By: Nontobeko Moimane- 02 June 2023

To mark Africa Month, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) hosted the International Africa Research Day webinar on Monday, 29 May 2023.

The theme of the webinar was “Africa is the Future” – this underpinned by the University’s efforts to position itself as an African university of choice, that leads in, inter alia creating scholarly environment conducive for knowledge development and transfer in Africa and beyond.

The purpose of the event was to celebrate and showcase the role played by VUT, through its international scientists and postdoctoral candidates, in achieving Agenda 2063 through their research and scholarship. Additionally, the webinar sought to highlight the unity and diversity at VUT as reflected in its blend of international staff and students.

• Other key objectives of the webinar include creating an intellectual reflective space for dialogue about the challenges confronting the “Mother Continent” and the role that African leaders from all walks of life can play in shaping “A New Africa”.
• Attended by VUT staff and students, the webinar also aimed to proffer key insights for positioning the African continent as a force to be reckoned with in the 21st century, and to explore how inter and intra African university collaboration can play a meaningful role to foster teaching, learning, research, and community engagement for the benefit of African development. Lastly, to explore how to influence young Africans at micro, macro and meso levels to champion African Renaissance.

The event was graced with two internationally recognised guest speakers, Dr Tozama Qwebani from the Academy of Science of South Africa, and Professor Ronnie Gao from the Trinity Western University in Canada.

In her presentation of a study on remodelling research agendas, Dr Tozama stated that there is a need to empower the youth especially with the skills-set and mind-set to achieve a better tomorrow, also adding the importance of having a mentor or a coach.  “You can’t speak of innovation without infrastructure, and infrastructure without industrialization. When there is inclusive innovation, resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrialization things will be aligned and effectively provide solutions for poverty eradication, zero hunger, decent work, economic growth, and reduced inequalities”.

She further added that there is a need to represent science leaders of the future in Africa as it is a valuable resource for policymakers searching for ways to increase capacity and innovate African science. “It is important to be part of the unified voice of scientists in Africa to be able to create the human capital development and opportunities that excite young people and provide the environment to play a role in shaping a new innovative society; to stimulate and steer changes to facilitate science engagement with the complex challenges facing South Africa, Africa and the world today; and to also have scientific literacy to inform ways to fast-track agenda 2063 and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Prof Ronnie gave a presentation on African majority vs minority consumer research that is different from other countries. He stated that South African consumers have unique characteristics with an example by Grier and Deshpandé, that targeted advertisements can be effective even in contexts in which the targeted group is a numeric majority.

Alongside the two guest speakers, scientists from the University’s four Faculties presented their research and scholarly work that is of impact to Africa’s development and innovative capabilities. Also, Dr Justus Wesonga and Dr Catherine Kifworo, both VUT Post-doctoral fellows from the Maasai Mara University in Kenya, presented on international partnerships.

According to organisers of the event, it is expected that this event will reinvigorate and encourage the VUT community and stakeholders to appreciate and foster unity, social cohesion, cultural understanding, and tolerance to ensure that we achieve the Africa we want as we move forward.

The event was a collaborative effort of VUT’s departments of Internationalisation; Research; Social Justice and Transformation and Advancement, supported by Faculties and the Student Representative Council (SRC).

The event is one of the many planned events to showcase VUT’s commitment to Agenda 2063 and the Africa we want.