquatrip initiates immediate halt of water supply to the property. This alerts its occupants of the problem and allows actions to be taken in order to address the problem.
The Every Drop Counts (EDC) The Every Drop Counts (EDC) Rainwater System harvest rainwater and greywater, thereby conserving green technology and Water supply TRL6 https://www.innovationbri Rainwater water by decreasing domestic water demand. This technology eliminates the need for an electric water harvesting dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte System water pump to distribute the harvested water via a Pressure Distribution Model (PDM). Removing nt/every-drop-counts- the need for the pump, the PDM reduces electrical and water cost and increases the efficacy of using edcrainwater-system and reusing harvested water. This innovation will encourage both public and private sectors to contribute to water conservation.
Leak-Less Valve™ This technology is a water control device, the Leak-Less Valve™ is an innovatively designed product that Water scarcity Sanitation TRL9 https://www.innovationbri prevents water wastage due to leaks. It is installed inside the toilet cistern, where it will cut down on dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte water leakage by up to 70%. In the city of Cape Town, it is estimated that 25-40% overall water use is actually lost to leaks, imagine the difference this small innovation could make. nt/leak-less- valve%E2%84%A2
River Hydro-Electrical Generator In a bid to provide reliable access to green electricity to uplift indigent communities and to develop the Energy TRL6 https://www.innovationbri Energy access region’s economy we are developing a fully functioning prototype of a paddle wheel dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte for generating electricity from rivers in Africa. Hydro technology typically requires building permanent nt/river-hydro- infrastructure (e.g. weirs, dams, etc.), which is not only expensive but has a negative impact on the river ecology, electricalgenerator
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our approach is different and green. The next step of this project is to develop of a fully functioning prototype paddle wheel for generating electricity from rivers in Africa.
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Wastewater Connect An online utility designed to support the South African water sector. Our framework targets a skills development, Sanitation TRL6 In-silico Education https://www.innovationbri specialized set of professionals who specialize in water and wastewater technologies. As a central professional dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte information hub, it provides a consolidated source of ongoing water digital education platform and community, water nt/wastewater-connect allows for far greater depth of content that aims not only at training the basics but aims to reduce sector the steep technical learning curve to all wastewater professionals.
High Yield Turbine Wind power is an attractive alternate source of generating electrical energy, the aim is to keep renewables, improved Energy TRL5 Yes NMU https://www.innovationbri producing higher energy yields with the development of new technology. Here we have established technology dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte a unique turbine blade arrangement for a fluid driven turbine. This turbine is expected to produce nt/high-yield-turbine higher annual energy yields in comparison to existing small wind turbines. This competitive advantage should allow an affordable energy solution for everyone to benefit from.
Water meter interface node A low-cost general interface platform that enables the real-time monitoring and controlling of water water scarcity Water supply TRL6 Yes CSIR https://www.innovationbri distribution network components, such as the water meter, pressure logger and the flow valve. dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte
nt/water-meter- interfacenode
Twerly™ A renewable energy powered street light which provides off-grid lighting. Powered by a renewables, Energy TRL8 Yes NMU https://www.innovationbri combination system of a vertical axis wind turbine, a solar panel, and a rechargeable battery system. neighbourhood dge.info/ibportal/?q=conte Can be used in residential areas as the wind turbine is quiet. lighting nt/twerly%E2%84%A2
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NRF A-rated Scientists in the past two-years (n=96), active in fields relevant to STI 4 SHS
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Academic Advisory Panel Sessions
Academia was consulted regarding STI priority areas for research in a special Academic Advisory Panel sessions held at the Out-of-the-Box Human Settlements Conference, held in October 2018. This was scheduled to enable selected academics to provide their insights on the conference themes. Proceedings of the panel session are appended and were taken into account in the draft research agenda proposed at the end of this report.
Panel Session Format
The panel session provided an opportunity for Academics to discuss key issues at the conference. The questions below were emailed to the panel in advance of the conference and were used to structure the discussion. Proceedings were recorded and the session lasted about two hours.
Key Questions
31. Needs: What are the 2-3 key/pressing needs in South African human settlements that could be addressed through science, technology and innovation?
32. Science, technology and innovation: What 2-3 science, technology and innovation interventions do you think could make the most significant difference to people living in South African human settlements, particular in underserviced areas?
33. Implementation: How can the interventions you have identified be implemented? Who should do this? How should implementation be funded? Are there particular prerequisites, models and partnerships required? If so, what do these look like?
Distilled Themes from Panel Discussion
The themes outlined below were drafted by the Panel Chair, Dr Jeremy Gibberd. Views within the panel were diverse and sometimes divergent, hence the themes below do not represent a shared, consensus view but rather a distillation by the Chair of some of the concepts and ideas that were shared on academia’s priority themes for STI. These concepts can inform the STI 4 SHS research agenda and HCD priorities.
Partnerships: There was a view that better working partnerships were required to improve housing delivery and the integration of valuable technologies into existing and new human settlements. Current delivery of low-cost housing is isolated to one or two government departments and this arrangement limits the potential for innovation and the scaling up delivery. It was therefore recommended that opportunities for collaboration and the co-production of human settlements and technologies should be taken.
‘The poor’: There was a view that many housing and technology solutions claimed to address ‘the poor’. This is problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, designers who developed solutions for ‘other people’ may not have made the effort to understand the issues sufficiently and sometimes inappropriate solutions were developed. Secondly, this approach does not empower users who are regarded as passive recipients. Thirdly, this approach tended to result in a ‘poor’ and a ‘normal’ solution which lead the perception that some solutions were inferior. Instead a more universal approach may be appropriate. Thus, for instance, in a very water-scarce area, the same water-saving sanitation could be used in wealthy suburbs as well as in poorer areas. This would avoid the perception that ‘second-class’ technologies were being provided to poor people.
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Neighbourhood: The concept of the neighbourhood was considered to be undervalued and it was thought that human settlement development in South Africa should promote this idea more strongly. It was argued that beneficial aspects of neighbourhoods such as local schools, parks and recycling schemes, local economies and social interaction and organisations, such as neighbourhood groups, should be promoted. These aspects, it was argued, could greatly enhance the quality of life of inhabitants as well as having a range of sustainability benefits.
Codes and Competencies: The quality of low-cost housing in many new developments in South Africa was considered problematic. Problems include inadequate foundations, inferior materials, poor workmanship and non-compliant construction techniques. This has led to the requirement for rectification programmes which are a waste of resources and disrupt the lives of occupants. Defining quality standards and processes may help address this situation. This could include ensuring that quality standards are defined and properly adhered to. This can be supported by effective contracting and appointment documentation, explicit quality assurance procedures and enhanced technical capacity within the client, contractors and professional teams.
Specialisation: Levels of technical expertise to address current and emerging issues in human settlements were considered insufficient. Climate change, the upgrading of informal settlements and renewable energy systems, for instance, need to be addressed and are not catered for in current built environment professional team capabilities and training. Specialist courses and focussed modules in built environment professional curricula to address these emerging issues are recommended.
Innovation: It was argued that innovation in South African human settlements should be made more exciting and be mainstreamed by marketing this better. Lessons could be learnt from France where innovation is regarded as desirable and is promoted very effectively.
Community Practices: There was a view that we do not learn enough from current practices. For instance, communities and households have processes of developing dwellings and settlements that can be used and refined to create more responsive human settlements. An example of this is the ‘flat-pack’ timber and corrugated iron house sometimes found on roads into townships that can be bought, transported in a pick-up truck and erected in about an hour.
Vision: There was a view that we need to develop and test ideas about what sustainable human settlements are. In particular, researchers and academics needed to work with local government to pilot new approaches that show potential for improving the sustainability of new settlements and learn from this process.
Criteria: Improving the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of human settlement construction and products requires explicit and quantifiable objectives, criteria, targets and measurement protocols. It was therefore argued that these should be developed and rigorously applied to benchmark existing processes and test alternatives that could lead to better performance.
