Future Research (11th edition) eMagazine

Dr Fundiswa Khaile Senior Lecturer at the School of Government The Office of the DVC: Research and Innovation, led by Professor José Frantz at the University of the Western Cape, has long been dedicated to promoting academic excellence through a range of development programmes tailored to the diverse needs of the institution's academic staff. Since its inception, these initiatives have played a critical role in fostering scholarly growth and enhancing research capacity across the university.

In 2018, the Developing the Scholar Programme 1 & 2 was launched, followed by the introduction of the Early Career Researchers Programme, Mid-Careers Researcher Programme and Established Researchers Programme. Each of these programmes has been designed to support researchers at different stages of their academic journey, providing tailored support to help them thrive in a competitive academic environment.

The Early Career Researchers Programme focuses on emerging scholars at the beginning of their academic careers. This initiative offers a structured platform to help young academics build foundational research skills, write for publication and secure funding. It also provides mentorship opportunities, allowing early career researchers to learn from experienced scholars as they navigate the early stages of their academic path.

The Mid-Career Researchers Programme is designed for those who have made significant progress in their research fields but are not yet fully established as leaders in their disciplines. This programme aims to bridge the gap between early career development and becoming a recognised authority in a specific area of study. Through workshops, seminars and targeted support, mid-career researchers refine their research focus, increase their publication output and enhance their visibility within the academic community.

For established scholars who have already achieved significant milestones in their research careers, the Established Researchers Programme offers opportunities to elevate their work even further. This programme provides advanced support, networking opportunities and resources to pursue large-scale, impactful research projects, ensuring that established researchers continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge and maintaining their respective fields' leadership.

Together, these programmes have been instrumental in shaping the careers of numerous academic staff members, helping them thrive in an evolving academic landscape. The Office of the DVC: Research and Innovation has contributed to individual academic growth and the broader enhancement of the university's research output and reputation.

One notable beneficiary of these programmes is Dr Fundiswa Khaile, who has significantly advanced her career through the support provided by the Office of the DVC: Research and Innovation.

Mrs Carlie Frantz and Mrs Althea George Effective Governance in Grant Management: University of the Western Cape Case Study The University of the Western Cape (UWC) exemplifies effective governance in grant management, crucial for institutional success and societal impact in higher education. UWC’s Research and Innovation office manages several strategic projects, including externally funded programmes, such as the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG) and Sibusiso Bengu Development Grant (SBDG), as well as internally funded initiatives, such as the Interdisciplinary Mentorship Programme for Advancing Collaborative Transformation (IMPACT), and Research Excellence for Advanced Leaders (REAL).

As we reflect on the importance of effective governance in grant management, we are guided by principles such as accountability and transparency, resource optimisation, regulatory compliance, risk management, sustainability and stakeholder trust. UWC’s approach to grant management exemplifies its commitment to SDG 16 (Good Governance) through a multi-faceted strategy. By prioritising effective resource utilisation, UWC ensures that all funds are optimally deployed to achieve maximum impact.

The institution places a strong emphasis on building institutional capacity, equipping its staff and stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge for successful project implementation. UWC also fosters a culture of collaboration and inclusive decision making, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered in governance processes. Clear guidelines, aligned with both national priorities and institutional goals, provide a robust framework for project execution. Furthermore, UWC’s approach goes beyond mere administrative efficiency; it actively promotes social responsibility and ethical governance. This comprehensive strategy not only enhances UWC’s academic excellence but also reinforces its role as a socially responsible institution committed to sustainable development.

Key Aspects of UWC’s Grant Management Governance includes: 1. Structured Financial Tracking: Robust systems for real-time monitoring of expenditures.

2. Strategic Priority Setting: Alignment of grant activities with university goals and funding programme objectives.

3. Compliance Management: Regular audits, timely reporting, and adherence to grant terms.

4. Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Comprehensive tools for early identification of challenges.

