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Rhodes University Research Report 2013

- Rhodes University, Roberts, Jaine, Mantolo, Thumeka, Jacob, Patricia, Macgregor, Jill, Dore, Sally

Authors: Rhodes University , Roberts, Jaine , Mantolo, Thumeka , Jacob, Patricia , Macgregor, Jill , Dore, Sally
Date: 2013
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59330 , vital:27549
Description: From Foreword by Dr Saleem Badat: Rhodes University has positioned itself as a research university that, alongside excellence in undergraduate teaching, also takes scholarship seriously. This has strongly shaped the intellectual identity of the university and, today, research income and expenditure are significant components of the university’s finances. Rhodes University values the scholar-teacher model of combining research with teaching and learning, and other scholarly activities. This has a strong influence on the quality of intellectual endeavour at the University, and is critical in advancing the University’s pursuit of a strong postgraduate trajectory. This is an opportunity to briefly reflect on research at Rhodes over the eight years of my Vice-Chancellorship. It is gratifying to see that scholarship and publishing has continued to blossom at Rhodes, and has also occurred over a wider academic base, and that there has also been increased enrolments of postgraduates, as part of overall University strategy. Postgraduate enrolments increased from 24% (1 397) in 2006 to 30% (2 302) in 2013, with considerable increases in the numbers of Masters and Doctoral students. Between 2006 and 2013, Honours and Postgraduate Diploma graduations increased from 453 to 719, Masters graduations increased by 73% (from 171 to 296) and Doctoral graduations by 70% (from 46 to 78). Concomitantly, there was an increase in the numbers of black and women PhD graduates. The number of Postdoctoral Fellows at Rhodes rose from 19 in 2007 to 68 in 2013, an increase of 258%. , A publication of the Rhodes University Research Office, compiled and edited by Jaine Roberts, Thumeka Mantolo, Patricia Jacob and Jill Macgregor. Design and Layout: Sally Dore
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Date Issued: 2013

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Rhodes University Research Report 2012

- Rhodes University, Roberts, Jaine, Connan, Verna, Mantolo, Thumeka, Macgregor, Jill, Jacob, Patricia

Authors: Rhodes University , Roberts, Jaine , Connan, Verna , Mantolo, Thumeka , Macgregor, Jill , Jacob, Patricia
Date: 2012
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:567 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011985
Description: [From Introduction] Rhodes University continued to grow in overall accredited research outputs in 2012, and in other forms of scholarship which enhance the intellectual space of the university. During the graduation ceremonies that followed the 2012 academic year, 2 288 students earned new qualifications. A record 948 students or 41 percent graduated with postgraduate degrees. We also celebrated a new University record of 63 PhD graduates, a wonderful achievement for the smallest university in the country. Our Science Faculty was a particularly noteworthy contributor to the postgraduate numbers, with 35 PhD graduates, 83 Master’s graduates and 132 honours graduates. The University’s Enrolment Plan outlines our intention of becoming a more postgraduate university, and our overall strategy is to enhance our contribution to knowledge production through research and scholarship. Rhodes is well-positioned for such a trajectory, and we look to strengthening our capacity to serve society in this way by striving to provide our academics with effective research support. In the latest Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Ministerial Report on National Research Outputs, Rhodes University is listed as having the third most favourable research output rate per capita (the accepted norm for measuring efficiency of investment in the research domain) in the South African university system, and the second highest percentage of academic staff with PhDs (56 percent). Other studies show that Rhodes has the top PhD graduation rate of South African Universities, and very good postgraduate throughput rates overall. We continue to give special attention to identifying potential new postgraduate and research niche areas and programmes, and to developing the appropriate institutional arrangements to effectively support larger numbers of Honours, Masters and Doctoral students, and further enhance their academic and social experiences. The audited result of our DHET submission of accredited research outputs for 2012 has not yet been received at the time of writing, so exact success rates in book and conference submissions are not yet known. These are the smaller components of our overall accredited outputs (in the previous year, books and accredited conference proceedings each contributed 7 percent of our total accredited publishing output, while journals contributed 86 percent). In 2012, Rhodes submitted 46.82 book and book chapter units for consideration (up by 33 percent on the 2011 submission), and 32.04 accredited conference proceeding weighted units (down by 8.6 percent on the 2011 submission, which in turn had been up 46.8 percent on the previous year’s submission).Year-on-year variance on the relatively small submission base in these categories is to be expected. The big component of Rhodes’ publication output, our journal publications, grew by 13.2 percent on the 2011 level to 350.47 units (the previous year has seen a 6 percent increase in this category), maintaining Rhodes’ position amongst the most research productive institutions in the South African Higher Education system. Coupled with Rhodes’ high volume of accredited journal outputs in relation to its size, a very pleasing quality measure is that 90 percent of Journal outputs (the highest proportion in the sector) appear in internationally accredited journal indices. Accredited outputs from thesis-based PhD and Masters graduates rose by 4.9 percent in 2012 to a new high for Rhodes (2011’s figure had grown by 15.4 percent over 2010, which in turn had grown by 35.8 percent over 2009). I add my warm thanks and congratulations to all of our researchers, funders, collaborators and partners who contributed to the excellent accredited research results of 2012, as well as generated the many forms of scholarship that are not counted in the accreditation exercise, but which contribute much to the rich intellectual space that is Rhodes. I also thank all of the administrators who play a crucial role in preparing the university’s meticulous audited submissions.
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Date Issued: 2012

