Universities South Africa
RISG Case Studies
Transforming Equitable Access to Liver Transplantation in South Africa: The Wits Model of Academic Innovation, Partnership and Public Benefit
Submitted by University of the Witwatersrand Summary of the Impact: Over the past two decades, the University of the Witwatersrand has expanded...
AI_r: Artificial intelligence for affordable air-quality monitoring, early warning and environmental health
Submitted by University of the Witwatersrand Summary of the Impact: AI_r is a South African-designed and assembled environmental-intelligence system developed at the...
A Social Justice Approach to Transforming Educational Opportunities for Marginalised Adult Learners Through Recognition of Prior Learning: From Institutional Innovation to National Influence in South Africa
Submitted by University of the Western Cape Summary of the Impact: South Africa continues to face a paradox in higher education. Although...
PHLEX: Transforming Pharmacy Education into Societal Impact through Experiential Learning
Submitted by University of the Western Cape (UWC) Summary of the Impact: The Pharmacy Hub for Experiential Learning Excellence (PHLEX) at UWC...
Co-creating sustainable livelihoods through the art of embroidery
Submitted by University of Pretoria Summary of the Impact: South Africa faces persistent unemployment and labour underutilisation, disproportionately affecting women and young...
From Farmer Readiness to Community Action: Research-Led Sustainable Land Management in Ga-Matji, Limpopo Province
Submitted by University of Limpopo Summary of the Impact: Research undertaken by the University of Limpopo Centre for Global Change under the...
Woz’Olwandle: real-time coastal water quality forecasts for safer South African beaches
Submitted by University of KwaZulu-Natal Summary of the Impact: Woz'Olwandle (isiZulu for 'come to the sea') is a free public website, developed...
From Research to Resilience: Transforming Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods through Community-Based Soy Interventions in South Africa
Submitted by University of the Free State Summary of the Impact: Over more than two decades, Professor OldewageTheron has translated interdisciplinary nutrition...
Re-engineering a degraded coalfield wetland into ecological infrastructure: The Zaalklapspruit acid mine drainage passive treatment case
Submitted by University of the Free State (Engineering Sciences; Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa) Summary of the Impact: The Zaalklapspruit/Grootspruit wetland in...
From Technical Skills to Economic Opportunity: TUT’s Integrated Technical and Entrepreneurship Training Programme
Submitted by Technology Station in Electronics (TSE) Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Summary of the...
Creating Rural Industrial Entrepreneurs Through Technical Skills and Entrepreneurship Development: The Bushbuckridge Aluminium Enterprise Initiative
Submitted by Tshwane University of Technology Summary of the Impact: South Africa faces high youth unemployment, especially in rural areas. Many young...
From Engineering Knowledge to Societal Impact: Strengthening Local Industry, Skills and Future-Ready Engineering through eNtsa
Submitted by Nelson Mandela University Summary of the Impact: For lower-tier automotive suppliers, access to specialised engineering knowledge and testing can determine...
Combating Hidden Hunger through the Development and Commercialisation of Nutri-Caro-E Fortification Technology
Submitted by Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Summary of the Impact: Hidden hunger, caused by deficiencies in vitamins and minerals despite...
From Space Research to Space Sovereignty: Commercialising South African Technologies for Global Markets
Submitted by Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Summary of the Impact: Research undertaken through the Africa Space Innovation Centre (ASIC) at...
South Africa’s Higher Education sector positions itself for purpose-driven collaboration
South Africa’s higher education sector made a strong case for strategic, purpose-driven collaboration when Universities South Africa (USAf) hosted a delegation from the London School...
USAf–LSE talks yield clear pathways for institution-to-institution collaboration
South Africa’s higher education sector, represented by Universities South Africa (USAf), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have advanced from exploratory...
Biomimicry to democratize access to infectious disease diagnostics
Submitted by Wits University Summary of the Impact: The battle against diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 requires fast and accurate...
