Research Centre
Pursuing Excellence in Cutting-Edge Research and Innovation
About UFH Research
Leading the Way in Groundbreaking Research
Research is inculcated in the University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) DNA. As an academic institution, UFH highly regards research that contributes to society and delivers ground-breaking progress and development.
Mentorship, support, partnerships, and initiatives are not just part of UFH’s research initiatives. They are at the heart of them. These elements are crucial to growing UFH’s research capacity and fostering a culture of research excellence.
UFH caters to the many facets of excellence in research, and each of its units and programmes is specifically structured to be a driving force in developing researchers who excel in their fields.
The University adheres to the strictest code of ethics to ensure integrity, sound academic process, dignity and equity in all its research endeavours.
45
NRF rated Researchers
3205
Graduates for 2023
67%
Female Graduates
557
Post Graduate Students
2648
Undergraduate Students
Ethics
Research at the University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare (UFH) is committed to the promotion of research as a core university activity and to the building of research capacity. Its research strategy recognizes the need for research to address local, regional and national needs. It seeks ways to engage in a critical dialogue with partners to build research in areas which complement the University’s historical niche as an African university whilst ensuring internationally recognized excellence. The University is supported by several national and international funders that offer competitive research grants to universities.
The Department of Research and Innovation (DRI) is responsible for strengthening research and innovation capacity at UFH. To ensure that research conducted at UFH has societal impact, UFH fosters the dissemination and application of research findings. Through DRI, the university has put in place an Intellectual Property and Innovation Office that identifies, protects and eventually commercialises intellectual property emanating from research conducted at UFH. To provide a platform on which academic researchers, postdoctoral research fellows, students and other UFH-affiliated researchers conduct research that is responsive to some needs of communities, UFH established various research entities that are aligned with UFH Strategic Plan 2022-2026. The research entities include the following:
Research Niche Areas
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainable agriculture, water usage and impact of climate change
- Infectious Diseases and Medicinal Plants
- Research in Inclusion and Township Economies (RITE)
Research Institutes
- Fort Hare Institute for Technology (Faculty of Science and Agriculture)
- Fort Hare Institute for Social and Economic Research (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities)
Research centres
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre (Faculty of Science and Agriculture)
- Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (Faculty of Science and Agriculture)
- Centre for Leadership Ethics in Africa (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities)
- Fort Hare -Centre for Entrepreneurship and Rapid Incubator (Faculty of Management and Commerce)
Research Chairs
- AngloGold Ashanti Research Chair in Dairy Science and Technology
- SARChI Chair in Social Change
- SARChI Chair in Sexualities, Genders and Queer Studies
- UNESCO Oliver Tambo Chair of Human Rights
Our Approach to Research Ethics
SREOC -Senate Research Ethics Oversight Committee
Upholding Research Ethics and Integrity
The UFH Senate Research Ethics Oversight Committee (SREOC) oversees ethical values and research integrity at UFH, reporting to Senate. It governs three research ethics committees (AREC, HREC, IFREC) and fulfils tasks assigned by Senate regarding research
Resources
IFREC - Inter Faculty Research Ethics Commitee
Reviewing, Approving and Monitory All Research Projects
The Inter-Faculty Research Ethics Committee reviews, approves, and monitors research projects involving humans, non-human materials, the environment, secondary data analysis, or desktop research.
Resouces
Standard Operating Procedures
Terms of Reference
IFHREC Forms & Templates
AREC - Animal Research Ethics Commitee
Protecting the Freedom and Well Being of Animals
The Animal Research Ethics Committee overseas the ethical use of animals by researchers and teachers at the University of Fort Hare. In doing this, we review and approve research and teaching protocols for the use of animals, monitor ongoing projects and ensure that the animal handling facilities at the University are ethically managed. AREC is comprised of University of Fort Hare staff and independent external stakeholders to ensure that animal research and teaching is done to the highest ethical standard. AREC is registered with the National Research Ethics Council and reports to this entity on all activities done in the University. Through all of the above mechanisms, we hope to ensure that animal use at the University of Fort Hare remains ethically sound and responsible.