5. Sustainability Planning: Development of strategies for long-term benefit continuation.

6. Stakeholder Engagement: Regular communication and feedback mechanisms.

7. Robust Monitoring and Evaluation: Systematic tracking of progress against milestones and key performance indicators.

As a university, we are poised for continued excellence in grant management governance. Looking ahead, UWC aims to further integrate grant management with institutional strategies, expand its collaborative networks, develop advanced data analytics capabilities, and align its governance practices with evolving global standards. These forward-thinking initiatives build upon UWC’s already robust framework, which serves as a model for higher education institutions worldwide.

By prioritising accountability, transparency, and strategic alignment, UWC has created a system that not only ensures compliance but also drives academic excellence and maximises societal impact. This comprehensive approach to governance in grant management positions UWC for sustained growth and influence in the dynamic global higher education landscape. As UWC continues to refine and enhance its practices, it remains at the forefront of innovative and effective grant management in the academic space.

Mrs Carlie Frantz

Mrs Althea George

Ms Lynne Johns

Lecturer, Department of Educational Studies RESEARCH AREA: CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL TEACHER DEVELOPMENT; PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION Ms Lynne Johns is currently a lecturer in the Education Faculty and a part-time doctoral student with the Global Institute for Teacher Education and Society (GITES) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Her area of research over the past seven years has focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 17. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide a comprehensive roadmap for addressing global challenges. SDGs 4 and 17 are pivotal in the pursuit of a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future. SDG 4 aims to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all," while SDG 17 focuses on "strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development". The research emphasis in both these goals is crucial for unlocking the full potential of global development efforts.

In order to unlock their full potential, teachers need to continually participate in developmental activities. Continuing Teacher Professional Development (CPTD) is an initiative intended to upskill teachers, and in so doing, improve schooling and learner achievement. CPTD involves the participation of teachers in various developmental activities for which they earn CPTD points. The professional development of teachers in South Africa has been erratic, and as a consequence, there has been a decline in the quality of teachers, and teaching. Moreover, research on SDG 4 explores innovative teaching methods, technological interventions, and policy frameworks that ensure education systems are adaptive and inclusive.

SDG 17 refers to the necessity of collaborative partnerships to achieve sustainable development. It calls for cooperation among governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organisations to mobilise resources, technology, and knowledge-sharing efforts. Globally, there has been a shift in education policy to allow for public-private partnership schools, such as Academies in the United Kingdom and Charter Schools in the United States. In South Africa, PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) schools in the Western Cape, are known as Collaboration Schools. Collaboration schools remain public schools; however, the management of these schools are outsourced to private entities known as School Operating Partners (SOPs). A collaboration school is an example

of a new form of public schooling that arguably fast-tracks the provision of quality education in disadvantaged areas. This new form of public schooling has come with much contestation, some believe that it is a sellout of public education which should remain a public good. In other words, governments are shirking the responsibility of providing quality, equitable education for all.

Furthermore, SOPs are contracted to turn-around dysfunctional schooling and improve learner achievements. Many do this through providing professional development opportunities for teachers at these schools. Thus, the topic of Lynne’s doctoral thesis being, “Unpacking continuing professional teacher development in public collaboration schools: Western Cape South Africa”.

Dr Windell Nortje Senior Lecturer, Department of Criminal Justice and Procedure COMBATING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES THROUGH BUILDING STRONGER INSTITUTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a scourge in our society which has left millions of victims traumatised and scarred. In 2021, the South African Government enacted several laws aimed at addressing GBV which included various bail reforms. Yet, in 2024, violence against women and children continues unabated. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals play an important role in developing stronger criminal justice institutions and fostering partnerships between criminal justice actors. These developments are essential to create a proactive and holistic response to combating GBV. Dr Nortje serves on the South African Police Service (SAPS) Tertiary Institutions Forum. The matter of GBV on university campuses is often discussed at the Forum and requires urgent attention. In February 2024, a task team appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training (DHET), submitted a damning report on the current status of GBV on campuses. The Report provides several recommendations which should be included in university policies.

Unfortunately, the report fails to mention SDGs 16 and 17.

The United Nations Secretary-General stressed the importance of universities educating society and being a vehicle for change. The University itself is an institution that should embody justice and empower its women to express themselves freely without any concerns related to GBV. Dr Nortje therefore argues that it is necessary for the Report and the DHET to align its fight against GBV with SDGs 16 and 17.