Enhancing the circular economy of minerals by using enhanced numerical modelling techniques to optimise mine pillars and increase extraction ratios
Submitted by University of Pretoria Summary of the impact: Mines are an important part of the circular economy of the mineral value chain....
ECAS Mobile Application: Transforming Oesophageal Cancer Screening in Rural Eastern Cape Communities
Submitted by Walter Sisulu University Summary of the Impact: The ECAS (Esophageal Cancer Screening App) project has revolutionised access to cancer screening...
Life Sciences teaching and learning workshops
Submitted by Walter Sisulu University Summary of the Impact: Rural educational institutions in South Africa frequently experience significant deficiencies in the pedagogical...
Circumfort: Supporting Post-Circumcision Healing to Improve Public Health Outcomes
Submitted by Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Summary of the Impact: Circumfort is a patented medical device that accelerates healing after...
Changing Faces, Changing Lives
Submitted by Central University of Technology Free State Summary of the Impact: At the Central University of Technology (CUT), research is not...
Rhodes University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Initiative: A Pathway towards Education Transformation in Makhanda
Submitted by Rhodes University Summary of the Impact: In 2015, Professor Sizwe Mabizela was inaugurated as Rhodes University’s (RU’s) Vice-Chancellor and articulated...
Maximising the socioeconomic benefits of the South African flora
Submitted by University of Johannesburg (UJ) Summary of the Impact: Impact on agriculture (new crops based on indigenous plants); pharmaceutical industry (new...
Advancing Renewable Energy, Science Education, and Sustainable Development in South Africa through Hydrogen and Electrolysis Research
Submitted by North-West University, HySA Centre of Competence, Faculty of Engineering Summary of the impact: Over the past five years (2018–2024), research collaborations...
Phumani Paper
Submitted by University of Johannesburg Summary of the Impact: Phumani Paper (Phumani) was initially established as a UJ community engagement programme when...
Knowledge Unzipped Project
Submitted by Wits University Summary of the Impact: The Knowledge Unzipped project is a multi-modal, Applied Theatre-based Sexual and Reproductive Health &...
Circular textile solutions for community empowerment: The Clothes to Good (CTG) case
Submitted by University of Pretoria Summary of the Impact: Escalating volumes of post-consumer textile waste represent a critical sustainability challenge for the...
Beyond Mentorship: An Engineering Graphics and Design society of student teachers.
Submitted by Tshwane University of Technology Summary of the Impact: This is a society of students who are helping others to learn...
Transforming Road Safety and Community Livelihoods through the Pothole Eradication Programme (PEP)
Submitted by Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) Summary of the impact: The Pothole Eradication Programme (PEP), a partnership between CUT and...
Advances in Forensic Art Explore and Preserve Our Common Humanity
Submitted by Stellenbosch University Summary of the Impact: Associate Professor Kathryn Smith's work in forensic art at Stellenbosch University has made significant,...
Realising Multilingual Education for isiXhosa and Kaaps speakers in our schools and universities: a CMDR case study
Submitted by University of the Western Cape Summary of the Impact: Several national departments and bodies, provincial departments, schools and parents, academic...
Improving Vision and Empowering Futures – The University of Johannesburg Optometry Department’s Partnership with Camp Sizanani
Submitted by University of Johannesburg Summary of the Impact: Since 2023, the Department of Optometry at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has...
Research with reach: How the study on antiretroviral drugs in South Africa’s water influenced policy and public awareness
Submitted by North-West University Summary of the Impact: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the body’s CD4 cells, a...
Transforming waste into hope: A community-driven solution in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve
Submitted by University of the Western Cape Summary of the Impact: This university-community partnership has transformed waste management practices across three rural...
Rooted in science, growing worldwide – the measured impact of rooibos health research led by Professor Jeanine Marnewick
Submitted by Cape Peninsula University of Technology Summary of the Impact: Professor Jeanine L. Marnewick has been one of the most visible...
Tangible Africa
Submitted by Nelson Mandela University Under pinning academic work The project originated from an Honours project by Byron Batteson (2017) during which...