Resources
Standard Operating Procedures
Terms of Reference
Forms & Templates
HREC-Health Research Ethics Committee
Preserving the Dignity and Privacy of Humans
The Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of the University of Fort Hare is a dedicated body responsible for ensuring that all health research conducted across the university’s faculties adheres to the highest ethical standards. The committee’s primary purpose is to review and approve research applications that involve human participants, ensuring that such studies are conducted with integrity, respect, and a commitment to the well-being of all involved.
Health research, as defined by the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC), encompasses studies that contribute to knowledge in areas such as:
- the biological, clinical, psychological, or social processes in human beings,
- improved methods for the provision of health services,
- human pathology,
- the causes of disease,
- the effects of the environment on the human body,
- the development or new application of pharmaceuticals, medicines, and related substances, and
- the development of new applications of health technology
The committee ensures that all research aligns with national and international ethical guidelines, fostering a culture of responsible and impactful health research at the University of Fort Hare.
Resouces
Standard Operating Procedures
Terms of Reference
Forms & Templates
Sources
Research Niche Areas
Exploring Untapped Frontiers
Research Departments
Intellectual Property and Innovation
Ensuring Research Availability and Protecting Researchers Rights
The UFH’s Research and Innovation Department has an unambiguous policy on Intellectual Property. This policy reflects the University’s commitment to protecting, managing, and commercialising its intellectual property for stakeholder benefit. Aligned with the Department’s vision and mission, it aims to contribute to sustainable development through research and innovation.
Driven by core values and strategic priorities the policy is in place to develop a research culture responsive to societal needs and promote engagement through research and innovation for economic growth and wealth creation.
The policy’s objectives are to create an environment that promotes and accelerates the sharing of research findings and new knowledge for public benefit. It ensures that intellectual property and research products are efficiently and promptly available to the public while protecting academics’ traditional rights to control the products of their academic work.
Furthermore, the Department encourages and supports university members in transferring intellectual property through commercialisation and licensing. The purpose is to guarantee mutually beneficial rewards and ensure fair distribution of commercial results to inventors and participants.
Research Output
Guidance and Support for Up-and-Coming Researchers
The UFH Research Outputs (RO) Unit supports the university’s research agenda by providing financial and administrative assistance to academics and postgraduate students. It guides researchers in publishing work in accredited journals, collects and validates research outputs, aligns them with Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) policies, and distributes incentives to supervisors and students.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) implements a policy with specific guidelines for researchers. The policy aims to enhance research productivity in public higher education institutions by acknowledging excellent research results.
The policy outlines research output as original, systematic studies that add new knowledge. Only fully developed, peer-reviewed journal articles are considered eligible for subsidies, with certain types of articles, like correspondence or news pieces, ineligible.
Grants Management
Financing a Cutting-Edge Future for Researchers
The University of Fort Hare (UFH) provides research capacity-strengthening grants to support academic staff, especially early-career academics, offering various grants like research seed grants and conference grants. These grants aim to assist academics in obtaining PhD qualifications and growing into seasoned researchers. The Research and Innovation Office manages the grants to ensure proper fund utilization. Grant applications are announced when funds are available.
The Research grants management unit at the University of Fort Hare supports academics, researchers, and students in securing and managing funding. They offer services from identifying funding opportunities to managing compliance, budgets, and performance tracking. The unit handles both internal and external grants, ensuring financial compliance and providing training support to enhance skills.
The RGMU unit at UFH enhances research capabilities by providing seed funding, aiding in grant processes, supporting Ph.D. candidates, enhancing research skills, mentoring early-career academics, promoting conference attendance, and encouraging NRF ratings for UFH academics.
Finance
A Backbone Behind the Scenes of Pioneering Research
The Finance unit within the research and innovation office oversees and coordinates all financial tasks for the department and researchers. Its role is crucial in supporting the university in achieving its institutional strategic goals for 2022-2026.
Key institutional goals tied to the office include enhancing the University’s Research and Innovation Profile, promoting Financial Sustainability, and expanding the Resource Base. The unit adheres to the strictest policy to ensure transparency, fairness and accuracy.
Tasks include managing research grant payments, planning budgets, allocating funds, and processing budget transfers for researchers. These tasks significantly impact the department and provide the stepping stones for successful research and innovation.
