The Directorate of Research and Innovation in pursuit of the Strategic Objective 5: To enhance research outputs for innovation and impact, hosted the WRC101 Roadshow on Monday, 28 June 2021. The purpose of this session was to familiarise new and upcoming project leaders with the process for research proposal submission and related fund and project management issues.
The Director of Research and Innovation Senior Professor GE Ekosse in his address to the delegates encouraged researchers, students, and external stakeholders to extend collaborations among faculties and to further push the boundaries of relations and collaborations in Research and Innovation to other Institutions, particularly those that were disadvantaged in the past.
Director Research and Innovation Senior Professor GE Ekosse
Senior Professor Ekosse told researchers and potential applicants, including Postdoctoral Research Fellows that, in terms of Human Capacity Development he would like to see increase in proposals which strengthen UNIVEN’s Research and Innovation Capacity. Professor Mpandeli who is one of the Executive Managers at the Water Research Commission focused on the importance of preserving water. He mentioned that South Africa is among the 33 driest countries in the world and therefore, water preservation is paramount. His presentation covered matters relating to the mandate of the WRC and lauded UNIVEN for its readiness to always collaborate in partnerships that include the Limpopo Provincial Government.
Professor Sylvester Mpandeli, Executive Manager at the Water Research Commission (WRC)
Available opportunities for funding were presented to the delegates by Dr Eunice Ubomba-Jaswa, Research Manager at WRC, focusing on the availability of both Directed and Open Calls. The difference between the two is that the Directed Calls are specific and must adhere to strict Call Requirements while in Open Calls, researchers are given the latitude to develop a proposal linked to the WRC mandate. Researchers in the water space are encouraged to visit the website for the opportunities: http://www.wrc.org.za/opportunities/.
Dr Eunice Ubomba-Jaswa, Research Manager: Water Resources Quality and Management (Water Research Commission)
Mr T.R. Nkuna Department of Earth Sciences Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, UNIVEN
On behalf of the WRC projects at UNIVEN, Mr TR Nkuna presented on the topic entitled “Leading a WRC Project”, the presentation largely focused on the project management principles and conflict resolution management of projects. Of particular interest was the issue relating to effective project management.
Some of the participants in a group photo
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525 /8710
Date: 05 July 2021
