RESEARCH FESTIVAL
2026
Research with Impact: Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Responsible Scholarship and Enabling Future Researchers
PROGRAMME
26 to 28 OCTOBER 2026
Programme Director (Day 1): Mr Luvuyo Kakaza
SARETEC, CPUT Bellville Campus
DAY 1: LAUNCHES OF NRF DECADAL CHAIRS AND NEW NRF NATIONAL EQUIPMENT PROGRAMME (NEP), RESEARCH AWARDS, RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION Start
Programme Items
08h30
Arrival, Registration, Refreshments and Exhibitions
Speaker/Lead Networking and Exhibitions
SESSION 1 INTRODUCTION, OFFICIAL WELCOME AND KEYNOTE
09h00
Introduction and Setting the Scene
09h15
Official CPUT Welcome
09h35
Keynote Address: A Changing Research Ethos: An Analysis of the Main Trends Affecting Academic Research in South Africa
10h15
Q&A
Prof Marshall Sheldon CPUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships (DVC: RTIP) Prof Chris Nhlapo CPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Johann Mouton University of Stellenbosch Director of the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Scientometrics and STI Policy and Professor at CREST
SESSION 2 NEW NRF DECADAL CHAIRS INTERNAL LAUNCH
10h25
Launch of the New NRF Decadal Chairs Aligned to CPUT’s Strategic Research Focus Areas
Prof Marshall Sheldon CPUT DVC: (RTIP)
10h35
Keynote Address: The New DSTI/NRF Decadal-Planned Aligned Research Initiative
Dr Gugu Moche NRF Deputy CEO: Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement and Acting Group Executive: Digital Transformation
11h00
New DSTI/NRF Decadal-Planned Aligned Research Chair:
NRF representatives:
1. DTSI/NRF Decadal-Planned Aligned Research Chair in Engineering Education 2. DSTI/NRF Decadal-Planned Aligned Research Chair in ICT for Development: Innovation for Smart and Sustainable Development 3. DSTI/NRF Decadal-Planned Aligned Research Chair in Transformative Education, Social Justice and Innovation
Programme Continues
Dr Mbulelo Ncango Managing Director: Research Advancement Me Nyambeni Golele NRF Research Management Specialist: SARChI 1. Prof Jennifer Case 2. Prof Tiko Iyamu 3. Prof Zayd Waghid
SESSION 3 NEW NRF NATIONAL EQUIPMENT PROGRAMME (NEP) EQUIPMENT LAUNCH
11h35
Launch and Acknowledgement of New NRF NEP Equipment
Prof Marshall Sheldon CPUT (DVC: RTIP)
11h45
Keynote Address: Overview NRF Nation Equipment Programme
Mr Nathan Sassman NRF Manager: NIs, CoE and Research Infrastructures Me Mpai Motsei NRF Research Management Specialist: NIs, CoE and Research Infrastructures
12h30
Equipment to be Profiled
Prof Mahabubur Chowdhury Head: CPUT Functional Materials Research Unit
12h45
•
Prof Agnes Chigona SARChI Tier 1 Chair in Teacher Education Director: Global Institute for Teacher Education and Society
•
First Runner-Up in the Distinguished Woman Researchers: Humanities and Social Sciences Category at the 23rd South African Women in Science Awards Winner in the Digital Skills Sovereignty Award Category at the SITA GovTech Digital Sovereignty Public Service Awards 2026
13h00
LUNCH BREAK
NETWORKING AND EXHIBITIONS
14h00
Launch and Acknowledgement of New NRF NEP Equipment
14h20
Equipment to be Profiled
14h35
Keynote Address: Bridging Knowledge Systems: Decolonial Ethics and Epistemic Responsibility in Collaborative Research Culture Q&A
Prof Marshall Sheldon CPUT DVC: (RTIP) Dr Conrad Sparks Acting CPUT Research Chair: Oceans Economy Acting Director: Centre for Sustainable Oceans Dr Divinia Jithoo CPUT Director: Strategic Initiatives, Internationalisation and Partnerships
15h15
SESSION 4 CPUT RESEARCH AWARDS
15h25
Research Excellence Awards and Recognition
15h35
Presentation of Research Excellence Awards: 1. Number of Research Outputs: Recognises CPUT researchers who produce the highest volume of DHET-approved research outputs during the reporting period. Eligible outputs must comply with the DHET Research Output Policy and be published in DHET-approved indexed journals, books, or conference proceedings. Awards are presented in the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories. 2. Postgraduate Supervision: Recognises CPUT academics and researchers who, as main supervisors, successfully supervised the highest number of postgraduate students to completion during the reporting period. Only students who officially graduated within the reporting period are eligible. Awards are presented in the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories. 3. External Funding: Recognises: CPUT researchers who secured the highest total value of external research funding during the reporting period. Funding must originate from sources external to CPUT and must be awarded and active within the reporting period. Awards are presented in the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories.