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Exchange rate behavior in the cases of the Zambian Kwacha and Malawian Kwacha : is there misalignment?

- Magwizi, Brenda Thandekha, Rhodes University

Authors: Magwizi, Brenda Thandekha , Rhodes University
Date: 2011
Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- Zambia Foreign exchange rates -- Malawi International relations -- Case studies -- Zambia International relations -- Case studies -- Malawi
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
Identifier: vital:974 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002708
Description: The exchange rate is the price of one currency against another currency or currencies of a group of countries. Real exchange rates are important because they show the external competitiveness of a country‟s economy. Thus, when the exchange rate of a country is misaligned, this will affect its trade, production and the welfare of people. This study analysed macroeconomic determinants of the real exchange rate and dynamic adjustment of the real exchange rate as a result of shocks to these determinants. The study also determined the extent of misalignment of the real exchange rate in Malawi and Zambia and identified variables that contributed to it. Such information is important to policy makers. Quarterly data were used for both countries from 1980:1-2008:4. The literature review identified those variables that determine the exchange rate and these include government consumption, foreign aid, net foreign assets, commodity prices, terms of trade, domestic credit, openness and the Balassa Samuelson effect (technological progress). To determine the long-run relationship between the exchange rate and its determinants, we employed the Johansen approach and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). For robustness check on the long-run and shortrun effects of determinants on the exchange rate, variance decomposition and impulse response analyses were used. Results in the study show that in Malawi for both models, an increase in LAID, LGCON and LTOT resulted in real exchange rate depreciation and increases in LDC, NFA and LNEER resulted in an appreciation. In Zambia, increases in LAID, LGCON, LOPEN and LTOT caused the real exchange rate to depreciate while increases in LDC, NFA and LCOPPER led to an appreciation. Lagged LREER and LNEER were found to have short run effects on the equilibrium exchange rate for Malawi and lagged LCOPPER and LDC for Zambia. Periods of exchange rate misalignment were found in both countries. It was also found that the coefficient of speed of adjustment in Malawi in models 1 and 2 indicate that 11% and 27% of the variation in the real exchange rate from its equilibrium adjust each quarter respectively. The speed of adjustment for Zambia in both models was 45% and 47% respectively, higher than that of Malawi. Foreign aid has proven to be important in exchange rate misalignment in both countries, though this was not really expected in the case of Zambia. Given these results, it may be of interest to policy makers to understand which variables impact most on the exchange rate and how misalignment due to these determinants can be minimised.
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Date Issued: 2011

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Rhodes University Research Report 2011

- Rhodes University, Rhodes University Research Office, Roberts, Jaine, Connan, Verna, Dore, Sally