Monitoring and Communicating Risk of Emerging Contaminant in Mangaung Water Sources
Submitted by Central University of Technology, Free State Summary of the impact: Monitoring of emerging contaminants in water sources is crucial given their...
An early warning system for monitoring COVID-19 infections in South Africa
Submitted by Durban University of Technology Summary of the impact: The COVID-19 pandemic was a global public health challenge of epic proportions, which...
System-to-System Collaborations – A Position Paper
The System-to-System Collaborations position paper, published by Universities South Africa (USAf) in collaboration with the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), focuses on collaboration...
Communities of Practice for Child Wellbeing
Submitted by University of Johannesburg. Summary of the impact: The Communities of Practice for Child Wellbeing (CoP) project tested a collaborative, evidence-based approach...
Surveillance and molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Northern South Africa
Submitted by University of Venda. Summary of the impact: Our research contributed evidence that allowed for near real-time interventions to curb the spread of...
Commercialization of a sorghum probiotic drink (Niselo)
Submitted by Tshwane University of Technology. Summary of the impact: (Including who or what has benefited, been influenced, or acted upon.) Nutrigi is...
“Yabelana”, age-inclusive ICT innovation for service delivery in South Africa
Submitted by North-West University. Summary of the impact: “ Yabelana” (referring to “sharing”) is a first-of-its-kind self-sustaining technology artefact with context-specific service delivery...
Supporting adolescents living with HIV in Eastern and Southern Africa survive and thrive
Submitted by University of Cape Town. Summary of the impact: Eastern and Southern African countries are home to nearly 1.5 million adolescents and...
Greater Gwakwani Community Upliftment Project
Submitted by University of Johannesburg. Summary of the impact: Access to potable water: Support of more than 2000 residents with sustainable water...
Road Fatality Interventions
Submitted by University of Cape Town. Summary of the impact: Road fatalities were labelled a pandemic as early as 1973 (British Medical Journal,...
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Understanding pathophysiology, improving diagnosis and therapy in a cardiac disease common in African women
Submitted by University of Cape Town. Summary of the impact: New Medication for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Based on her collaborative, basic science, translational research,...
Street Law – Challenging inequality and leveraging social justice for vulnerable communities
Submitted by University of KwaZulu-Natal. Summary of the impact: This overview profiles a teaching and learning innovation in one of the final year...
The Centre for Deaf Studies
Submitted by University of the Witwatersrand. Summary of the impact: Underpinning academic work: Illiteracy, unemployability, inequality, and marginalisation was the fate of most...
Innovative provision of clean electricity to informal settlements
Submitted by University of the Witwatersrand. Summary of the impact: PeCo Power Pty Ltd, a spin-off company from Wits University, has been established...
The Accessible Greywater Solutions for Urban Informal Townships (URBWAT) project
Submitted by University of the Witwatersrand. Summary of the impact: The project had direct impact on the people of s’Swetla. They benefitted from...
Revolutionizing the concept of shark management
Submitted by Stellenbosch University. Summary of the impact: The SharkSafe BarrierTM, developed by a team of international scientists and marine biologists from Stellenbosch...
An invisible epidemic: fighting hearing loss
Submitted by University of Pretoria. Overview Hearing loss strikes at the heart of what makes us human — communication, engagement and learning, and...
Societal Impact through the Faculty of Health Sciences Rural Community Initiative
Submitted by University of the Free State. Summary of the impact: Communities in the Xhariep district in the Free State, specifically in the...
South African Universities — Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals
A recent outcome of this focus area is the South African Universities – Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals report, based on a USAf-commissioned study in...
Research from the Desmond Tutu TB Centre at Stellenbosch University informs changes to WHO guidelines for the management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents globally
Submitted by Stellenbosch University. Summary of the impact: In 2022 the World Health Organization (WHO) released their updated guidelines and operational handbook for...
Back on Track programme
Submitted by Stellenbosch University. Summary of the impact: Research by Professor Servaas van der Berg and his research group, RESEP, into learning losses...