The University of Venda (UNIVEN) has recently reinforced its position as a leader in higher education transformation by showcasing a pioneering grants management framework for Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs) at the national University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) Colloquium, held in Johannesburg.
Hosted at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, the colloquium brought together universities from across South Africa to reflect on collaborative projects, share lessons, and strengthen partnerships to advance institutional capacity and transformation. Against this national backdrop, UNIVEN stood out for its focused, systems-driven approach to strengthening research and grant management.
Prof Lufuno Makhado presenting on the development of a Grants Management Framework for Historically Disadvantaged Institutions
A highlight of the programme was the Café Conversations session, where Prof Lufuno Makha-do represented UNIVEN as an invited speaker. His presentation centred on the development of a grants management framework tailored for HDIs, an initiative led in collaboration with Prof Jabulani Makhubele. The project aims to enhance research administration, improve compli-ance with funding requirements, and build sustainable institutional capacity.
Mr Philip Tshabalala delivering the keynote address at the colloquium
In the keynote address, Mr Philip Tshabalala reaffirmed the government’s vision of a trans-formed, equitable, and quality-driven higher education sector. He highlighted that while sig-nificant progress has been made, sustained collaboration between universities, government, industry, and society remains critical to accelerating transformation. He further pointed to the UCDP’s impact, noting that over R500 million has been invested in nearly 100 collaborative projects over the past decade to strengthen institutional capacity across South Africa.
Delivering the welcome remarks, Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele underscored the urgency of deeper collaboration across institutions, noting that universities must work collectively to address sys-temic inequalities and advance national development priorities. He emphasised that university partnerships are no longer optional but essential to building a responsive and inclusive higher education system.
Prof Makhado’s contribution resonated strongly with the colloquium’s central theme: that mean-ingful transformation in higher education depends not only on funding, but on the strength of institutional systems that support it. He argued that many HDIs continue to face challenges in grant administration, limiting their ability to attract and manage external funding effectively.
UNIVEN’s framework addresses these gaps by promoting standardised grant lifecycle manage-ment, strengthening governance, and embedding monitoring and evaluation from the outset.
Importantly, the presentation moved beyond theory, offering practical insights into what en-ables successful collaborative projects. These include strong institutional alignment, robust governance structures, dedicated research support, and sustained capacity development for both academics and administrators. It also highlighted persistent challenges, including limited administrative capacity, complex compliance requirements, and short funding cycles issues that continue to affect the sector.
The UNIVEN University led (UL) – UCDP Grants Management Project’s approach emphasises long-term impact over short-term outputs. By prioritising institutional systems, sustainability planning, and cross-institutional collaboration, the University is contributing to a model of de-velopment that can be replicated across the higher education landscape.
Prof Bernard Nthambeleni (left) and Prof Fulufhelo Netswera (right)
The broader colloquium underscored the importance of collaboration among universities, gov-ernment, industry, and communities in addressing national priorities. UNIVEN’s strong pres-ence was further reflected in the support of its executive and senior leadership, including Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Bernard Nthambeleni and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Re-search and Postgraduate Studies Prof Fulufhelo Netswera, as well as a team of academic and research support professionals.
As the sector continues to navigate complex transformation challenges, UNIVEN’s contribu-tion at the UCDP Colloquium positions the University at the forefront of building sustainable institutional capacity. Its work in advancing effective grants management for HDIs not only strengthens research ecosystems but also contributes meaningfully to the broader national agenda of equitable and impactful higher education./p>
Prof. Jabulani Makhubele (left) and Dr Philia Vukea
Prof Takalani Mashau (left) and Dr Sinah Sehula (right)
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