Authors: Rhodes University , Rhodes University Research Office , Roberts, Jaine , Connan, Verna , Dore, Sally
Date: 2011
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:566 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011981
Description: [From Introduction] Rhodes University continued to show a gratifying and steady increase in overall accredited research outputs in 2011, and individual increases were experienced in all categories of output. Overall accredited units increased to 639.6 (a 12.7% increase on 2010), with a similar percentage increase in the DHET per capita output figure, which kept Rhodes in the position of third most productive university in South Africa in terms of accredited research. 51% of the outputs were due to publications, 25% to PhD graduations, and 24% to Masters graduations by thesis. The PhD contribution represented a record year, and a 30% increase over the number graduating in the preceding year. Our journal output, (which accounts for 86% of our total accredited publishing output for higher education subsidy purposes) grew by 5.9% from the 2010 level (to 309.61 units in 2011). The previous year had seen a 3% decline in this category. Coupled with Rhodes’ high volume of accredited journal outputs in relation to its size, a very pleasing quality measure was that 90% of journal outputs (by far the highest proportion of universities in the sector) appeared in international accredited journals. Our output from accredited conference proceedings, (which in 2011 amounted to 7% of our total accredited publishing output) grew by 3.5% to 24.22 units - from a small base where year-on-year variance in either direction is common. The book outputs (which in 2011 amounted to 7% of our total accredited publishing output) increased by 162% - again from a small base (moving up to 25.02 units), where year-on-year variance is expected. This category had seen a negative growth of 60.6% in the previous year. add my warm thanks and congratulations to all of our researchers, funders, collaborators, partners and students who contributed to the excellent accredited research results of 2011, as well as generated the many forms of scholarship that are not counted in the accreditation exercise, but which contribute much to the rich intellectual space that is Rhodes. I also thank all of the administrators who played a critical role in preparing the university’s meticulous audited submission. , A publication of the Rhodes Research Office, compiled and edited by Jaine Roberts and Verna Connan. Design and Layout: Sally Dore.
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Date Issued: 2011

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Rhodes University Research Report 2010

- Rhodes University, Roberts, Jaine

Authors: Rhodes University , Roberts, Jaine
Date: 2010
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:565 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011968
Description: From Introduction: In 2010, the total subsidy earning accredited research output count for Rhodes University of 615.3 units represents an increase of 9% on the previous year. By far the major contributor to this growth was the significant increase in both PhD (37.5% up on 2009) and Masters by thesis students (34.5% up on 2009). Rhodes contributed 3.3% of all accredited research output in the public higher education sector in 2010 (0.1% up on 2009). With 1.9% of academic staff in the system, Rhodes retained its place amongst the top three most productive universities as measured by accredited publications per academic. Rhodes exceeds the DHET research output norm for universities by 53%. In 2010, the total accredited publication output count for Rhodes University of 325.33 units represented a decline over 2009 of 7.3 percent. This followed two years of steep growth during which accredited research publication output grew by 28%. Accredited publication output for 2010 consisted mainly of journals at 89.9%, with conference proceedings at 7.2% and books and book chapters at 2.9% making far smaller contributions. This mix is roughly in line with the sector as a whole. It has been recognised that books and book chapters are underappreciated in relation to journals, and recommendations to increase the weighted points that they attract as proposed by ASSAf1 are awaiting approval by the DHET. and book chapters submitted, because the hurdle of independent reviewing is not always met by the publishing avenues chosen by authors. The University has become increasingly reliant on research funding in recent years as a larger proportion of its budget, and attention at university council level is being given to ensuring that appropriate systems and support structures for researchers are in place. I add my warm thanks and congratulations to all of our researchers, funders, collaborators and partners who contributed to the excellent research results of 2010. , A Publication of the Rhodes Research Office,compiled and edited by Jaine Roberts
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Date Issued: 2010

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Rhodes University Research Report 2009

- Rhodes University

Authors: Rhodes University
Date: 2009
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:564 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011966
Description: [From Introduction] Rhodes University maintained and improved its track record of research performance in 2009, a very pleasing trend given that it came directly after a large increase of accredited publication outputs in 2008 of 20.3%, and a flattening of the growth curve was expected. The increase in accredited publication units for 2009 of 6.4% (from 330.02 units to 350.99 units) is closer to the growth rate for the sector as a whole. This continued increase in research publications was achieved against the backdrop of substantial financial constraints and changes in the funding programmes of the National Research Foundation, a primary source of funding for researchers at Rhodes, which produced significant discontinuities in funding for several established researchers. Our journal output, (which accounts for 86% of our total accredited publishing output for higher education subsidy purposes) grew by 5.1% from 2008 to 2009 (from 287.82 units to 302.64 units). The previous year’s growth was 11.3% in this category. Coupled with Rhodes’s high volume of accredited journal outputs in relation to its size, a very pleasing quality measure was that 81.6% of Journal outputs (amongst the highest proportions in the sector) appeared in international accredited journals. Our output from accredited conference proceedings, (which in 2009 amounted to 7% of our total accredited publishing output) shrunk by 27.5% (from 33.22 units down to 24.07 units) from 2008 to 2009 – but from a small base where more year-on-year variance can be expected. This category had grown by 202% in the preceding year, so the 2009 reduction cannot be taken to represent a trend. The book outputs (which in 2009 amounted to 7% of our total accredited publishing output) increased by 170% – again from a very small base (from 8.89 units up to 24.28 units), where year-on-year variance is expected. This category had grown by 91% in the previous year, but had seen a negative growth of 83% in the year before that. The 2009 growth in this category is a combination of increased submissions, and an improved acceptance rate. The staff responsible for this process in the Research Office, and the researchers who made the submissions, are to be warmly congratulated. I add my warm thanks and congratulations to all of our researchers, funders, collaborators and partners who contributed to the excellent research results of 2009.
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Date Issued: 2009

