“VUT hosted its 2025 Research Awards Ceremony at the Emerald Resort & Casino, celebrating outstanding researchers whose work drives innovation, transformation, and impact across faculties, marking a renewed era of inclusivity in research excellence.”
27 October 2025 | Story: Thabisang Thebeeapelo | Photo: Naledi Nkosi
3 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) marked the return of its Annual Research Awards Ceremony on 23 October 2025 at the Emerald Resort & Casino, a symbolic moment of renewal after a five-year hiatus. The event honoured VUT’s top researchers whose work continues to shape the University’s reputation for innovation, excellence, and transformative impact.
The awards made a powerful comeback following a necessary pause caused by the pandemic and a review of the selection framework. This reflection led to a more inclusive model that celebrates both individual brilliance and collaborative research impact. The 2025 ceremony therefore marked a turning point, a renewed chapter in VUT’s evolving research story.
In his address, Professor Khehla Ndlovu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said the evening was not only about honouring achievement but about reaffirming “our collective commitment to the transformative power of research and collaboration.” He praised VUT’s researchers for positioning the University as “a beacon of knowledge, relevance, and impact.”
Reflecting on the University’s broader vision, Professor Ndlovu said that “our Strategy 2033+ calls on us to reimagine ourselves as a digitally smart, sustainable, and socially engaged university. Research sits at the heart of this vision, it informs our teaching, empowers our communities, and ensures that the knowledge we generate translates into real-world solutions.”
The programme, directed by Mr George Mvalo, Director of the Social Justice and Transformation Unit, featured a keynote by Mr Mpumzi Mdekazi, Chief Executive Officer of the Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation. He encouraged researchers to pursue inquiry that genuinely matters, research that touches lives, transforms communities, and strengthens South Africa’s development agenda.
Among the evening’s top recipients were Professor Kaitano Dube from the Faculty of Human Sciences and Professor Tshilidzi Zuva from the Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences, both honoured for Research Excellence. Their contributions reflect VUT’s growing influence in advancing innovation and building knowledge that responds to real societal challenges.
Reflecting on his recognition, Prof Dube remarked, “Awards create an expectation that more must be done to produce quality research, mentor others, and ensure our work impacts society meaningfully. The real reward for any researcher is not the certificate, but seeing research make a real difference in solving societal problems.”
Dr Speech Nelana, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, Commercialisation, and Internationalisation (RICI), together with Dr Sehlaba Motsie, Acting Director for Research, reaffirmed the Research Directorate’s priorities for 2025–2026. These include strengthening research capacity-building, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, expanding industry partnerships, and reinforcing integrity and ethics across all faculties.
“This is about building a future-ready research ecosystem,” said Dr Nelana. “We are nurturing scholars who do not only publish but produce work that shapes communities, industries, and national policy.”
The ceremony drew guests from academia, government, and the private sector, all united by a shared vision for an inclusive and globally connected research environment. In his closing message, Professor Ndlovu urged researchers to remain curious, bold, and committed to impact, saying, “Let us ensure that VUT is not only known for the quality of its research, but for its humanity, integrity, and transformative influence.”
The 2025 Research Awards reaffirmed VUT’s dedication to a vibrant, inclusive, and innovative research culture that transforms curiosity into impact and ideas into solutions.
For the full list of award recipients, please visit the Research Directorate page on the VUT website