A second engagement with academia was held on 6 May 2019 in a special Academic Advisory Panel Session of the SASUF Conference Satellite Event for Sustainable Urbanisation in Port Elizabeth. This was chaired by Dr Jeremy Gibberd. The purpose of the session was to share progress on the STI 4 SHS Roadmap HCD and Capabilities report, and draft Framework with relevant academics, to provide a forum to validate the Roadmap Framework and to explore opportunities for the roles and responsibilities of academia in the implementation design of the Roadmap.
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Centres and Units at Universities with direct/ indirect relevance to STI 4 SHS
Central University of Technology
Central University of Technology - Unit for Lean Construction and Sustainability (ULCS)
Leader Prof. FA Emuze, Associate Professor and Head: Department of Built Environment [email protected]
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
To develop further understanding of ‘lean’ and ‘sustainability’ in relation to ‘theory and practice’ as it impact on the built environment in developing economies.
To critically appraise lean construction as an efficiency driven strategy with key aspects tied to management sciences, social sciences, and engineering in order to lead the development of novel strategies for the proliferation of sustainability in the built environment.
CUT - Unit for Sustainable Water and Environment (USWE)
Leader Prof.Yali Woyessa, Associate Professor and Head: Department of Civil Engineering [email protected]
Objective The research on sustainable water resources and environment is aimed at addressing problems related to water scarcity and environmental issues. Impacts of the major drivers of water scarcity and environmental issues, such as population growth, economic growth, improved living standard, climate change, etc. are investigated with the final goal of contributing to the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental and economic). To this effect, the research is organized under two major thematic areas, namely extreme hydrologic events and hydrological and water resources modeling. The extreme hydrologic event theme focuses primarily on the analysis, forecasting and management of droughts and floods in the central regions of South Africa whereas the hydrological and water resources modeling theme focuses on the assessment of impacts of land use and climate change in the region.
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Sustainable Urban, Roads and Transportation (SURT)
Leader Dr M Mostafa, Senior Lecturer Department of Civil Engineering [email protected]
Objective The general aim of the research group is to study towards sustainable engineering solutions to impact the lives of the people through research in transportation related topics.
Cape Peninsular University Of Technology
Cape Peninsular University Of Technology- Energy
Leader- Prof Raynitchka Tzoneva [email protected] http://www.cput.ac.za/research-technology-and-innovation/research-focus-areas
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
Solar heaters Power systems Energy Efficiency
Cape Peninsular University Of Technology- Climate change and environment
Leader Prof Beatrice Opeolu [email protected]
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http://www.cput.ac.za/research-technology-and-innovation/research-focus-areas
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
Environmental toxicity and remediation Design for sustainability
Cape Peninsular University Of Technology- Human and social dynamics, including issues related to service delivery
Leader Prof Janet Condy [email protected] http://www.cput.ac.za/research-technology-and-innovation/research-focus-areas
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
Multi-grade classrooms ICT for development • Home-based health care E-government Community water supply and sanitation Low-cost housing • Nutrition Clinical epidemiology Sports science Ergonomic technology Work place learning and professional education Socio-technical advancements, for example, through technology assessment.
Cape Peninsular University Of Technology- Design for sustainability
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Leader Prof Ephias Ruhode [email protected] http://www.cput.ac.za/research-technology-and-innovation/research-focus-areas
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
Healthcare Biomimicry Low-cost housing solutions Sanitation
Durban University Of Technology
Durban University Of Technology- Research and postgraduate support
Leader Acting Manager: Ms V https://www.dut.ac.za/research Govender
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
Career development planning for emerging researchers in collaboration with the established researchers. Focused research development programmes for researchers and postgraduate Collection of research institutional data, analyzing it and preparing reports for monitoring, planning and submission to relevant statutory funding bodies like Regular monitoring and development of appropriate incentive and research awards for researchers. Acquisition of external and internal grants for both staff and postgraduate
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Convene and initiate public lecture series at the university related to research in identified focus areas in consultation with relevant focus area leaders and faculty Raise awareness and run appropriate research capacity development programmes for both Postgraduate students and staff.
Durban University Of Technology-Information technology and support services
Leader https://www.dut.ac.za/information_technology_support_services
Objective To utilize innovative technology to achieve continuous improvement in ITSS for the benefit of our customers Provide an integrated information system that supports the DUT core business Provide optimal services and support to our customers. These include desktop, email, internet, e-learning, ERP systems on an integrated network Develop the competency level of ITSS staff to provide effective and efficient support to our customers
Durban University Of Technology- Research institutes
Leader Dr B Dzwairo and Prof. https://www.dut.ac.za/iwwt Jinabhai
Objective The Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT) was founded as a research institute as the Centre for Water Research in mid 90’s and subsequently became the Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology. It is one of 13 NRF recognized research niche areas and was granted institute status in 2011. This organization, based at Durban University of Technology, has over the years developed into a “Centre of Excellence” and proficiency. Our focus is largely based on developing and optimizing technology for the treatment of water and wastewater, and green energy to satisfy the needs of industry and the community. Research projects are selected and designed in close consultation with industrial partners with the aim to help industries maintain
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acceptable levels of effluent discharges and to meet increasing energy requirements. This plays an essential role in reducing negative environmental impact and commercialization of products generated from waste streams.
The strength of the Institute lies in its commitment to develop essential skills through student training. This effectively equips the researcher to venture out into industry and satisfy the much needed human resource requirements of the water sector.
Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the research, the Institute offers post graduate programmes in a wide spectrum of disciplines in Science and Engineering. It accepts postgraduate students whose qualifications are registered in a variety of departments such as biotechnology, chemistry, civil and chemical engineering and environmental health. IWWT post graduate student base comprises local as well as international students. Postgraduate students are trained and developed to satisfy the water and wastewater human resource needs of industry in general. Staff members are further trained by attending workshops and courses as well as international visits to the laboratories of our collaborating partners.
The recent progress/contribution of the institute is a fascinating chapter in the story of higher education and scientific research in Durban University of Technology. To date the IWWT has hosted 16 Post-Doctoral Fellows from reputable international institutions, 14 Doctoral students, 30 Masters and 45 B.Tech students. Publishing research articles are a core part of the research carried out at the Institute with a total of 85 research articles, 6 book chapters, numerous technical reports and national and international conference presentations to its credit.
Future developments: Our research facility will be moving to bigger premises in the near future. The construction of this building is set to commence in early 2015 and this project has been funded by the Department of higher education and training.
Durban University Of Technology- International education and Partnerships
Leader https://www.dut.ac.za/international_education_and_partnerships
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Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
To service our international partnerships efficiently; To assist short-term and long-term international students to have a positive experience at DUT; To provide pastoral support to our international students; To provide logistical support to international visitors, scholars and students. This includes immigration requirements, medical and visa information, students welfare and advice on acceptability of foreign qualifications; To work with academic departments to identify suitable international partners that will promote teaching innovation, learning and research To develop partnerships with other Universities internationally; To enrol high quality international students for study at DUT, especially from the South African Development Community region.
Durban University Of Technology- Technology transfer and Innovation
Leader https://www.dut.ac.za/technology_transfer_and_innovation
Objective The TTI unit looks to extend beyond the institution and serve as a vehicle to engage the community at large to awaken the creative potential and promote technology transfer, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Strategic public, private sector and international partnerships allow the TTI unit to support innovation and technology transfer. The TTI unit facilitates this process by making available the materials, infrastructure and resources required in the generation of technology. Secondary to this function, the TTI unit offers professional advice and support with regard to legal, technical and business related matters in order to ensure the successful commercialization of intellectual property.
