UNIVEN Positions Postdoctoral Fellows as Catalysts for a Stronger Research Culture

Induction programme charts a strategic path from postdoctoral opportunity to research impact, innovation and sustainable academic careers.

The University of Venda (UNIVEN) is positioning its growing cohort of Postdoctoral Research Fellows (PDRFs) as key drivers of its ambition to become a more research-intensive, vibrant and internationally recognised institution.

Group photo of the Postdoctoral fellows

This message was at the heart of the University’s Postdoctoral Research Fellows Induction Programme, hosted by the Directorate of Research and Innovation within the Division of Research and Postgraduate Studies on 27 August 2026 at the Premier Hotel, Thohoyandou. The programme officially welcomed new fellows and equipped them with critical information on the University’s research environment, support systems, expectations and opportunities.

More than an orientation, the programme presented postdoctoral fellowships as a strategic platform for developing independent scholars, strengthening research capacity and translating knowledge into meaningful societal and economic impact.

From fellowship to academic career

Prof Fulufhelo Netswera

Welcoming the fellows, Prof Fulufhelo Netswera, Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal, emphasised the importance of significantly expanding UNIVEN’s postdoctoral programme as part of strengthening the University’s research capacity. He emphasised that professors and associate professors must host postdoctoral fellows and create opportunities for them to contribute to research proposals, grant applications, publications and postgraduate supervision.

Drawing on his previous experience managing the National Research Foundation’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, Prof Netswera urged fellows to see the fellowship not simply as a temporary research appointment, but as a springboard towards sustainable academic careers.

He encouraged them to build strong national and international research networks, collaborate with established scholars, co-author publications and actively pursue independent research funding. He also called on the University community to create an environment in which postdoctoral fellows feel welcomed, valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully to UNIVEN’s research ambitions.

Prof Lutendo Murulana

Prof Lutendo Murulana, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Postgraduate Studies, reinforced this message, describing a postdoctoral fellowship as a critical stage of intellectual and professional development rather than merely an extension of doctoral research.

He encouraged fellows to pursue innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and intellectual growth while taking ownership of their research careers. The induction, he explained, was designed to familiarise fellows with UNIVEN’s culture, values, processes, research facilities, funding opportunities, professional development programmes and support structures.

Building researchers who contribute beyond publications

A consistent message throughout the programme was that postdoctoral success should be measured not only by the number of papers produced, but also by the broader contribution fellows make to the University and society.

L-R: Prof Takalani Mashau, Prof Makondelele Radzilani and Prof Vusani Moyo

Deputy Deans for Research and Postgraduate Studies Prof Takalani Mashau, Prof Makondelele Radzilani and Prof Vusani Moyo encouraged fellows to work closely with mentors, strengthen their research outputs, publish in quality journals, attend conferences, pursue grants and become involved in postgraduate supervision.

Prof Takalani Mashau welcomed the postdoctoral fellows as an integral part of the University community and reaffi rmed UNIVEN’s commitment to supporting their academic growth. He urged them to work closely with their mentors, strengthen their research and supervisory capabilities, and make full use of opportunities for conferences, workshops and publication support. He also called for greater collaboration and collective growth, encouraging the fellows to contribute meaningfully to UNIVEN’s research and postgraduate development agenda.

Prof Makondelele Radzilani highlighted the distinction between doctoral and postdoctoral research, noting that PDRFs are expected to operate with greater independence while working with mentors towards clearly defi ned goals and deliverables. She encouraged them to consider UNIVEN as a potential academic home beyond their fellowships and to demonstrate their value through both research and academic contributions.

Prof Moyo similarly urged fellows to take ownership of their development by initiating research projects, building professional networks, pursuing high-impact publications and seeking co-supervision opportunities.

Dr Agbor Bessong

The practical value of this approach was demonstrated by Dr Agbor Bessong, who shared her own postdoctoral journey at UNIVEN. Since joining the University in June 2023, she has participated in seminars, workshops, grant-writing sessions, portfolio development and postgraduate supervision. Her progression from institutional sponsorship to an NRF-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship underscored the importance of actively pursuing professional development and funding opportunities.

She encouraged fellow PDRFs to attend conferences, respond to calls for papers, join professional bodies, participate in webinars, engage in peer review and grant evaluation, and consistently showcase their research.

A support ecosystem designed for research success

The induction also demonstrated that successful postdoctoral research depends on more than the researcher and mentor relationship. A wide range of University support structures presented the resources, systems and responsibilities that underpin the research journey.

Ms Charlotte Makairinge

The Department of Financial Management and Reporting, represented by Acting Director, Ms Charlotte Makaringe, outlined support provided by Finance Business Partners in areas including research budgets, cost centres, procurement, payments, financial reporting and grant administration. Fellows were encouraged to understand the University’s financial policies and seek guidance when navigating research expenditure and grant requirements.