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Rhodes University Research Report 2008

- Rhodes University

Authors: Rhodes University
Date: 2008
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:563 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011963
Description: [From Preface] This report outlines the extent and quality of our research outputs for 2008. Rhodes possesses an admirable research milieu and culture that provides the space for intellectual development, debate, and the flourishing of ideas. As the smallest university in South Africa, we take special pride in Rhodes University having amongst the highest per capita research outputs. One of the core goals of a university is to produce knowledge, a public responsibility that Rhodes takes very seriously, and we continuously seek new opportunities to do so. Many of Rhodes University’s academics, departments, institutes, centres, and units are at the leading edge of research and are actively advancing knowledge in a range of disciplines and fields. During 2008, Rhodes launched three new centres. The DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (Sensors) was founded under the directorship of Professor Tebello Nyokong; the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching & Learning, was formed out of a much expanded Academic Development Centre, under the leadership of the Dean of Teaching and Learning, Professor Chrissie Boughey; and the Centre for the Study of Democracy was launched under the leadership of Professor Stephen Friedman as a joint venture of Rhodes and the University of Johannesburg. A second DST/NRF South African Research Chair was launched in the field of Marine Biology, with Professor Christopher McQuaid as its incumbent. Rhodes’s first DST/NRF Chair, Professor Tebello Nyokong, in the area of Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology, had an outstanding year, with accolades coming from a range of sources. She was officially recognized by the National Research Foundation as one of the most productive researchers in the country with 35 ISI indexed journal papers published during the year, an extraordinary achievement by anyone’s standard, and with a large number of additional accredited outputs by her and her group during the year. In the area of the creative arts, Mrs Janet Buckland of our Drama Department won special recognition as the recipient of the national Woman of the Year award promoted by Shopright-Checkers and SABC 2, in both the Arts and culture section and as the overall recipient. Professor Fackson Banda of our Journalism Department won the 2008 MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) Press Freedom Award. In the Geology Department, Professor Goonie Marsh was awarded the Geological Society of South Africa’s highest scientific award, the Draper Memorial Medal, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to geological sciences in general, and particularly for his research work in the petrology of volcanic rocks and igneous provinces in South Africa. The Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Senior Research Award for 2008 went to Professor Peter Vale of the Department of Political and International Studies, for the national and international impact of his scholarly activities over a sustained period. The Vice-Chancellor's Book Award for 2008 went to Professor Dan Wylie of the Department of English, for Myth of Iron - Shaka in History (UKZN Press, 2008). Rhodes postgraduates continue to excel in winning prestigious international and local scholarships, including the Rhodes (Oxford), Mandela Rhodes, Flanagan, Commonwealth, and Fulbright. A major challenge facing South African Universities is the development of a new generation of teacher-scholars, one that Rhodes University has been engaging with for a number of years. We acknowledge the strong support of the Mellon Foundation, which has assisted us in creating a focused programme aimed at cultivating a new generation of black and women researchers, and in making a contribution towards transforming our academic body in the process. I am pleased to be able to announce that the Kresge Foundation has agreed to fund this initiative for a further four years. I extend my congratulations and thanks to all of our researchers, collaborators, funders, donors, and partners who contributed to making 2008 a year in which research at Rhodes University flourished. Your expertise, dedication, rigour and generosity make Rhodes University the rich and distinctive intellectual space that it is.
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Date Issued: 2008

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Rhodes University Research Report 2007