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Mangosuthu University of Technology
Mangosuthu University of Technology- Renewable energy
Leader http://www.rie.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/MUT-Research-and-Innovation-Framework-Council-approved-September-
2016.pdf
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
o Algal biotechnology o Solar Energy o Waste Management o Energy Management o Wave Energy
Mangosuthu University of Technology- Human Settlements
Leader http://www.rie.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/MUT-Research-and-Innovation-Framework-Council-approved-September-
2016.pdf
Objective o Service Delivery o Environmental Health o Environmental Pollution and remediation o New Building Technologies
Mangosuthu University of Technology- Health
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Leader http://www.rie.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/MUT-Research-and-Innovation-Framework-Council-approved-September-
2016.pdf
Objective o Medical Geology o Medicinal Plants o Health Biotech o Communicable and Non-communicable diseases o Health Informatics o Bioinformatics o Molecular Docking o Biomedical Engineering
Nelson Mandela University
Nelson Mandela University- Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Livelihoods
Leader https://research.mandela.ac.za/research/media/Store/documents/Research-Innovation-Report.pdf
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Livelihoods Building on the key research strengths of our natural scientists who have been researching fields such as Conservation Biology for many years, this Theme will also enable our academics in resource economics to address questions of sustainability – both for our region as well as nationally and across the African continent. Sustainable Human Settlements is a focus area for our School of the Built Environment that will also speak to this Theme. The Theme will also include the inspiring research taking place in our Faculty of Health Sciences, where projects are specially focused on vulnerable communities challenged by the high levels of poverty.
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Nelson Mandela University- Digital Technologies
Leader https://research.mandela.ac.za/research/media/Store/documents/Research-Innovation-Report.pdf
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is: Innovation and the Digital Economy This Theme aims to address not only the use of digital technologies in general but also the impact it has on the transformation of industries. To stay competitive, manufacturers need to sustain global economic momentum while developing new digital and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) capabilities and operating models. The broad objectives of this theme include the following: to promote a better understanding on the role of the digital economy in not only South Africa but Africa, particularly how digital technologies impact economies and transform both business practices and societies; to examine how institutions, policies and regulations, and human skills can be transformed to keep up with the quickening pace of digital transformation in Africa; to exchange views on the current state of the digital economy in Africa, including issues related to digital flows; e- commerce; financial technology; the role of education, skills, and innovation on digital economy; and implications of digital transformation on Africa’s manufacturing economic landscape.
North West University
North West University- Enviromental Sciences and management
Leader Prof Nico Smit https://www.google.co.za/?gws_rd=ssl
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
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Generating research that safeguards nature while promoting the social and economic development of the country’s people is the focus of the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM). Located in Potchefstroom, the unit supports the optimal utilisation of natural resources within the limitations of ecosystem resilience. To ensure long-term relevance, the UESM seeks a balance between fundamental and applied, market-oriented research. Currently our research is conducted in eight subprogrammes: Climate Change, Air Quality and Impacts; Aquatic Ecosystem Health; Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology; Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience; Environmental Management; Integrated Pest Management; Geology Soil Science, and Spatial Planning and Implementation.
North West University- Energy and Technology systems
Leader Prof Frans Waanders http://services.nwu.ac.za/research-support/research-entities
Objective Within the context of this broad vision, focus is accomplished by means of faculty-supported focus groups. Many of these groups are primarily concentrated on Energy Systems, i.e. three SARChI chairs in (1) Nuclear Energy, (2) Biofuels and other clean alternative fuels and (3) Coal Research as well as the Hydrogen Energy-hosted entity and other faculty-supported focus groups such as Thermal Fluid-Systems, Energy Management and Smart Power Systems. The number of focus groups that do not relate exclusively to Energy Systems increased to the extent that the name and identity of the Unit for Energy Systems was changed to the Unit for Energy and Technology Systems (UETS) in 2015 to include these groups, for example Intelligent Systems, Telecommunications and ICT (Telenet), Dynamic modelling and control of large scale Industrial Systems (McTronX), Aircraft Development, Advanced Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering and Water Research. The focus of this unit a whole is to address existing and future problems and challenges of society and industry through the systemic and systematic integration of resources and technology.
North West University- Material Science Innovation and modelling
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Leader Prof Eno Ebenso http://services.nwu.ac.za/research-support/research-entities
Objective Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) has endeavoured to become a leading research and development centre in the area of materials, metal initiatives and nanotechnology initiatives to solve industry-related problems on a regional, provincial and national level. Their strategic aim is to create an enabling environment for the realisation of strategic objectives of the South African government by supporting the long-term development of:
1. advanced materials, 2. Nano Science, 3. Nano Technology and 4. renewable energy/modelling research, while developing human capital and supporting infrastructure in the province.
The Focus Area believes that these aspirations will be achieved by conducting fundamental and applied trans-disciplinary research and developing innovative methods. The entity intends to achieve the following: (a) to bring about maximum human capital, sustainable economic growth and improved quality of life ; (b) to enhance South Africa’s knowledge generation capacity in order to produce world-class research outputs and assist in turning some of the advanced findings into innovative products and processes; (c) to develop appropriate human capital for science, technology and innovation in order to meet the needs of society and (d) to build and train the next generation of researchers and enable technology development and transfer as well as knowledge interchange. Research is conducted in many areas of specialization in Chemistry, Physics, Pure/Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences. The Entity comprises capable researchers from the departments of Chemistry, Physics/Electronics, Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science. It has ten (10) NRF- rated members namely Prof Eno Ebenso (B3), Prof J. Moori (B2), Prof. Khalique (C2), Prof Noutchie (Y2), Prof. Otafudu (C3), Dr. Le (C1), Prof. Mawire (Y2), Prof. D. Onwudiwe (Y2), Prof. Bahadur (Y2) and Dr. A.A. Gidelew (Y2). MaSIM research focus area has 14 permanent staff members which include full professors, research professors, associate professors and senior lecturers. There are also 10 postdoctoral fellows, several honours, masters and doctoral students.
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Some members of the research entity are highly respected members of their respective academic and professional associations namely Royal Society of South Africa, Academy of Science of South Africa, London Mathematical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry etc.
North West University- Social Transformation
Leader Prof André Duvenhage http://services.nwu.ac.za/research-support/research-entities
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is: This Focus Area specialises in the creation, development, management and evaluation of the transformational and social development roles and responsibilities of government, the business sector and communities in developing societies, thereby contributing significantly towards social transformation within these societies. Through different modes of research, the mission is to render a meaningful contribution towards the improvement of a sustainable quality of life and transformation in South Africa and other African countries. The Research Focus Area: Social Transformation encompasses the fields of public management, political science, history, sociology, philosophy, communication studies and social anthropology, thereby serving as a nexus where divergent disciplinary trajectories of social science converge. The research programmes, along with their disciplinary foci, where applicable, are as follows:
Public Administration (Public Management and Governance) Historical and Heritage Studies Philosophical Research Communication in Changing Contexts (Communication Studies) Modernity and Coloniality Politics Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development
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Social Resilience, Change and Sustainability
A dedicated team of over 50 researchers, some of whom are located in different Schools and other business units, all contribute to the high level of research outputs generated from this Focus Area. Many of these researchers also lecture both at the undergraduate level and postgraduate level, and present professional training sessions. Postgraduate support is provided to those students pursuing their postgraduate studies through any of the involved and/or contributing Schools and business units. A number of qualifications and short courses are provided as a means to increase working knowledge and to provide individuals with the skills necessary to work in a dynamic and transforming world.
North West University- Food Security
Leader Prof Olubukola Babalola http://services.nwu.ac.za/research-support/research-entities
Objective The Food Security and Safety (FSS) niche area consists of multi-disciplinary research expertise in Agriculture, Biological Sciences, and Environmental Sciences. The strategic aim is to conduct fundamental and applied research and to develop innovative methods of ensuring food security and safety. Through the facilitation of on-going access to safe and nutritious food, the entity is a leading research and development centre in the area of food security and safety on a regional, national and international levels. Working in close collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the Department of Rural Development (DRD), the entity has identified availability of, access to and utilisation of food as the three key issues relating to food security and safety. In the face of climate change, FSS also examines the contribution of agricultural systems (production, marketing, processing and value adding, technology, consumption) on household food security. Food safety and the application of beneficial rhizobacteria as bio-fertilisers in particular are also being investigated. The research deals with both technical and socio-economic dynamics of food security and develops strategies for the sustainable improvement of productive local crop and livestock systems of rural households – with the role of indigenous foods in household food security as particular concern.