Dr Sannah Mativandlela

Dr Sannah Mativandlela, Director of Institutional Research and Planning, highlighted the importance of accurate Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) data and reporting. PDRF information, including biographical details, research fi elds, appointment dates, funding sources and academic information, must be accurately captured and validated for submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The presentation also underscored the strategic value of reliable research data for institutional planning, governance, research-capacity monitoring, rankings and Sustainable Development Goal-related impact assessments. UNIVEN had 35 PDRFs in 2025, with further growth recorded in 2026.

Dr Mlungisi Ganto

Research support was complemented by guidance on intellectual property and commercialisation. Dr Mlungisi Ganto, Manager UCfERI, urged fellows to protect potentially patentable discoveries before public disclosure and encouraged them to think beyond publications by transforming research into products, services, policies, and solutions that can benefi t society and the economy. He stressed the importance of technology transfer, industry partnerships and commercialisation planning as mechanisms for strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation and the practical impact of university research.

Creating the conditions for researchers to thrive

Dr Nkumbuleni Ratshitanga

ICT Support Services, represented by Dr Nkhumbuleni Ratshitanga, Head of IT Support Services, outlined the technological infrastructure available to PDRFs, including laptops, software, connectivity, laboratories, and audio-visual services. Fellows were encouraged to use approved software and the ICT Service Desk when reporting technical challenges, so that requests could be tracked and escalated where necessary.

Ms Tshilidzi Makhado

Protection Services Directorate, represented by Ms Tshilidzi Makhado, Manager Investigations, Security Analysis and Liaison, highlighted the importance of creating a secure research environment. Fellows were reminded that campus safety is a shared responsibility and were encouraged to comply with access-control procedures, protect University property and report incidents promptly.

Internationalisation was another important pillar. Ms Annah Chuene from the Directorate of International Relations and Partnerships encouraged fellows to pursue international research collaborations, joint publications, mobility opportunities, and formal partnerships. Platforms and programmes such as SASUF, the Southern African–Nordic Centre, Erasmus+ mobility programmes, Chinese government training programmes and SARUA were highlighted as avenues for expanding international academic networks.

Turning research capacity into institutional impact

The Directorate of Research and Innovation reinforced the central role of PDRFs in advancing UNIVEN’s 2026–2030 strategy through research, publication and scholarship.

Ms Livhuwani Nemaangani

Ms Livhuwani Nemaangani, Research Administration Coordinator, highlighted opportunities available to postdocs including conference participation, research visits, publication support and page-fee assistance, while cautioning researchers to carefully verify journal accreditation and avoid predatory publishers. Eff orts to automate research output and application processes, aimed at improving efficiency, streamlining administrative procedures, and enhancing the overall researcher experience, were also highlighted.

Dr Sinah Sekhula

Dr Sinah Sekhula, Research Offi cer, reported that UNIVEN currently has 42 postdoctoral research fellows, supported primarily through funding from the University and the NRF. She emphasised that PDRFs are strategically important to increasing research publications and graduate outputs, specifi cally, the number of Master’s and PhD graduates in line with the university’s strategic and operational plans. Dr Sekhula further presented key challenges reported by the PDRFs, including limitations in research infrastructure, inadequate funding, procurement delays, administrative ineffi ciencies, and barriers to collaboration and stakeholder engagement. She emphasised that these areas require ongoing institutional attention and support to strengthen the eff ectiveness and impact of the PDRF programme.

Prof Prince Nevhutalu, Special Advisor to the DVC Research and Postgraduate Studies, took the message further, calling for a strong postdoctoral research culture across all faculties and urging fellows to contribute beyond academic papers. Research, he stressed, must create meaningful societal impact, support innovation and contribute to job creation and economic development.

He also encouraged fellows to pursue national and international funding, build collaborations and persist with grant applications, noting that independent funding can provide greater flexibility to conduct research, attend conferences and establish strategic partnerships.

A call to seize the opportunity

The programme concluded with a strong call for fellows to take full ownership of the opportunities before them. Mr Marota Aphane, Postgraduate Support Officer, encouraged PDRFs to explore NRF funding opportunities, while expressing appreciation to the organisers, speakers and participants for a programme that generated meaningful engagement around the challenges facing postdoctoral researchers.

UNIVEN’s postdoctoral programme is increasingly being positioned as more than a pathway between a PhD and the next academic appointment. It is emerging as a strategic investment in the University’s research future, one that seeks to develop independent scholars, strengthen postgraduate supervision, expand research networks, attract funding, stimulate innovation and translate knowledge into tangible societal impact.

The induction programme made one message unmistakably clear: the success of UNIVEN’s postdoctoral fellows will be measured not only by what they publish, but by the research capacity, collaborations, innovations, students and solutions they leave behind.

As the University continues to strengthen its postdoctoral programme, the challenge now is to turn the opportunities identified during the induction into measurable action, sustained collaboration and visible research impact.

Below are photographs of some of the presenters:

In the picture: Postdoctoral fellows and presenters pose for a photo with the Acting Vice Chancellor,
Prof Fulufhelo Ntswera (seated 4th from left)

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