- Rhodes University

Authors: Rhodes University
Date: 2007
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:562 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011958
Description: [From Introduction] For the past 8 years Rhodes University has maintained a research output record (based on publications and Masters and PhD graduates) which has placed it consistently amongst the top three universities in the country on the basis of outputs per capita academic staff member. The past year was no exception. Journal publications were the highest to date (261.9 units) and Masters and PhD graduates (274 units) are amongst the highest achieved, largely due to the record number of PhD graduates (33) in the Science Faculty. In recent years this per capita output has consistently been over 60% higher than the national average. An encouraging aspect of the journal publications in 2007 is the increase in the percentage of articles in subsidy earning journals. While it is appreciated that the most appropriate journals in certain fields of research are not always those that are on the Department of Education’s approved lists, it is financially critical to the University’s research effort and the University as a whole that subsidy earning outputs are maximised. Another positive outcome of the most recent audit of Rhodes’s research outputs (2006; 2007 data will only be available at the end of 2008) is that 89% of the publications in the form of books, chapters and conference proceedings submitted to the Department of Education were approved for subsidy. This is a significantly higher percentage approval than in the past. The award of two highly prestigious NRF/DST Research Chairs to Profs Tebello Nyokong and Christopher McQuaid as part of the first round of the SA Research Chairs Initiative was another major achievement. These Chairs will significantly enhance the research profile and productivity of the University as will the recent award of the highly prestigious Centre of Excellence in Nanotechnology to be headed by Prof Nyokong. Only three such centres of excellence have been established and were officially launched by the Minister of Science and Technology in November 2007. The Centre will be host to researchers from throughout South Africa and will focus on novel technologies for cancer treatment and the development of new biosensors for disease treatment and water contamination. An encouraging statistic recently released by the National Research Foundation indicates that Rhodes has the fourth highest percentage (15.4%) of rated researchers in the country which is an excellent achievement. NRF ratings are awarded to researchers in all disciplines who are regarded as national and international leaders in their fields. Amongst these researchers, three were also recognised by the University and were awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Awards (see highlights section). Postgraduate students have once again been the cornerstone of much of the research activities in all Faculties and have contributed significantly to the research outputs of the University both as co-authors on publications and through the good graduation rates of Masters and PhD candidates. This is particularly evident for example in the Science Faculty, in which Masters and Doctoral students contributed to over 90% of the Faculty and 60% of the University’s outputs. A key factor in the high profile and success of postgraduates at Rhodes is the excellent supervision they receive and all supervisors are to be congratulated for their dedicated approach to what has become an increasingly onerous academic responsibility. They and the Research Office have benefited enormously from the very able support of the Postgraduate Liaison Committee chaired for a second year by Dan Parker. The work of this committee is highly valued. Finally, this will be my last contribution to the annual Rhodes Research Reports as I will be retiring at the end of 2008. I would like to wish my successor with responsibility for Research at Rhodes, the new DVC: R&D Dr Peter Clayton, every success in the future which I am confident will see research at the University going from strength to strength. I would also like to take the opportunity to express my sincere and grateful thanks to all those who have supported me and contributed to the success of Rhodes research in my past 10 years as Dean of Research. This includes two Vice-Chancellors, members of Senior Management, Deans, Heads of Department and staff and postgraduate students in both academic departments and administrative divisions. In particular, a very big thank you to all the staff who have worked in the Research Office and have made such a significant contribution over this past decade. Special mention must be made of my first Assistant, Moira Pogrund, who was instrumental in the establishment and success of the Research Office from its inception in 1998. She gave true meaning to the word efficiency and her outstanding contribution is being continued by the excellent work of her successor, Dr Heather Davies-Coleman. John Gillam has been a tower of strength in the management and administration of postgraduate financial aid and has been an invaluable advisor and confidant to countless postgraduate students over this period.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Rhodes University Research Report 2006