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North West University- Global Innovated Focussed Talent (GIFT)
Leader Prof Nicolene Barkhuizen http://services.nwu.ac.za/research-support/research-entities
Objective The main focus of GIFT is to develop an empirically tested talent body of knowledge that will set the standard and guidelines for the effective application of talent management practices in the workplace. GIFT consists of four sub-programmes that have been structured to contribute to the “GIFT” of talent:
Global and strategic Talent Management Innovative Talent Management technologies (e-Talent Management) Forefront Talent Risk Management and Assessment Talent Value Proposition and Branding.
North- West University-Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre
Leader Prof Simeon Materechera http://natural-sciences.nwu.ac.za/indigenous-knowledge-systems-centre/about-us
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
The IKS Centre is one of the five consortium partner institutions making the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Foundation (DST-NRF) Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CIKS). The partner institutions are the, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), North-West University (NWU), University of Limpopo (UL), University of South Africa (UNISA), and University of Venda (UNIVEN). The Centre strives to play a role in contributing towards the uplifting of community livelihoods through knowledge and products generated by unlocking the full potential of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and promoting 112 | P a g e
the recognition, development, protection and affirmation of indigenous knowledge in scholarship and social responsiveness relevant to the knowledge economy. We offer a four year Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (BIKS) degree whose curriculum has core and elective modules in areas of indigenous agriculture, Health care systems, Arts and Culture, Science and Technology and, Ethnomedidcine. Both IK holders and practitioners are involved in the teaching and learning programmes in order to provide the graduates with the necessary skills, knowledge and values of IKS. The holistic and community-based nature of IKS provides us a foundation for link between researchers, indigenous knowledge holders and practitioners in local communities through research, community engagement and knowledge brokerage activities. Regionally, the centre was designated as a NEPAD/SANBio Regional IKS Node for the Southern African region in February 2010. The Southern Africa Network for Biosciences (SANBio) is a NEPAD Agency Flagship for collaborative research, development and an innovation platform aimed at addressing Southern Africa's challenges in health and nutrition. The role of the node is to co-ordinate IKS network activities in the region. In 2013, Mrs Grace Meiki Masuku passionately called ‘Namola Leuba” (agent of poverty relief) was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal at a spring graduation ceremony in recognition of her profound understanding of indigenous knowledge and systems and extraordinary commitment to use indigenous knowledge to champion the cause for sustainable rural development.
North-West University- Advanced Manufacturing
Leader Prof LJ Grobler http://services.nwu.ac.za/research-support/research-entities
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
Processing for the food industry Specialised machine and equipment development Specialised tool- and die-making service Product and process development Filled polymers compounding and profiling Injection moulding
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UNISA
UNISA-Applied Behavioural Ecological & Ecosystem Research Unit (ABEERU)
Leader Prof Leslie Brown [email protected]
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
This research flagship functions as a centre of excellence in CAES and conducts basic and applied research to solve industry-related problems in the field of behavioural ecology. The research focuses on the reaction of all components (biotic and abiotic) of ecosystems to changes in the urban and natural environment. This integrated approach has clear academic and practical value, and is in line with Unisa’s education philosophy and the approach followed by the National Research Foundation of establishing and supporting centres of excellence involving interdisciplinary national and international research teams.
UNISA-Consumer education and conscientious decision making
Leader Dr Lorna Christie [email protected]
Objective The research focuses on consumer behavior and the promotion of conscientious decision making in terms of bettering the lives of the South African consumer through their consumption patterns. This includes investigating factors that influence decision making in terms of values, perceptions, attitudes and other social and cultural influences. The research should then serve to educate consumers regarding pertinent consumption issues in order to promote well-being in South Africa and ultimately in the Global South.
UNISA-Community asset mapping for a sustainable future
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Leader Prof Melanie Nicolau [email protected]
Objective The purpose of the research is to achieve sustainable and responsible high-impact social change through collaboration between academia, communities and non-government organisations in the Global South. The engaged research project aims at the development and application of a tool (Community Asset Mapping Programme – CAMP) that would be able to assist communities in reducing their levels of poverty and inequality and thus in improving their own quality of life. The tool focuses on various processes that aim to enable community members to focus on their respective human, social, cultural and environmental capital as a means of reducing their levels of poverty and inequality. Unlike similar tools, CAMP advocates that the success of roots-driven change depends on the inclusion of processes that allow community members to identify the various levels of power and trust in the community, and to use this information to make a number of cognitive changes that will provide a basis for sustainable change in communities. The research is grounded in the post-development theory and relies on the participation of external partners in the development process (described in the context of this theory as those who would be willing to provide funding, mentorship and skills to a community, but are prepared to stand aside and allow communities to establish their own priorities for sustainable socio-economic change).
UNISA-Food and nutrition security
Leader Dr Mosima Masekoameng [email protected]
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
Two categories of implementation of the Food and Nutrition Security Project has been identified. The first category is research and the second category is community engagement. Under research, the project will incorporate climate change and its impact on household food security pillars, such as availability, accessibility, utilisation and stability. Research into food security has indicated that there are shortcomings in the current data gathering methods used to evaluate food security status. There is therefore a need to develop new data gathering methods that encompass food deficiencies at household levels; hence there is a need to conduct this type of study. The proposed research project aims to assess the impact of climate change on the household food security of smallholder and emerging farmers in Gauteng, South Africa, using participatory approaches. Climate change and food security require the involvement of many stakeholders, such as farmers, local communities, business, scientists, policy-makers, extension workers, NGOs, the media and civil society organisations. There is still very little empirical evidence available on the link
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between climate change and the household food security of smallholder and emerging farmers in Gauteng, and how farmers cope with the impact of climate change and food security. These gaps call for this study to explore how smallholder farmers adapt and mitigate activities as part of a complex change process. Three master’s students have been identified for the implementation of the research category of the project. The second category of implementation is to promote food security at household level through two community engagement (CE) projects. The first CE project is to equip identified students with skills through community-based learning and development methods, as well as self-monitoring to assist households in improving their own household food security. This will be achieved through a short learning programme (PHFS) consisting of six modules that follow the systems approach of defining inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes. Students will be trained to assist households in learning activities to promote food security. This methodology is in line with the interactive, flexible and blended open distance learning mode of the institution. The second CE project is to establish a low external input agricultural resource (LEIAR) in the form of a demonstration food garden at the Unisa Ekurhuleni Daveyton Campus. A study of food behaviour patterns, household food security and nutrition will be conducted as a baseline study prior to the establishment of the gardens to ensure that the gardens address the real needs of the Ekurhuleni/Daveyton community.
UNISA-Sustainable use of water
Leader Prof Memory Tekere [email protected]
Objective As water is becoming scarcer while the demand for water is increasing as the result of population and economic activities, there is a great need to manage and use water in a sustainable manner to meet human needs while ensuring that the environment is not under strain. Increased water use, the effects of climate change, pollution and poor wastewater treatment, and inefficient water supply practices are pressures and driving forces that necessitate research into sustainable water use. Research in this flagship focuses on water use practices; policies and initiatives for sustainable water use; pollution and quality of the water (its fitness for purpose); water reuse and recycling; water harvesting; and water treatment technologies.