Universities, TVET colleges, SAPS and other role players should work together to ensure that our surrounding campus communities are safe. This is also in line with Chapter 12 of the National Development Plan 2030 that calls for the building of safer communities throughout South Africa. There is currently a disconnect between SAPS and educational institutions.

These partnerships should be strengthened to build trust between communities and SAPS. It is often this mistrust that becomes a breeding ground for GBV offenders.

Dr Nortje adopts a qualitative research methodology to analyse the Report. While recommendations, such as awareness campaigns, exposing academic

corruption and sexual abuse are important, the implementation of these recommendations will be key. Dr Nortje proposes that each university holds faculty level workshops where students and staff can engage with the recommendations and develop university level action steps. This is important since each university has its own challenges which require an institutional rather than a holistic departmental implementation.

This, however, does not mean that Universities cannot work together. In fact, they should be encouraged to share ideas and visions, especially where universities and TVET colleges are in close proximity. Dr Nortje submits that SDGs 16 and 17 have the potential not only to combat GBV on university campuses but also in the surrounding communities. We will make huge strides in combating GBV if we focus on strengthening our institutions and partnerships.

Dr Omowunmi E. Isafiade Senior Lecturer, Department of Computer Science ADVANCING SDGs THROUGH HUMAN-CENTRIC AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (HCET) FOR SOCIETAL IMPACT Fostering the adoption of modern (e.g. AI-enabling) technology for societal impact has been at the forefront of Prof Isafiade’s research endeavours. The field of technology is evolving and provides solutions that cut across a variety of domains, and are aimed at improving efficiency, guiding decision-making, enhancing learning, increasing productivity, and reducing costs.

Prof Isafiade’s research into the field of Computer Science focuses on data-driven decision support and the application of artificial intelligence and immersive technologies to public safety and other smart environments, which align with Sustainable Development Goals 16 and 17. Over the past six years, Prof Isafiade has led and contributed to several critical research that addresses challenges that impact society. Her research spans a range of cutting-edge techniques to provide solutions to human-centric challenges. For example, her exploration of the application of such technologies to promote e-services, sustainability and efficiency has yielded results, such as a crime knowledge support system for strategic community policing in South Africa with a collaborative engagement and presentation at the City’s Emergency Policing Incident Control (EPIC) and Core Application Refresh (CAR) unit. The aim is to foster strategies for proactive community policing and crime reduction for a sustainable city. Most countries in the world today, including South Africa, face diverse challenges – notably crime issues. The sustainability of a "smart city" depends on ensuring that it is safe and secure. The plethora of crime information archived by public safety and security agencies can be explored for knowledge driven decision support. Hence, Prof Isafiade’s research focuses on using a machine learning approach for improved public safety outcomes by assisting security and public safety organisations to channel their resources optimally for effective crime prevention. This promotes the realisation of a “safe and sustainable city”.

Furthermore, since 3D crime scene recreation and analysis are critical for law enforcement in the investigation of serious crimes for reliable criminal justice response, an extension of the public safety research delves into how immersive technology can be leveraged for crime scene investigation by providing credible crime scene data for law enforcement in accelerating investigation while avoiding interference with evidence by virtually highlighting relevant items or points of interest within the crime scene.

This research aligns with SDG 16, which is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. As an active interdisciplinary researcher, Prof Isafiade’s research is at the intersection of Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human-Computer Interaction and immersive technology, and their application in diverse

computing settings and other smart environments, to promote innovation, development and sustainability. Her work on fostering research asset management and collaboration using a publishsubscribe model and immersive technology aims to enhance research assets accessibility, such as equipment and chemicals, promote collaboration among researchers, and streamline the management and utilisation of assets. Furthermore, it aims to improve research throughputs, optimise the cost of disposing of expired chemicals, and mitigate potential incidents and mishandling of expensive assets by novice users. The asset can be accessed and previewed with an option for virtual interaction in the form of 3D objects before making a request.

The relevance of this research lies in the fact that a preliminary investigation at a South African institution reveals that researchers often work in silos and face difficulties accessing potentially mutual assets, such as chemicals, equipment, or services/training, leading to underutilisation and high disposal costs for them. Hence, the incorporation of immersive technology into asset management using the publish-subscribe mechanism is a promising endeavour for promoting strong institutions and throughput.