- Rhodes University

Authors: Rhodes University
Date: 2006
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:561 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011954
Description: [From Preface] Rhodes University defines as one of its three core activities the production of knowledge through stimulating imaginative and rigorous research of all kinds (fundamental, applied, policy-oriented, etc.), and in all disciplines and fields. Though a small university with less than 6 000 students, the student profile and research output (publications, Master’s and Doctoral graduates) of Rhodes ensures that it occupies a distinctive place in the overall South African higher education landscape. For one, almost 25% of Rhodes’ students are postgraduates. Coming from a diversity of countries, these postgraduates ensure that Rhodes is a cosmopolitan and fertile environment of thinking and ideas. For another, Rhodes has the best research output of all South African universities, a testimony to the dedication and passion of its academics for research and the commitment of the University to nurture and cultivate knowledge production of all kinds. During 2006, Rhodes academics published 113 books and book chapters, 312 articles, and contributed 636 papers to conferences. One hundred and seventy students graduated with Master’s degrees and 47 with Doctorates. In a number of areas Rhodes’ academics are at the cutting-edge of research, pushing the frontiers knowledge production. The award of a Department of Science and Technology sponsored Research Chair in Chemistry to Professor Nyokong is one indicator of national recognition of this reality. Rhodes researchers are at the forefront of a number of national projects, and also continue to attract research funding from a variety of international and national research agencies and industry. Rhodes possesses an admirable research culture, and provides the intellectual space for the flourishing and debate of ideas, as evidenced by the number and diversity of seminars, public lectures, and the quality of local and international academics that visit Rhodes. A number of Rhodes academics also make important contributions to national public debate, enhancing the visibility of Rhodes in the intellectual life of South Africa. Rhodes University is committed to maintain and, in the years to come, to enhance its research output, to broaden its research base, to bring on steam new generations of researchers (who are also increasing women and black), and to continue being a distinctive South African university in the domain of knowledge production.
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Date Issued: 2006

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Rhodes University Research Report 2005

- Rhodes University

Authors: Rhodes University
Date: 2005
Language: English
Type: Text
Identifier: vital:560 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011951
Description: [From Introduction] Rhodes University has once again had a very successful year in terms of research and I would like to congratulate and thank the staff and postgraduate students for their research efforts in 2005. Research outputs in the form of articles in accredited journals have once again increased. The audited but still to be awarded journal units for 2005 is 232.6 which is the highest submitted total for Rhodes University and will maintain Rhodes as one of the top research institutions in the country. While this is very encouraging, it is still somewhat disturbing that a large percentage of the journal publications are produced by a small number of staff as indicated in the Vice-Chancellor’s preface. A recent analysis indicates that over the past 4-5 years less than 35 academic and research staff (approximately 10% of the total staff) have been responsible for over 50% of the journal units produced. I would therefore like to encourage all staff to pay special attention to the publication of research findings, particularly in accredited journals where possible. As I’m sure most staff are aware, the subsidy value of a publication unit is now substantial and has become one of the major factors determining the value of the Government subsidy awarded to the University. Increasing the proportion of this component of the subsidy will clearly impact positively not only on the University as a whole but more specifically on our research activities. Another important component of our research output and again a significant one in the context of the new funding formula is the graduation of research Master’s and Doctoral students. While the final numbers are not available, 2005 appears to again have been a very successful one in terms of Master’s and PhD graduates and thanks must go not only to the students but their supervisors. Supervision is becoming an increasingly difficult and onerous task. It is a responsibility which is taken very seriously by Rhodes staff and is one which is done very well. I would also like to thank the Postgraduate Liaison Sub-Committee for their efforts in assisting postgraduates and representing their interests so effectively. This is a somewhat unique body in Higher Education Institutions in this country and has received high praise from a number of outside groups and organisations. The past year was also an important one for the University and for research at Rhodes as a result of the HEQC Quality Audit which took place in September. Special attention was paid to research during the audit since we consider Rhodes to be a research intensive institution. The audit report has recently been released and while the research section contains a number of recommendations, the University was generally commended for its research activities and quality of its postgraduate training. Many of the recommendations are of a strategic nature while most of the more specific ones are aspects which we had ourselves identified as issues for attention. A number of these have in fact already been dealt with. Finally, this is the last full year in which Dr Woods has served as our Vice-Chancellor and I would like to acknowledge the enormous contribution he has made to research at Rhodes in the past 10 years. He identified the need to establish a Research Office and to appoint a fulltime Dean of Research. As the first appointee to this post it has been my privilege to work very closely with Dr. Woods on all aspects of research. Not only has he always been very supportive and given constant encouragement but has been a source of sound advice and guidance. Rhodes research will be the poorer for his retirement and I would like to take this opportunity to wish Dr and Mrs Woods a very happy and successful retirement in Cape Town.
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Date Issued: 2005

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