UNISA- ARC Climate Change Collaboration Centre
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Leader Prof Mxolisi Modise [email protected]
Objective The Agricultural Research Council Climate Change Collaboration Centre (ARC-CCC) is a research flagship of three member institutions, namely the University of South Africa (Unisa), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the University of Pretoria (UP). The Centre aims at finding solutions to agriculture-related climate change challenges through cross-institutional collaboration that includes industry, to facilitate sector skills development and knowledge management. It aligns itself with Unisa in promoting greater environmental responsibility through identified focus areas and encourages the development and implementation of and reporting on environmental research and sound technologies. The key research subthemes of the collaborative group are multidisciplinary and encompass a broad range of agricultural sciences. These include plant/crop production systems as affected by various cultural practices and environmental factors, such as pests and diseases, growing patterns, plant and environment, water and sustainable natural resource utilisation and management, conservation and biodiversity of agri-indigenous knowledge systems, environmental pollution, and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies (climate-smart agricultural research). The outcomes and deliverables culminats in, among other things, the development of a climate change research collaborative programme that results in the following:
1. Training of master’s and doctoral students 2. Publication of findings in accredited Web of Science (WOS) and International Science Index (ISI) journals 3. Promotion of academic discourse and scholarship by appointing academic associates (e.g. research fellows, postdoctoral candidates, extraordinary lecturers and professors) 4. Contribution to the improvement and resilience of livelihoods in farming communities
University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town- Poverty and inequality initiative
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Leader Poverty and inequality initiative http://www.povertyandinequality.uct.ac.za/
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
The PII has provided central institutional support and academic leadership, promoted knowledge sharing, cross-disciplinary collaboration and communication – both within and beyond the university community – to expand and raise the profile of UCT’s collective contribution to addressing challenges posed by poverty and inequality in South Africa. The PII brought together high-profile members from diverse disciplines across the university – at regular meetings, seminars and other events – to share knowledge and promote collaborative research into the complex challenges posed by poverty and inequality.
University of Cape Town- Urban Africa
Leader Africa Centre for Cities https://www.africancentreforcities.net/
Objective The African Centre for Cities (ACC) is an interdisciplinary research and teaching programme focused on quality scholarship regarding the dynamics of unsustainable urbanisation processes in Africa, with an eye on identifying systemic responses.
University of Cape Town- Future Water
Leader Future Water http://www.futurewater.uct.ac.za/transdisciplinary-thematic-areas-future-water-institute
Objective South Africa is a water-scarce, development-oriented country with inefficient resource use. Four themes address the challenges this reality creates.
Research projects may have a main home in one of these thematic areas, but the nature of transdisciplinary work means that the projects, and the researchers within them interacts with all thematic areas, and research can be applied across the themes. These
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themes can be thought of as lenses through which a complex problem is addressed, which is needed to meaningfully set boundaries to address critical questions.
University of Cape Town- Climate
Leader African Climate and Development http://www.acdi.uct.ac.za/ Initiative
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
The African Climate & Development Initiative (ACDI) is the University of Cape Town’s collective response to the challenge of climate change in the context of sustainable development in Africa. ACDI is an inter- and transdisciplinary research and training Institute that brings together academics across UCT and beyond, NGOs, business, civil society and government to co-produce and test new insights, evidence and innovations that will help to solve Africa's climate and development challenges. ACDI was established in 2011 by the Vice Chancellor as a Strategic Initiative, to “facilitate and substantially extend climate research and education at UCT with the specific context of addressing the development challenges of Africa from an African perspective”.
University of Fort Hare
University of Fort Hare- Climate Change
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Leader V Maphosa, B Muchara PJ Masika and http://www.ufh.ac.za/centres/rvsc/climate-change C.Tichagwa.
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
A survey was conducted in Njwaxa and Saki villages of Nkonkobe local municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, with the aim of determining the nature of changes in agricultural productivity due to climate change, and identifying strategies adopted by farmers to cope with climate change effects. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a random sample of 100 households, and 10 key informants comprising traditional leaders. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected and analyzed using SPSS. The survey revealed that most farmers (60%) perceive that climate has influenced agriculture in recent years. A significant 93% of the farmers believe that there has been reduction in rainfall over years. Water in dams is no longer reliable, with 81% respondents indicating changes in dam water holding capacities. The expected drying months for the dams 10 years ago were July /August, but now it barely goes as far as June. The expected month of filling up of dams was Nov/December in the 10 years ago, but now they never fill up. Farmers (78 %) indicated that temperature has continually increased over the past years, whereas 56% of the farmers believe that bush encroachment by thorny bushes (Acacia) is on the increase, affecting nutrition of the animals in terms of both quality and quantity. The survey also revealed that 80% of respondents owned different livestock species with the majority of the people keeping goats, probably due to their cultural importance in the Province. Results also showed that there is a general decline in the average numbers of livestock owned to date, with cattle being the most affected.
Coping strategies by smallholders included targeting non-farm activities as sources of livelihood,
diversification of activities so as to spread risks and boost income, keeping of smaller livestock that do not demand high volumes of water, and keeping more of goats than cattle and sheep as they are browsers. The study revealed changes in agricultural productivity brought in by climate change; as well as some adaptation strategies by farmers. We however intend to conduct a more detailed baseline study covering the whole province of the Eastern Cape after which some innovations will be suggested and implemented.
University of Fort Hare- Food Security
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Leader M. Sibanda a, A. Mushunje a and C.S. http://www.ufh.ac.za/centres/rvsc/?q=food-security#overlay-context= Mutengwa
Objective Nowadays there is wide scientific evidence that concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing due to human activities, causing global climate change. Climate change has been shown to exert significant pressure on agricultural production in Africa. Adaptation strategies to cope with climate variability and change have become the key themes in current global climate discussions and policy initiatives; however such options are limited to poor-resource smallholder farmers. Maize is one of the most important crops grown by smallholder farmers in Amatole and O.R. Tambo Districts of the Eastern Cape. Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs) of maize have been shown by studies to be relatively drought tolerant as compared to hybrids and can be a valuable step if adopted as a climate change strategy by the smallholder farmers. This study assessed the factors that influence the demand for maize OPVs of in the Eastern Cape as an adaptation strategy to Climate change by smallholder farmers. One hundred and thirty seven sample households were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The demand model that employed a multiple regression model was used and data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) computer software. Results showed that extension contact, access to credit, availability of household income and proportion of land area under cultivation, positively influenced the demand for the improved maize OPVs whereas the unavailability of the improved maize OPV seeds on the local shops, proportion of land area under hybrids and landraces and perceptions on seed color negatively influenced the demand for the improved maize OPVs.
University of Fort Hare- Water Security
Leader Prof. Anthony I Okoh http://www.ufh.ac.za/centres/rvsc/?q=water-security#overlay-context=
Objective Water Quality is a significant problem in the Eastern Cape Province and one of my major and current areas of research interest. It encompasses such areas as Water/wastewater Quality Indicators, and effluent monitoring and compliance studies as well as exploration of the microbial diversity of the Province’s freshwater and marine resources for important biomolecules of health and biotechnological relevance which could impact on sustainable development and poverty alleviation in the Province. Current ongoing researches involve assessment of the abiotic and biotic (including viral pathogens) qualities of final effluents of wastewater treatment facilities and other aquatic resources in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Our extended interested
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also include surveillance of reservoirs of antibiotic resistance determinants in the environment. We have enjoyed generous grants from the NRF, MRC and WRC in these regards.
AEMREG laboratory is eminently well equipped to meet the demands of our research initiatives. We also exploit the immense benefit of advances in conventional culture based and molecular techniques in the pursuit of our research objectives, and our laboratory serves as the South Africa Country Laboratory for the International collaboration of on the Surveillance of the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA/ISRAR). The group is currently made up of 18 M and D students working in the areas of Water quality; Bioflocculants; Reservoirs of antibiotic resistance; and Plant antimicrobial, and has a publication average of 25 journal articles in the last 3 years. We are delighted to be associated with the RAVAC initiative.
