{"id":28170,"date":"2025-10-07T09:32:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T09:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=28170"},"modified":"2025-10-07T09:32:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T09:32:22","slug":"vut-strengthens-african-research-footprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/vut-strengthens-african-research-footprint\/","title":{"rendered":"VUT strengthens African research footprint"},"content":{"rendered":"

“VUT researchers and postgraduates showcased groundbreaking work at the U6+ Consortium Conference in The Gambia, advancing collaboration & sustainability.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

07 October 2025 | Story By:\u00a0Staff Reporter | Picture: Supplied <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 minutes read time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"VUT<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) continues to extend its research influence and collaborative reach across the African continent. A delegation of VUT academics and postgraduate students recently returned from The Gambia, where they represented the institution at the U6+ Consortium Conference of African Universities, held from 23 to 25 September 2025 under the theme \u201cCelebrating Achievements, Addressing Challenges, and Envisioning Brighter Futures for Africa.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hosted by the University of The Gambia, the prestigious gathering brought together leading African universities to reflect on the role of higher education in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, promoting health, combating climate change, and expanding access to quality education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VUT delegation was coordinated by the U6+ Desk under the guidance of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, Commercialisation and Internationalisation (RICI), Dr Simphiwe Nelana. Over thirteen VUT presenters showcased innovative research spanning social sciences, technology, business, and the creative arts, each aligning with continental priorities for sustainable development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the standout contributors was Mr David Matsaung from the U6+ Desk, who presented a paper titled \u201cThe Role of Strategic Communication in Service Delivery.\u201d<\/em> His study explored how data-driven, locally adaptable communication systems can enhance municipal governance. \u201cMy work aligns with SDG 9 and SDG 11, focusing on resilient systems and sustainable cities,\u201d he explained. He added that the conference \u201ccreated a valuable space for networking and collaboration,\u201d enabling engagement with peers from Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. \u201cVUT\u2019s participation in the U6+ positions the university not just as a local player, but as a knowledge hub contributing to Africa\u2019s transformation,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Peace Mabasa, a Lecturer in the Department of Marketing, Retail Business and Sport Management, explored \u201cThe Mediating Role of Consumer Loyalty in Sports Fan Engagement,\u201d<\/em> examining how social media interactions drive attendance at professional sporting events and strengthen community participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Abba Masungini, a Lecturer in the Department of Accountancy, captivated delegates with his presentation on \u201cThe Adaptation of Artificial Intelligence in LSEN Schools.\u201d<\/em> His paper highlighted how AI can enhance inclusive education for learners with special educational needs. \u201cThe audience reacted with enthusiasm and curiosity, seeing this as a bridge between technology and pedagogy,\u201d said Masungini. He revealed that the session sparked collaboration plans with scholars from Nigeria and The Gambia on joint publications and guest lectures. He emphasised the importance of continued institutional support for funding collaborative research and encouraging international participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Xitshembhiso Chauke, Senior Lecturer in the same faculty, presented his study on \u201cDeterminants of Organic Food Purchase Decisions in Johannesburg Post-COVID-19.\u201d<\/em> His research, anchored in SDG 3 and SDG 12, explored sustainable consumer behaviour and its economic implications. \u201cThe conference opened new opportunities for collaborative projects on sustainable food systems,\u201d he said, emphasising the need for stronger research networks and funding mechanisms that position VUT as a continental thought leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Nkululeko Khumalo, Lecturer in Fine Art, brought a deeply personal and human perspective through her autoethnographic study titled \u201cArt, Mental Health, and Unseen Burdens: A Lecturer\u2019s Support Role in Fine Art Education.\u201d<\/em> \u201cLearning does not only happen within the four walls of a university,\u201d she reflected. \u201cIt also unfolds through understanding, respect, and shared cultural experiences.\u201d Her work underscored how visual arts can nurture mental health awareness, inclusive education, and cultural preservation, urging African universities to collaborate more and stop working in isolation. \u201cWhen we work together, we elevate Africa\u2019s academic landscape,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U6+ Conference provided a powerful platform for diverse intellectual expression, reaffirming VUT\u2019s multidisciplinary strength and its commitment to addressing Africa\u2019s most pressing challenges. \u201cThis engagement builds our academic brand, attracts postgraduate talent, and signals to partners and funders that we are serious about making a measurable difference across the continent,\u201d said Mr Matsaung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In closing, the delegation acknowledged the institutional support that made their participation possible and reaffirmed VUT\u2019s commitment to strengthening research collaboration across the continent. Through its engagement in the U6+ Consortium, VUT continues to drive transformation through impactful research, partnerships, and knowledge exchange.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“VUT researchers and postgraduates showcased groundbreaking work at the U6+ Consortium Conference in The Gambia, advancing collaboration & sustainability.” 07 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":28176,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news-vaal-university-of-technology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28170"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28178,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28170\/revisions\/28178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}