Research Partnerships and Innovation
Partnerships for Positive Change and Recognition in Research
The University of Fort Hare is deeply committed to its role as a catalyst for positive change and prioritizes research as a fundamental university activity. Our research strategy is not just about academic pursuits, but about addressing the pressing needs of our local, regional, and national communities. We actively engage with partners to develop research in alignment with our historical focus as an African university, while striving for international recognition for excellence.
The National Research Foundation supports the university’s participation in programs like IRDP, Thuthuka, and Focus Area Programmes. It has established Research Niche Area programs in various fields, such as Water Resource Management, Sustainable Agriculture and Land Use Strategies, Culture, Heritage and Social Transformation, and Rural Household Economics. In collaboration with Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), Telkom funds a Centre of Excellence within the Computer Science Department.
Our research journey is not one we undertake alone. We are proud to have the support of key organizations like the CSIR, ESKOM, the Medical Research Council, the Mellon Foundation, SANPAD, the Development Bank of South Africa, and the Water Research Commission, as well as national and provincial government departments. Their partnership is a testament to the value and impact of our research.
Department of Research and Innovation
Providing a Platform for Dynamic Research and Innovation
University of Fort Hare (UFH) Research Department encourages and facilitates research and is widely acknowledged for its valuable contribution to South African and global research fields. The Department places a high level of importance on establishing tertiary institutions as frontrunners in innovative research. Ethics, inclusivity, dignity, social responsibility, and information integrity underpin UFH’s research initiatives.
A priority for the UFH Research Department is postgraduate research, collaborations for funding and knowledge sharing, community engagement, and research dissemination through publications. Key focus areas for research are renewable energy, climate change, agriculture, infectious diseases, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
The UFH provides seed funding, grant assistance and allocates time and resources to improve research capabilities. In addition, the Research Unit conducts workshops on supervision, publication, thesis development, plagiarism, data analysis.
Research Chairs
Mentoring and Inspiring Future Leaders in Research
SARChi Chairs
The SARChI Chair is a prestigious research role under the South African Research Chair Initiative, developed by the South African government with the NRF and DSI. It aims to boost research, innovation, and higher education institutions in South Africa by attracting and retaining top researchers.
A key component of the SARChI Chairs’ role is to mentor and train postgraduate students and early-career researchers. This helps to build a pipeline of skilled researchers and contributes to the development of the next generation of academics and professionals.
Chairs are awarded based on a competitive process assessing research proposal quality, candidate qualifications, and potential impact. Recipients are experienced researchers who receive substantial funding for research, infrastructure, and capacity building. This enables them to focus on innovative research, lead teams, and mentor students and emerging researchers.
Applicants who have been recruited by an NRF-funded supervisor to be part of a research project/group, under any of the NRF Funding Instruments listed should apply via the Scholarship linked to NRF-funded research category and should provide the NRF Grant UID Number (unique identification number), OR, provide the NRF Application Reference Number if the supervisor’s research project application has been submitted to the NRF for review.
Championing Human Rights
UNESCO Oliver Tambo Chair
The UNESCO Chair of Human Rights at the University of Fort Hare serves as a vital platform for advancing human rights, peace, social justice, and democratic values in South Africa and beyond. The chair is instrumental in fostering dialogue and action on pressing social issues, such as gender-based violence, as demonstrated by its seminar addressing violence against women and girls in the Eastern Cape. Through research, advocacy, and public engagement, the chair aligns with UNESCO’s broader mission to uphold human rights globally, while contributing to regional and international efforts to promote equity, justice, and societal transformation.
Driving Dairy Innovation
AngloGold Ashanti Research Chair
The Research Chair in Dairy Production, funded by a generous R12.5 million endowment from AngloGold Ashanti, plays a pivotal role in addressing critical challenges and opportunities in the dairy industry. Focused on production, processing, and product development, the chair supports rural small-scale farmers while contributing to the growth and sustainability of South Africa’s dairy sector. Its work is strategically aligned with South Africa’s National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, reinforcing its importance in driving innovation, fostering rural development, and promoting global sustainability standards.
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Contact Details
Director: Research and Innovation
Director: Postgraduate Studies & Postdoctoral Research Fellows