University of Fort Hare- Land Reform
Leader L. Musemwa and A. Mushunje http://www.ufh.ac.za/centres/rvsc/landreform
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is: The objectives of the study were to determine the level that resettled farmers in Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe utilise their land in the production of field crops as well as to determine their mean yields per hectare. Factors that affect yield and land utilisation were also determined. Data was collected from 245 households using a questionnaire as the main instrument. The majority of the households in the resettled areas, A1 (91%), A2 (87%) and the old resettlement areas (70%) were male-headed and had at least primary education. A2 farms have the lowest mean yield per hectare of US$714.80 which significantly differed from A1 (US$854.60) and the old resettled farms (US$846.55) which had higher but similar mean yield per hectare. The mean land utilisation rate varied significantly (p<0.05) with the land reform model with A2 having highest land utilisation rate of 67%. The A1 and old resettlement households had land utilisation rates of 53 and 46% respectively. Average total revenue varied significantly with the model of land reform. Sex, marital status, age of the household head, education and household size significantly affected land utilisation
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University of Johannesburg
University of Johannesburg- Engineering and the built Enviroment
Leader CARINBE https://carinbe.co.za/ https://www.uj.ac.za/research/Pages/centres.aspx
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is: The Centre of Applied Research and Innovation in the Built Enviroment (CARINBE) is set up within the School of Civil Enigennering and Built Enviroment (SCEBE), under the governance rules and structures of the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The custodian of the Centre is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Built Enviroment (FEBE).
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal- Energy and Technology for Sustainable Development
Leader UKZN http://research.ukzn.ac.za/ResearchFocusAreas/EnergyandTechnologyforSustainableDevelopment.aspx research group
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
The Energy and Technology for Sustainable Development focus area is providing leading research for the needs of South Africa and is in keeping with the mission of UKZN as the Premier University of African Scholarship. The energy sector is by far the largest contributor to global GDP and is the engine that drives the world’s economy. Humankind’s insatiable appetite for energy has meant that this sector influences all aspects of the economy and has direct and indirect bearing on the socio-economic development of a country and its people.
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In the National System of Innovation, energy security has been identified as one of the “grand challenges”. Research in the energy sector is not limited to production and distribution of electricity, but also to the minimisation of energy usage, as well as the limitation of the negative environmental effects which are caused by the production and use of energy sources. In this regard there has been a rapidly-growing research interest in improving and developing new technologies for the reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse, and flue gases emitted from coal power plants and fuel burning plants.
There are a number of definitions of sustainable development, but one of the simplest argues that it is development which uses resources available to meet human needs while still preserving the environment so as not to compromise the needs of future generations. Research that is currently undertaken at UKZN in the area of technologies for sustainable development is finely woven into the research being undertaken in the energy sector. The development of technologies for renewable energy, which include fuel production from renewable sources, is a perfect example of this. Research in sustainable technologies also includes environmental sustainability studies which aim to ensure that current industrial processes lead to minimal damage to the environment.
At UKZN there are a number of Units and Centres in this focus area which are conducting research in various aspects of energy production and utilisation as well as technology application for sustainable development. Some of the Units have been established through close research collaborations with major industries such as ESKOM and SASOL. The partnership with ESKOM has resulted in massive investment in research and the establishment of state-of-the-art facilities such as the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Centre and the Vibrational Research and Test Centre (VRTC). The facilities are for research on improved equipment and system performance of electricity transmission and distribution networks. Sustainable manufacturing and chemical production is an area of strength in the Faculty of Engineering with large research groupings in the Schools of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering respectively. The Thermodynamics Research Unit which resides in the School of Chemical Engineering is a SASOL Centre of Excellence in Chemical Thermodynamics and undertakes research into the improvement and optimisation of chemical and separation processes for SASOL. Partnerships also exist with major players in the telecommunications industry with a centre of excellence in this area in partnership with Telkom and Alcatel in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.
Research work on renewable and alternative energy systems and technologies such as solar and wind as well as biofuels and conversion of municipal waste to natural gas for electricity production is being conducted by multi-disciplinary teams in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science. One of the pillars of this initiative is the Integrated Renewal Energy Advancement Programme (IREAP) which is a partnership between UKZN, engineering company Karebo Systems, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), and other relevant partners for the development of a strategy for fundamental research into renewal energy.
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This research focus area is also the home base for two South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) – Chairs which are technology based, namely, the Quantum Information Processing and Communication Chair, which is at the frontier of applying quantum mechanics to develop new technologies in the areas of quantum cryptography and quantum computing, and the Fluorine Process Engineering and Separation Technology Chair, which supports the South African Fluorochemical Expansion Initiative (FEI) and will aid in the development of a substantial fluorochemical industry in the country.
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal- Indigenous African Knowledge Systems and Scope – 2013
Leader Prof Hassan http://research.ukzn.ac.za/ResearchFocusAreas/IndigenousAfricanKnowledgeSystems.aspx Kaya
Objective A Review conducted in 2009 by a team of external and internal experts on African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) capacity at the University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN), revealed that the university has great capacity and potential in terms of active researchers and publications on AIKS in its various units. In-line with the institutional vision “ to be a Premier University of African Scholarship” and promoting Africa led -globalization, UKZN has identified AIKS as a strategic focus area for research, teaching and community engagement. Taking into consideration the holistic and multi-disciplinary nature of AIKS, the scope of research undertaken in the field is quite comprehensive. Researchers are engaged in collaborative research work locally, nationally and continentally in areas of :
1. African Indigenous Agriculture and Food Security including use of Wild food resources and Postharvest Technologies in the context of natural resource and disaster management systems for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Researchers in these areas investigate the behaviours of living organisms as early warning systems, taboos and totemic systems as indigenous environmental protection mechanisms; 2. African Traditional medicine involving working with traditional healers in the identification and screening of medicinal plants for the treatment of various community ailments; smoke research for conservation, cultivation and improving chemical constituents of indigenous medicinal plants;
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3. African Indigenous Approaches to conflict management and transformation. This includes investigation into actors, principles, mechanisms and their applicability in modern times within the context of culture, gender and human rights; 4. African Traditional Leadership and Governance Systems. Researchers investigate the nature and characteristics of African traditional institutions; issues of legitimacy, democracy and accountability; traditional African institutions and modernity (challenges and prospects); 5. Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Creative/ cultural Industries, especially with regard to promoting indigenous community enterprises for employment creation and income generation among vulnerable social groups (women, youth and people living with disability); 6. African Indigenous Languages where researchers investigate issues on the diversity of African Indigenous languages and its impact on development policy, language demographics, linguistic features of African Indigenous languages, etc.
The issue of gender and language is crucial in all these AIKS research areas at UKZN due to the centrality of African women and language in sustainable community livelihood in African communities.
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal-Water, Enviroment and Biodiversity
Leader UKZN http://research.ukzn.ac.za/ResearchFocusAreas/WaterEnvironmentandBiodiversity.aspx research team
Objective UKZN has wide and varied expertise and experience in water-related teaching, research and outreach activities throughout South Africa and in many parts of Africa and beyond. The research focus area draws in a range of academics and students. UKZN’s strength in the field of water is evident in its nationally and internationally recognized researchers with active research programs and postgraduate students in water-related fields, and several ongoing research projects supported by local and international funders. These projects and the contribution of the University’s graduates have resulted in UKZN being recognized as one of the leading institutions in water-related research and training in South Africa and internationally.
Hydrology
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Research is centered on improving our understanding of the functioning of the hydrological cycle, its sensitivity to human influences and the development of tools through which this knowledge can be applied for effective water resources management and planning.
Within this context, hydrology research is conducted within the following areas:
Agricultural water use and innovation in irrigation practices. Water related aspects of land use change. Hydrology process studies. Hydrological aspects of climate change and forecasting. Hydrological model and database design and development.
Development of tools and practices to assist in the implementation of South Africa’s National Water Act and the management of the country’s water resources is an outcome of these studies, but the Research Group is also active in regional, continental and global initiatives. One of the more notable outputs from this group is the Agricultural Catchments Research Unit’s Agro- hydrological Modeling System, a software system that is being used as a research and management tool for water resources planning and operations in South Africa and provides a foundation for several ongoing research projects.
Projects completed recently include a revised agrohydrological atlas for South Africa, and tools to estimate the water use of commercial afforestation in South Africa, both of which are now used by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in water licensing and regulation. Waste, Water and Sanitation Management As a result of a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Department and UKZN, the University’s Pollution Research Group (PRG) has expanded its activities into municipal water and wastewater management. These activities form the focus of a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, biologists, political scientists and community medical professionals, and have included participation in two European Union research projects related to membrane bioreactors and the identification and dissemination of best practice of water and sanitation supply to unserved communities.
