University of Pretoria Research Report RESEARCH © Nico de Bruyn Photography University of Pretoria Research Report Mission The mission of the University of Pretoria is to be an internationally recognised South African teaching and research university and a member of the international community of scholarly institutions that: • provides excellent education in a wide spectrum of academic disciplines; • promotes scholarship through: – the creation, advancement, application, transmission and preservation of knowledge; – the stimulation of critical and independent thinking; • creates flexible, lifelong learning opportunities; • encourages academically rigorous and socially meaningful research, particularly in fields relevant to emerging economies; • enables students to become well-rounded, creative people, responsible, productive citizens and future leaders by: – providing an excellent academic education; – developing their leadership abilities and potential to be world-class, innovative graduates with competitive skills; – instilling in them the importance of a sound value framework; – developing their ability to adapt to the rapidly changing environments of the information era; – encouraging them to participate in and excel in sport, cultural activities, and the arts; • is locally relevant through: – its promotion of equity, access, equal opportunities, redress, transformation and diversity; – its contribution to the prosperity, competitiveness and quality of life in South Africa; – its responsiveness to the educational, cultural, economic, scientific, technological, industrial, health, environmental and social needs of the country; – its active and constructive involvement in community development and service; – its sensitivity to the demands of our time and its proactive contribution towards shaping the future; • creates an intellectually stimulating and culturally vibrant, pleasant and safe environment in which its students and staff can flourish; and • is committed to effective, efficient, caring and innovative approaches to teaching, research and community service, client-centred management and administration, and good governance. 2011 Research Report Research Report 2011 Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Message from the Vice-Chancellor and Principal 2 1.2 Message from the Vice-Principal: Research and Postgraduate Education 4 1.3 Research overview 6 2. Awards and achievements 11 3. Institutional and Faculty Research Themes 15 Introduction 17 Biotechnology and the Management of Animal and Zoonotic Diseases 18 Energy 20 Food, Nutrition and Wellbeing 22 Genomics 24 Cellular and Molecular Medicine 26 Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control 28 Institute for International and Comparative Law 30 4. Research highlights 33 Economic and Management Sciences 34 Education 46 Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology 54 Health Sciences 86 Humanities 108 Law 124 Natural and Agricultural Sciences 134 Theology 176 Veterinary Science 186 Gordon Institute of Business Science 200 5. Acknowledgements 204 2011 Research Report i ii 2011 Research Report 1 Introduction Prof Cheryl de la Rey Message from the 1.1 Vice-Chancellor and Principal Research and the development of research capacity are defining features of the University of Pretoria’s vision and mission. Therefore, it is pleasing to report that in 2011 the University continued to make a significant contribution to the national research output of South Africa. In addition to the large number of publications reflected in this report, an especially pleasing outcome is that over 200 doctoral degrees were awarded; the highest number for any single South African university. 2 2011 Research Report In a developing country like South Africa, it is perhaps especially important that research activities at universities give focused attention to research training. The year 2011 showed continued growth in the enrolment and graduation of master’s and doctoral students. Close to a third of the University’s almost 45 000 contact students were postgraduates with approximately half of these were graduates of other universities, thus indicating that the University of Pretoria is a university of choice for postgraduate study. Creating an enabling environment for high-quality scholarship is of the utmost importance in the University’s strategy. By the end of 2011, the University had completed a number of major infrastructure developments, including a new Engineering Complex. (Engineering is one of the areas in which the University of Pretoria enjoys national and international prominence.) A new Knowledge Commons and Library Centre, partially funded by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation, was also officially opened in 2011. Almost immediately after opening, it became a hub for the growing numbers of postgraduate students. It is very pleasing to note that many of the University’s academics and postgraduate students distinguished themselves in 2011 by winning several awards and accolades. Notable too, is that there was a marked increased in the number of researchers rated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the proportion of high-impact publications increased. The achievements showcased in this report are due to the commitment and hard work of the University’s staff and students and I wish to express my sincere appreciation for their efforts in ensuring that the University of Pretoria continues to be counted among South Africa’s leading universities. On behalf of the entire University community, I also wish to thank Prof Robin Crewe, who was the Vice-Principal responsible for research and postgraduate studies for many years. Prof Crewe continues to provide outstanding leadership at the University as the Vice-Principal responsible for all faculties. Prof Stephanie Burton took office as Vice-Principal for Research and Postgraduate Education from April 2011. She has already demonstrated that she will make a marked contribution to the future success of the University. Thank you too to the many donors, sponsors and agencies who fund the University’s research through postgraduate scholarships, equipment and research grants. New large capital projects were funded in part by grants from the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Carnegie Corporation, and we are most grateful for these grants. Without additional support to complement the annual subsidy allocations from the Department of Higher Education and Training, the research outputs reflected in this report would not have been possible. By the end of 2011, the University Council had approved the University’s new long-term strategy, UP 2025, which will give increased impetus to ensuring that the University of Pretoria builds on its past achievements to make an even greater impact in the future. Prof Cheryl de la Rey Vice-Chancellor and Principal 2011 Research Report 3 Prof Stephanie Burton Message from the 1.2 Vice-Principal: Research and Post- graduate Education In offering an overview of research at the University of Pretoria during 2011, this report demonstrates the achievements of the University’s academic community and elucidates certain new developments. During 2011, the University continued to make a significant contribution to the total national research output and to improve the proportion of its research publications that are cited internationally. 4 2011 Research Report The University’s strategic plan, which has guided research since 2006, concluded at the end of 2011, and much attention was paid to the development of new strategic directions for research, which are aligned with the development of the broader academic plan that will take the University up to the year 2025. Renewed focus is being placed on the importance of research outputs in enhancing the international reputation of the University and on the need to expand its research productivity. The new developments in research at UP are reflected in this report, which highlights, among other features, the University’s progress in following the international trend of interdisciplinary research and addressing global challenges through the initiation of institutional and faculty research themes. These themes link multidisciplinary research groups through collaborative participation. The themes were developed on the basis of recognising and fostering excellence in research, and are led by recognised international leaders. They will contribute to the enhancement of the University’s research reputation by providing an enabling environment for the growth of scholarship among academic staff, postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students. The University’s research makes excellent, internationally recognised contributions in the fields of veterinary science, agricultural and biological sciences, engineering and social sciences (as reflected in international databases), and its institutional research themes are aligned with these strengths in the focus areas of animal and zoonotic diseases, energy, food and nutrition, and genomics. The faculty research themes are based on specific areas of expertise, and include the control of malaria, molecular medicine, and international law. The University’s current research themes and the progress that has already been made are described in later sections of this report. Research at the University of Pretoria encompasses a very broad range of disciplines across its nine faculties and one business school, and more than 60 research institutes, centres and units. The Deans’ reports give accounts of the research highlights in each faculty,