29/09/2026
FEBEIT RESEARCH DAY IGNITES A BOLD VISION: INNOVATION, SMART TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE AFRICA!
Executive Dean Prof Thwala urges researchers to build partnerships, mentor emerging academics and turn knowledge into real-world impact
The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (FEBEIT) opened its annual Research Day with a rousing call for researchers, students and industry partners to work together on solutions to Africa's most pressing challenges!
Welcoming the guests, Executive Dean Prof Thwala described the occasion as far more than a date on the academic calendar. "Today is not simply another event on our calendar. It is a celebration of knowledge, innovation, inquiry, creativity and the collective contribution that our Faculty can make towards building a more sustainable and technologically advanced future!" he said.
Research at the heart of the Faculty
Prof Thwala stressed that research must sit at the centre of the Faculty's mission and not on its margins. He challenged academics to produce work that solves real problems in South Africa, across the continent and beyond, and not merely to add to their publication counts.
"Research is central to who we are as a Faculty!" he declared, urging researchers to ask what problem they are solving, who benefits, and how their work can contribute to a sustainable future.
He noted that the world is facing rapid technological change, climate uncertainty, infrastructure pressures, growing urbanisation and shifting labour markets. These challenges, he said, are too complex for any single discipline, institution or sector to tackle alone.
Smart technologies and inclusive digital transformation
Turning to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Prof Thwala highlighted the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, cloud computing, big data and the Internet of Things. He said the real question for universities is how to prepare students, industries and communities to take part meaningfully in this change.
He called for graduates who are creators, designers and innovators, not just users of technology. He posed a series of questions to guide research, including how AI can improve infrastructure planning, how smart systems can improve energy management, and how digital tools can improve water management and support rural development.
Prof Thwala also cautioned that technology does not automatically mean progress. "Digital transformation must be inclusive, ethical and sustainable," he said, warning that communities without digital infrastructure and skills risk being left further behind. "We should not merely import technological solutions. We should also develop, adapt and innovate solutions from Africa for Africa and for the world!"
Breaking down disciplinary walls
A key message of the address was the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. Prof Thwala reminded delegates that "climate change does not belong to one department" and that sustainable cities and water security demand input from engineering, environmental science, planning, economics, governance and communities alike. He called for research teams to be formed around problems rather than disciplines, with stronger links between engineering, architecture, information technology, health sciences, agriculture, business, education, social sciences, industry and government.
Growing the next generation of researchers
Postgraduate students were described as being at the heart of the Faculty's research ecosystem. Prof Thwala called for stronger supervision and co-supervision, research methodology training, doctoral writing programmes and mentoring, so that students can publish, present at conferences, collaborate internationally and complete their qualifications in reasonable time.
He appealed directly to established professors and senior researchers to open doors for those following behind. "Our research legacy will ultimately be measured not only by what we publish, but by the researchers we develop!" he said.
Proposed initiatives include research mentorship programmes, writing groups, grant-writing workshops, joint supervision, early-career researcher networks and international collaboration opportunities.
From research to innovation and impact
The Executive Dean also urged academics to strengthen funding proposals and build research teams rather than isolated projects. He outlined a clear pathway from research to innovation, prototype, testing, intellectual property, commercialisation and societal impact, encouraging patents, software, digital platforms, new materials, start-ups and social enterprises.
Industry and professional bodies, he added, should be true partners in research and innovation, and not only a destination for graduates.
A celebration and a call to action
Prof Thwala paid tribute to researchers who have persevered through challenges, students pushing the boundaries of knowledge, academics who have secured grants and published, and those who work quietly in laboratories without recognition.
He closed with a challenge to everyone present: "What can we do together that we cannot do alone?" He urged delegates to carry the day's questions into their daily academic practice, and to ensure FEBEIT graduates become innovators and job creators as well as job seekers.
Thanking presenters, students, researchers and partners, Prof Thwala welcomed all to the FEBEIT Research Day, setting the tone for a programme of knowledge sharing and collaboration
