Research Support & Management at Nelson Mandela University

We’re excited to share highlights from our International Research Funding Workshop held 18–19 August 2025 at the South Campus Library Auditorium with our partners from the University of Oldenburg (UOL), Germany.

Aimed at Mandela Imvuselelo Professorship Programme (MIPP) mid-career academics, the interactive sessions covered the funding landscape in SA, Germany, and Europe, evaluation criteria & peer review, third-party funding toward research leadership, grant-writing practice, and mobility & networking with UOL scholars—plus a pre-matching session to spark collaborations. Follow-up mentorship will help participants take proposals over the finish line.

Huge thanks to Prof. Dr. Karsten Speck, Dr. Anne Clausen, Ms Thato Tantsi, and Dr. Nehemiah Latolla, and to NMU’s Research Support & Management Office (Dr Palesa Mothapo) and partners for their support.

Upholding the University's values of Excellence and Ubuntu whilst aligning with our Vision 2030 drive for innovation, Prof Paul Watts and his research team in the SARChI Chair in Microfluidic Bio-Chemical Processing have developed a continuous flow reactor technology for the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for various drugs used to treat common illnesses and the big five: AIDS, diabetes, cancer, TB and malaria. Such technology encourages local drug manufacturing in South Africa to make sure that quality drugs for Africa are locally accessible at a much lower cost with a guaranteed supply.

Nelson Mandela University

We are ready to make innovative medicines in SA for Africa and beyond We are now in crisis again because of Donald Trump’s executive order freezing aid. Surely local drug manufacture now needs to be implemented without any further delay?

In our pursuit for research excellence, it is important that we equip our researchers with the tools and information necessary in aiding their research careers. This past month our office hosted a series of workshops which sought to guide our researchers through the NRF rating journey specifically. The topics touched on how one can achieve and improve their rating, strategies for advancing one's research career, developing a rating strategy, the significance of an academic rating and much more.
Nelson Mandela University National Research Foundation

Recapping the week that was:
Congratulations to the RSM Team on their presentations during the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) Conference 2024 🇲🇿.

Patricia Jacob: Impact of Ineffective Communication on Effective Strategy Implementation in Research Support (poster presentation)

Kevan Johnson & Carmen van Leeve: The Impact of leadership on a research office (podium presentation)

Elizabeth Maqhubu: The Emotional Labour Skill (podium presentation)
Nelson Mandela University

Nelson Mandela University

Research Support & Management, Nelson Mandela University on LinkedIn: #rsoboost #advancingresearch #professionalcompetencies… The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) annual conference kicked off today in Mozambique, 3-5 September 2024. The Research…

Congratulations are in order for our Executive Dean: Health Sciences, Prof Zuki Zingela, who has been selected as one of the finalists for the 2024 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWISA). Initiated by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the awards recognise excellence by women scientists and researchers all while profiling them as role models for younger women in the field.