{"id":35543,"date":"2026-04-22T10:17:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:17:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=35543"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:17:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:17:16","slug":"entering-the-research-space-vut-faculty-of-management-sciences-welcomes-new-postgraduate-cohort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/entering-the-research-space-vut-faculty-of-management-sciences-welcomes-new-postgraduate-cohort\/","title":{"rendered":"Entering the research space: VUT Faculty of Management Sciences welcomes new postgraduate cohort"},"content":{"rendered":"

“The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) welcomes its 2026 postgraduate cohort through a Master\u2019s and Doctoral Orientation aligned with Strategy 2033+ and the University\u2019s 60th milestone.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

22 April 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture: Mosele Alinah\u00a0 Mosia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"Entering<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Faculty of Management Sciences formally welcomed its 2026 Master\u2019s and Doctoral cohort during an Orientation Day held on 21 April 2026, marking not only the beginning of an academic journey, but a defining moment within the University\u2019s broader trajectory under Strategy 2033+.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Framed around the theme \u201cEntering the Research Space: Connecting, Clarifying, Commencing,\u201d the programme brought together emerging scholars at a time when VUT is positioning itself more deliberately as a research-active institution. As part of the University\u2019s 60th milestone, this cohort represents a new generation of postgraduate thinkers expected to contribute meaningfully to knowledge, innovation, and societal progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Executive Dean of the Faculty, Professor Chengedzai Mafini, opened the programme with a message grounded in both expectation and responsibility. He emphasised the importance of cultivating strong, collaborative relationships between supervisors and students, describing these as central to research success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, he urged students to uphold academic integrity in an evolving digital landscape. \u201cUse Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly, but never substitute it for your own thinking and writing,\u201d he cautioned. \u201cAt master\u2019s level, your work must respond to real organisational challenges, while doctoral study requires an original contribution to knowledge within the commerce and management disciplines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The keynote address by Faculty Research Mentor Professor Babs Surujlal resonated with a sense of both pride and urgency. Drawing on his own academic journey, he reminded students that postgraduate study is both a privilege and a test of endurance within a competitive knowledge economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are part of a select group,\u201d he said. \u201cMany begin this journey, but few see it through. This is not only about earning a qualification, but about becoming a thinker, a researcher, and a contributor to society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His message moved beyond inspiration into the lived realities of research. He spoke candidly about discipline, setbacks, and the need for sustained effort, reinforcing that research is not linear, but a process shaped by persistence and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students were encouraged to take ownership of their work, to read with intention, and to write consistently. \u201cDo not wait for perfection,\u201d he advised. \u201cWrite early, write often, and allow your work to evolve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In line with the University\u2019s Strategy 2033+ commitment to student success and holistic development, the orientation also highlighted the importance of balance and well-being. Students were reminded that resilience extends beyond intellectual capacity to include emotional strength, support systems, and personal discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme further provided a comprehensive overview of institutional support structures. Presentations from various divisions introduced students to research development services, academic writing support, funding pathways, and ethical clearance processes, equipping them with the tools required to navigate postgraduate study successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contributions from the Learning Development Coordinator at VUT and alumnus Mr Mothusi Samosamo added a grounded perspective, bridging theory with lived experience. Their reflections reinforced a central truth: while the postgraduate path is demanding, it remains deeply rewarding for those who persist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ms Peggy Bojabotseha, one of the newly registered students, the orientation offered both clarity and reassurance. She described the experience as enlightening and motivating, noting that it strengthened her confidence as she embarks on this academic journey. “This orientation was not just an introduction, it was a catalyst for growth, connection, and excellence,” said Ms Bojabotseha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Faculty of Management Sciences welcomes this new cohort, it does so with a clear sense of purpose aligned to the University\u2019s long-term vision. This is more than an academic beginning. It is the start of a journey shaped by inquiry, intellectual courage, and a commitment to producing knowledge that responds to real world challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The induction programme will continue in early May, where students will engage more deeply with the practical and intellectual demands of their research, laying the foundation for contributions that will shape academia, industry, and society, and further define the legacy of VUT\u2019s 60th generation.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) welcomes its 2026 postgraduate cohort through a Master\u2019s and Doctoral Orientation aligned with Strategy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":35544,"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-35543","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\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35543"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35545,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35543\/revisions\/35545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}