“VUT launches Polokelo ya Data, a research data repository powered by Figshare, boosting innovation, collaboration, and global visibility for researchers.”
15 September 2025 | Story By: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture: Peter Masela
3 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has taken a bold step in advancing research excellence and innovation with the official launch of its Research Data Management (RDM) Repository, Polokelo ya Data. The launch, held on 8 September 2025 at the Desmond Tutu Great Hall, brought together academics, staff, students, and research stakeholders, underscoring the importance of responsible data stewardship in fostering collaboration, commercialisation, and global competitiveness.
Opening the event, Ms Biziwe Tembe, Director of the VUT Library, described the launch as a milestone in the university’s research journey. “With the implementation of Polokelo ya Data, we are opening a new chapter that ensures our researchers can store, share, and showcase their data securely, while making it discoverable to the global academic community,” she said. She emphasised that research data, like published findings, is intellectual wealth that must be preserved appropriately to unlock innovation and global visibility.
Dr Simphiwe Nelana, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, Commercialisation and Internationalisation (RICI), echoed these sentiments, noting that Polokelo ya Data aligns with both VUT’s strategic priorities and the NRF’s open science requirements. “Research data is the backbone of knowledge creation. With this repository, we are preserving data and unlocking its potential as a catalyst for discovery, collaboration, and impact. This positions VUT to meet international standards while ensuring our contributions are globally visible and enduring,” he said.
From a national perspective, Dr Katlego Phoshoko, Data Services and Applications Manager at the Data Intensive Research Initiative of South Africa (DIRISA), stressed that RDM is essential for ensuring data integrity and transparency. He explained that DIRISA, as part of the National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System (NICIS), provides resources such as the South African Data Management Planning (SA-DMP) tool, long-term archiving, and data deposit systems. “Research data management promotes research innovation and knowledge sharing. By managing data responsibly, researchers can enhance outcomes, meet funder requirements, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration,” Dr Phoshoko said.
At the institutional level, Mr Andrew Memela, Information Librarian for RDM at VUT, linked the launch to national policy directives. Since 2015, the National Research Foundation (NRF) has required that all NRF-funded research data be stored in reputable repositories. He highlighted that Figshare, the platform powering Polokelo ya Data, enables VUT researchers to make their work citable, shareable, and discoverable. “RDM ensures that data is organised, preserved, and reused. Guided by the FAIR principles of Findable,
Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable, this repository reassures funders that research data is handled ethically and transparently,” he explained.
Offering an external perspective, Ms Rosina Ramokgola, Data Curation Officer at the University of Pretoria, shared lessons from UP’s RDM journey. She underscored the benefits of data publishing, from ensuring compliance with funders to improving research visibility and citation impact. “Good data management is fundamental to the research process. By adopting FAIR and CARE principles, universities ensure that research data is preserved and reused to expand knowledge and impact,” she said.
Closing the proceedings, Mr Prajesh Bhika, Research Information and Marketing Officer, speaking on behalf of VUT’s Research Directorate, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to research excellence. “This initiative enhances the visibility and impact of our scholarly outputs while aligning with global best practices. It empowers researchers to preserve and share their data responsibly, contributing to a more collaborative and knowledge-driven academic community,” he said, commending the Library and Information Services team for their leadership.
With Polokelo ya Data, VUT positions itself as a hub of responsible research data stewardship, creating pathways for innovation, commercialisation, and social impact. By unlocking the potential of research data, the university is preserving its academic legacy and strengthening South Africa’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.