16h35
Closing and Vote of Thanks
Prof Dina Burger CPUT Director: Directorate Research Development (DRD) Invited Awardess Me Luyolo Oyo CPUT Coordinator Research Information Management System (RIMS): DRD
Dr Hester Burger CPUT Manager RTI Capacity Development: DRD
PROGRAMME
27 OCTOBER 2026
Programme Director (Day 2): Dr Esti Venske
DAY 2: RESEARCH ETHICS, OPEN SCIENCE AND NATIONAL POLICY ENGAGEMENT Start
Programme Items
Speaker/Lead
09h00
Arrival, Registration, Refreshments and Exhibitions
Networking and Exhibitions
SESSION 1 RESEARCH ETHICS AND EMERGING RESEARCH ETHICS RISKS
09h30
Introduction and Setting the Scene
Prof Marshall Sheldon CPUT DVC: (RTIP)
09h40
Live Poll: Emerging Research Ethics Challenges via Mentimeter
Dr Hester Burger CPUT Manager RTI Capacity Development: DRD
SESSION 2 RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL RESEARCH PRACTICE
10h00
Keynote Address: Navigating Change and Complexity: Research Ethics Governance in Universities of Technology
10h40
Q&A
Prof Penelope Engel-Hills CPUT Adjunct Professor: Professional Education Research Institute
SESSION 3 FROM REFLECTION TO PRACTICE
10h50
Moderated Discussion and Reflection on Emerging Challenges in Research Ethics
11h00
Reflection Question: What is One Change You will Make in Your Research Practice?
Dr Hester Burger CPUT Manager RTI Capacity Development: DRD Dr Hester Burger CPUT Manager RTI Capacity Development: DRD
SESSION 4 SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL OPEN SCIENCE POLICY ENGAGEMENT
11h10
Keynote address: South Africa’s New National Open Science Policy: What Have We Achieved and What Needs to Be Done for the Advancement of Scientific Research and Dissemination
11h50
Q&A
12h00
Panel Discussion: • • •
Dr Reggie Raju (Director: Research & Learning, UCT Libraries, Retired) Me Ina Smith (Programme Officer: ASSAf) Me Zine Sapula (Open Access Project Manager for the South African National Library & Information Consortium (SANLiC).
Prof Elisha Chiware CPUT Adjunct Professor: Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS)
Moderator: Dr Siviwe Bangani Director: CPUT Libraries
13h00
10th Anniversary of CPUT’s Signing of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access and International Open Access Week
Me Janine Lockhart CPUT Library Manager
13h20
LUNCH BREAK
NETWORKING AND EXHIBITIONS
14h20
Closing and Vote of Thanks
Prof Dina Burger CPUT Director: DRD
PROGRAMME
28 OCTOBER 2026
Programme Director (Day 3): Dr Selema Molopa
DAY 3: POSTGRADUATE SYMPOSIUM: RESEARCH SHOWCASE AND DEVELOPMENT Start
Programme Items
Speaker/Lead
08h30
Arrival, Registration, Refreshments and Exhibitions
Networking and Exhibitions
SESSION 1 THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS
09h00
Introduction and Setting the Scene
Prof Marshall Sheldon CPUT DVC: RTIP
09h10
Introduction to the Postgraduate Day
Dr Selema Molopa CPUT CPGS Coordinator: Postgraduate Development Support
SESSION 2 THREE-MINUTE RESEARCH PITCHES
09h25
Selected Master’s and Doctoral Candidates, and Postdoctoral Fellows, Present Their Research in a Three-minute Format
Dr Selema Molopa CPUT CPGS Coordinator: Postgraduate Development Support
SESSION 3 POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH AND IMPACT SHOWCASE
10h25
Faculty-nominated Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research Presentations
Dr Thandazile Mhlongo CPUT CPGS Coordinator: Postgraduate Studies
11h25
Audience Questions and Closing Reflections
12h00
LUNCH BREAK
Dr Thandazile Mhlongo CPUT CPGS Coordinator: Postgraduate Studies NETWORKING AND EXHIBITIONS
SESSION 4 POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION AND DEVELOPMENT
13h00
DHET/University Capacity Development Programme Phase 5, Cohort 3: Junior Research Fellow Awardees Research Showcase: Progress, Insights and Impact • •
13h30
Presentations
Dr Ndakhona Bashingi, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Dr Michaelle Deonarian, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences
Overview Postgraduate Supervision Short Course
Prof Dina Burger CPUT Director: DRD
Presentation of Certificates to the Inaugural Postgraduate Supervision Short Course Attendees
Prof Janet Condy CPUT Adjunct Professor: Faculty of Education Dr Heather Phillips CPUT Research Assistant Prof Marshall Sheldon CPUT: DVC RTIP
14h30
Closing and Vote of Thanks
Prof Izak van Zyl CPUT Director: CPGS
14h40
Closing of CPUT Research Festival 2026
Prof Dina Burger CPUT Director: DRD
Thank You