Sanitation projects are being undertaken on pit latrines and urine diversion toilets. Collaborative research on the anaerobic baffled reactor process includes internationally recognized projects being undertaken by the non-governmental organization Borda, which is working in South-East Asia and Africa.
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Research for the Water Research Commission and SASOL is ongoing. The Pollution Research Group recently received a R 2.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund its toilet technology and sanitation research, the aim of which is to design a toilet system that will lead to the safe disposal of waste water in poor communities. UKZN was one of eight institutions – and the only one in Africa – chosen out of 22 to take part in the “Reinvent the Toilet” challenge.
Micrometeorology and Agrometeorology Investigations are conducted into the energy and water balances between the soil, plants and atmosphere through the Soil-Plant- Atmosphere Continuum Research Unit (SACRU) which specialises in micrometeorotogy and agrometeorology. This internationally- recognised Research Unit has a major research thrust in the investigation of energy and water balances and emphasises the use of and development of methods for the measurement of evaporation, sensible heat and, more recently, carbon dioxide fluxes above land surfaces. Most of this research is funded by the Water Research Commission.
Hydrological Engineering The way in which engineering interacts with the natural environment and can be used to promote sustainable practices is consolidated in research conducted by the Centre for Research in Environmental, Coastal, and Hydrological Engineering (CRECHE). Projects include the management of landfill emissions, the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere and coastal waters, spatial rainfall modelling and estuary bio-hydrodynamics. The Centre also conducts leading national research into radar-rainfall relationships and flood forecasting through its Satellite Applications and Hydrology Group (SAHG).
Limnology Biological limnology research, with particular focus on man-made lakes and integrated catchment management, is concentrated in the School of Biological and Conservation Studies. Members of the Grassland Science Group collaborate with communities in the Upper-Thukela on a pilot “Payment for Environmental Services” project funded by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Here, indicators for the payment of water services are developed and tested.
Applied research into and management of water resources, decision support tools for estuaries, fresh water management and water conservation is conducted by the Institute of Natural Resources, an associate institute of UKZN.
In addition to these larger water research groups there are several other initiatives, notably working on wetlands, soil erosion, community interactions and sanitation, estuary-related research, and water and public health.
Thanks to a major investment by the Water Research Commission, research grants in the field of water total about R20 million a
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year from international funders, including the Ford Foundation, the European Union and Dutch and Swedish Development Agencies.
The Smallholder System Innovations (SSI) Research Project This flagship research project cuts across and involves all UKZN groups. An applied and development-oriented research programme, it aims at advancing knowledge on how to balance water for food and the environment with a particular focus on upgrading smallholder rain-fed agriculture in water-stressed catchments. The multi-disciplinary research programme encompasses biophysical and social research themes, Grassland Science and the University’s Farmers’ Support Group, with the researchers working closely with other stakeholders, including local communities at two pilot catchments (Potshini and Makanya) in two river basins (Thukela and Pangani) in South Africa and Tanzania respectively.
The project is being implemented jointly by five research institutions: Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania); Stockholm University (Sweden); the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education (Netherlands); the University of KwaZulu-Natal; and the International Water Management Institute. Funded by the Dutch and Swedish governments, the programme – notwithstanding its development orientation – is based on innovative and cutting-edge disciplinary science and has supported two UKZN PhD students and four MSc students as part of a group of more than 20 postgraduates across the partner institutions.
University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria- Environmental Chemical Pollution & Health Research Unit
Leader The Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health https://www.up.ac.za/environmental-chemical-pollution-and-health-research-
Research Unit unit
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
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The Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit was established in 2012 as a partnership between the School of Health Systems and Public Health and Andrology in the Department of Urology. The main focus of the ECPH Research Unit is on the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on the environment, human and animal health.
University of Pretoria- Water
Leader Water Instutute https://www.up.ac.za/water-institute
Objective The Water Institute's first priority is to sustain a strong internal network through good communication of academic staff, with their support structures, from all UP Faculties who are involved in water research and education. In other words, the Water Institute strives to be the face of Water at UP. With this as basis, the Water Institute is in a strong position to constructively contribute, through its structures and external networks, in finding solutions to Africa's water challenges.
WITS University
WITS University -African Centre for Migration & Society
Leader African Centre for Migration & Society https://www.wits.ac.za/acms/
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is: The African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) is Africa’s leading scholarly institution for research and teaching on human mobility. Established in 1993, ACMS is an independent, interdisciplinary and internationally engaged institution focusing on the relationships among human movement politics, poverty, and social transformation. While oriented towards southern Africa, the Centre conducts collaborative scholarly and policy-oriented work across sub-Saharan Africa, and has partnerships in Asia, Europe and the Americas. It offers Africa’s only post-graduate degrees in migration and displacement studies and provides training to
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students and professionals on a number of topics including the sociology of migration, mobility and health, human rights, and research methods.
While maintaining its scholarly independence, the Centre regularly partners with organizations in government and civil society in identifying data needs, conducting research and shaping policy. Centre staff are also regularly called on to provide expert advice and commentary to international organizations, governments, and the media.
ACMS research on international and domestic migration critically analyses how human mobility reshapes institutions, attitudes, economies and policies. Through its work, the centre influences global and regional academic research agendas, policy deliberations and civil society mobilisation. To these ends, the ACMS regularly hosts high profile seminars and public events.
WITS University-The African Microeconomic Research Unit
Leader The African Microeconomic Research https://www.wits.ac.za/sebs/research-/research-entities/ameru/ Unit
Objective The African Microeconomic Research Unit (AMERU) brings together South African and African researchers to conduct rigorous quantitative research on African microeconomic issues, specifically on labour markets, firm dynamics and education. The research programme has a number of core aims:
to produce rigorous data-driven research that is relevant for policy makers; to build networks between South African, African and international researchers working on Africa; to develop research capacity for the analysis of microeconomic data.
WITS University- The African Research Universities Alliance
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Leader The African Research Universities http://arua.org.za/ Alliance
Objective The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) is a network of universities from different countries and different historical backgrounds, but with a common vision. The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) is pursuing its goal of enhancing research and graduate training in member universities through a number of channels, including the setting up of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to be hosted by member universities. The ARUA CoEs are intended to be focal points for aggregating world-class researchers from member universities to undertake collaborative research in priority thematic areas while providing opportunities for graduate students from the region and elsewhere to work with the researchers.
WITS University- Centre for Urbanism & Built Environment Studies (CUBES)
Leader CUBES https://www.wits.ac.za/cubes/
Objective The primary vision of this Unit is:
The Centre for Urbanism and Built Environment Studies (CUBES) is a platform for urban research, learning and civic engagement located in the School of Architecture and Planning.
CUBES leads research that considers how urban citizens and marginalised people are affected by the material realities of cities, built environments at different scales, access to urban goods and spaces, and contestations over urban physical and political orders. CUBES values critical reflection on existing practices of development planning and architecture.
WITS University- Sustainable Energy and Environment Research Unit (SEERU)
Leader Dr Jean Mulopo, Dr Michael Daramola, https://www.wits.ac.za/chemmet/research/research-entities/sustainable-energy-and- Dr Bavon Nkazi environment-research-unit/
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Objective The aim of the research group is to develop expertise through research and teaching of tools for processes that are important for clean/or renewable energy production and sustainable environment. Furthermore, the research unit considers the fundamental research, and the most applied, market-oriented technological innovations within the chemical, energy and environmental sectors. It is envisaged that this approach enables both the generation of basic knowledge and provides commercialization via small scale innovative and environmentally sustainable technology solutions for the benefits of South African businesses and communities.
