As part of NMMU’s Vision 2020 our aim is to create and sustain an environment that encourages, supports and rewards a vibrant research, scholarship and innovation  culture. To achieve this, the following goals have been set:

  • To establish and expand research and innovation partnerships, collaborations, networks and linkages nationally and internationally.
  • To identify and develop institutional research themes.
  • To promote the commercialisation of research outcomes in the form of products, processes and services.
  • To provide an enabling policy and funding framework to improve research quality and productivity.
  • To increase and diversify external and internal financial resources available to support research-related activities.
  • To provide appropriate research and innovation infrastructure and support.
  • To promote, recognise, and reward research and innovation excellence.
  • To attract, nurture and develop research potential.
  • To attract and retain research talent.
  • To provide support to emerging researchers, postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows to become research active.
  • To create a culture of research in undergraduate students.
  • To enhance and improve the equity and gender and age profile of researchers.
  • To grow the pool of rated researchers.
  • To enhance and foster the scholarships of teaching, learning and engagement.
  • To enhance and promote research responsiveness.

WHAT IS ENGAGEMENT?

Engagement is the process of transferring, applying and shaping the university's knowledge and resources with those of the broader community (both internal and external) to

  • enrich scholarship, research and creative activity
  • enhance teaching and learning
  • strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility
  • contribute to public good and transformation
  • and to enhance social, economic and ecological sustainability.