The vision of the group is:
Train both undergraduate and postgraduate students through research, teaching and outreach activities Conduct high quality fundamental and applied research activities Develop relationships with key stakeholders in the energy, environment, and chemical sectors such as governments, municipalities, communities, non-governmental organization (NGO’s) and industries in order to develop a strategy for application of basic research in the areas of catalysis, reactor engineering, waste and wastewater treatment, clean and potable drinking water production, and separation technology. Strengthen other research groups within the school, the faculty and on-shore institutions through research collaborations and joint teaching Strengthen and contribute meaningfully to the scientific growth and technological development of the School, the Faculty, the University and the Republic of South Africa (RSA) Strengthen the actualization of University’s mission of becoming a word class University by 2022 through the establishment of research collaboration with renowned off-shore institutions.
Clean and /or renewable Energy Production (biofuels, hydrogen for fuel cell) Catalysis and Reaction Engineering (Catalyst design, synthesis, characterization and testing, reactor design and optimization, Fischer Tropsch synthesis) Sustainable Environmental Technology (wastewater treatment, biodesulphurization & CCSU) Waste to Energy and Waste-to-Resources (waste beneficiation & Bio-based economy) Novel Separation Technologies (membrane-based and hybrid/reactive separation processes)
WITS University-- NRF/DST Chair: Sustainable Process Engineering
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Leader Professor Thokozani Majozi https://www.wits.ac.za/chemmet/research/research-chairs/sustainable-process- engineering/
Objective A process integration technique for integrated water and membrane networks that are characterized by variable removal ratios
Due to strict environmental regulations and depleting supplies of freshwater, process integration is employed in industries for sustainable water management through minimization of both freshwater requirements and wastewater generation. Most publications in this field solved the water network design problem using graphical and mathematical techniques independently. The objective of this work is to develop a robust hybrid system of water-pinch analysis and mathematical modelling as there are irrefutable merits for designing a combined system. In this particular context, pinch analysis would provide the conceptual insights while mathematical modelling would offer the detailed and rigorous design of a regeneration unit for effluent treatment. The main envisioned contribution of this investigation is the development of a graphical technique for integrated water and membrane networks, where removal ratios of the identified regenerators are not specified a priori. Furthermore, the influence of this approach on wastewater minimization, regeneration cost and configuration of the water network will be evaluated.
Objective
WITS University- Living the Urban Periphery: investment, infrastructure and economic change in African city-regions
Leader Alison Todes https://www.wits.ac.za/urbanperiphery/ https://www.wits.ac.za/urbanperiphery/researchers/
Objective Living the Urban Periphery is a joint project between the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Sheffield. It is being funded the ESRC Newton Fund in the UK and the NRF in South Africa, and runs from February 2016 to February 2019. Using mixed methods the project examines seven case studies in the city-regions of Gauteng, eThekwini and Addis Ababa. It examines change and lived experiences on the peripheries of these cities and seeks to inform urban governance and strategies for poverty reduction.
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WITS University- Wits Institute of Data Science (WIDS)
Leader WIDS https://www.wits.ac.za/wids/
Objective WIDS: A world-leading interdisciplinary institute focusing on research, innovation and training in data science
WIDS seeks to be a world-leading interdisciplinary research and training institute with a focus on innovation in data science and machine intelligence.
The field of Data Science by its very nature requires highly skilled individuals who straddle both academia and industry. As a result of the above unique skills mix, the demand for data scientists with the requisite skills has grown exponentially, far outstripping the current supply. Globally and locally, the education system is unable to stay abreast of this demand. WIDS aims to setup various training programmes, research opportunities as well as partnerships between academia and industry, in order to produce a stream of next generation data scientists who specifically perform cutting-edge research in data science by converting data to business value for industry.
The mission of the University of the Witwatersrand is to grow its global stature as a leading research-intensive university and a gateway to research engagement and intellectual achievement in Africa. To this end “Data Science” has been identified as one of the strategic directions for institutional research. WIDS will support this strategic direction by acting as a hub to enhance and coordinate multidisciplinary data-driven research, innovation and training activities across the whole University of the Witwatersrand.
WITS University- Construction Materials
Leader Prof A Taigbenu https://www.wits.ac.za/ebe/schools/civil-and-environmental-engineering/research/
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Objective Major research directions include: structural engineering and design; environmental geotechnology, geotechnical engineering and materials; water resources, supply and hydrology; hydraulics and rivers; concrete materials; environmental engineering; project and construction management and development.
WITS University- CARTA
Leader Professor Sharon Fonn https://www.wits.ac.za/publichealth/research-entities/carta/
Objective CARTA (Consortium for Advance Research Training in Africa) is an initiative jointly led by the Wits School of Public Health and the African Population Health and Research Centre. CARTA aims to build and retain a vibrant African academy able to lead world-class multi-disciplinary research that impacts positively on public & population health. CARTA does this by building institutional capacity at the universities who are members of the consortium and through its doctoral training programme which recruits fellows from the staff of nine institutions across Africa.
WITS University- Centre in Water Research and Development (CIWaRD)
Leader Professor Craig Sheriden https://www.wits.ac.za/ciward/
Objective Globally, water resources are under threat. Increased urbanisation, increased industrialisation, increasing populations, climate change and pollution all have deleterious effects on water as a resource. Concomitant with the threat are a number of confounding factors: globally there is a scarcity of skilled people, especially in the water space. Climate change is having a large impact not only on the location of rainfall, but also in the intensity of rainfall. And across much of the world, the last few years have seen some of the worst droughts in recent history, especially in Southern Africa, a problem which is exacerbated by aging urban infrastructure.
WITS University- Demography and Population Studies
Leader Wits School of Social Sciences https://www.wits.ac.za/socialsciences/demography-and-population-studies/
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Objective Africa needs to address its numerous 21st century challenges. These include stemming the tide of HIV/AIDS, ensuring safe reproductive health, improving infant and child survival, managing migration and urbanization and expediting economic development while safeguarding the environment.
The interconnected nature of all these issues has necessitated the adoption of an interdisciplinary approach to tackling population problems. For example, one cannot investigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on family structure without thinking about gender, unemployment and migration.
The Wits Programme in Demography and Population Studies offers an interdisciplinary graduate teaching and research in demography and population studies. Demography as an academic discipline seeks to explore the dynamics of human populations in relation to the changes in their sizes, structures and distributions. Population changes have implications for the environment, employment, work, family relations, health, ageing and urbanization to mention just a few.
At Wits this discipline had been taught on a limited basis in the past. Realization of paucity in skills in this area in South Africa has brought about the need for a well-focused programme in demography and population studies at Wits. The programme intends to (i) provide the much needed demographic capacity and skill-base in South Africa (ii) produce students that are well-qualified in the analysis and interpretation of demographic data and events (iii) make leading contributions to strengthening South African and African capacity and capability in demographic and population health research.
WITS University- MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU)
Leader MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for https://www.wits.ac.za/dphru/ Health Research Unit (DPHRU)
Objective The MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU) is situated in the Department of Paediatrics in the School of Clinical Medicine. Addressing the national priorities of increasing life expectancy, decreasing maternal and child mortality and strengthening health system effectiveness, DPHRU forms a unique research platform with substantial infrastructure and equipment, extensive longitudinal data from the Birth to Twenty cohort, and well-established links with the urban and rural South African communities. Specifically, DPHRU investigates genetic, physiological, psycho-social, and lifestyle determinants of growth
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and development, obesity and risk of cardiometabolic disease, and healthy ageing through innovative multi-disciplinary methodologies across the lifespan.
DPHRU draws upon a conceptual framework that sees health in adult life as a product of a multi-generational process that can be affected adversely by shocks or deprivation, as well as enhanced by the existence of protective factors or appropriate interventions at critical periods. Insight into the converging complexity of environmental and social factors across the lifespan in South Africa is critical for understanding the pathways to the development of ill-health, effective advocacy, and development of successful interventions. DPHRU is well positioned to provide scientific and local formative and intervention research in the area of developmental origins of health which will complement existing research entities tackling metabolic disease, health, and wellbeing in South Africa.
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