Prof Isafiade’s passion for promoting women's participation in science, and youth capacity development stands at the core of her efforts to remove barriers that prevent less privileged youth and women from participating in science. This has propelled her into co-founding the UWC Women in Science Advancement Programme (WISAP). The focus is on empowering and upskilling of the next generation of women in science, breaking barriers and building capacity to elevate women in STEM fields. Besides promoting meaningful professional engagement and computer research for societal impact, Prof Isafiade hopes to further improve higher education outcomes in Africa by encouraging reflection and critical thinking to produce responsible citizens/youths who contribute positively to the advancement of their communities.

Prof Barry Andrews UWC Research Chair of High Performance Head of Department: SRES Department of Sport, Recreation & Exercise Science Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015: to "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels". While this might seem strange and something that does not fit into or align with sport and or sport science, I suggest that sport is the perfect tool to effect change and serve as an example, especially in South Africa where education might not be an accessible or feasible option to most.

My suggestion was supported by a conference that I attended in Liverpool, United Kingdom, where the Sport Science Department at John Moores University (LJMU) took the lead in a Global Project to inform policy change, promote women in science (SHAPE) and promote change in marginalised and at-risk population groups, such as the LGBTQIA+ community. It was amazing to see how sport can affect change and what we can be part of and why we, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have signed a collaboration agreement with six international institutions to effect these changes, notably Essex University, Ghent University and University of MissouriKansas City. These institutions promote the partnership goals of SDG 17 and help strengthen and uplift UWC. Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17): "Partnerships for the Goals" refers to the need for the nonhegemonic and fair cross sector and cross-country collaborations in pursuit of all the goals by 2030.

The collaborative agreement signed by UWC with six other international institutions is one such partnership that I am actively involved in. I am actively engaged with some of our Strategic Institutional Partnerships (SIPs), one of whom is Vrije Universiteit, Brussel where the first joint doctoral degree will be completed in 2025.

Prof Russell Kaschula UWC Research Chair of Forensic Linguistics and Multilingualism Department of African Language Studies The UWC Research Chair in Forensic Linguistics and Multilingualism contributes to four primary Sustainable Development goals (SDGs): Quality education (SDG 4) by producing postgraduate students of excellence in the field; decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) by graduating students who can take up employment in the justice sector; reducing inequalities (SDG 10) by providing a voice for the voiceless; and fostering peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16) to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective and accountable institutions…”.

Forensic linguistics is a relatively new field in South Africa. This Research Chair therefore contributes to the growing area of scholarship that broadly covers language and the law. It is therefore a vitally important area of research, and the Chair also contributes to new knowledge in the field of linguistics more generally. The Chair aims to foster equal access to justice and promote the rule of law. Additionally, it endeavours to promote and entrench democracies globally to achieve these goals.

The Research Chair is involved in the following projects that speaks to SDG 16: Project 1: African languages in the South African Legal and Higher Education systems: Policy Formulation and Implementation; Project 2: The Language/s of Justice and Record in South Africa; Project 3: Comparative African and International Forensic Linguistics Models; Project 4: Authorship Attribution and Plagiarism; Project 5: Transpreters in South Africa and globally: A comparative study; and Project 6: New Court Room Languages, Contemporary Technology and New Media.

The above projects seek to promote the rule of law at both national and international levels to ensure equal access to justice for all South Africans. It also seeks to develop affective and accountable institutions that are transparent – this is done through policy advice and research (Project 1). Under SDG 16.7 there is a call to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision making at all levels. Furthermore, SDG 16.10 seeks to ensure public access to information and to protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation. If one takes cognisance of the right to speak in one’s own language as enshrined in the Constitution, then the Chair’s research on sworn statements being recorded only in English seems to indicate that this right is being violated.

This would necessitate further engagement with the legal fraternity.

SDG 16 is also about promoting and enforcing non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development. The South African society is multilingual and multicultural, yet the language of record remains English. This is in fact a travesty of justice as indicated by research conducted under the auspices of the Chair. Many cases are decided on linguistic and cultural misunderstandings in our courts of law. The language of record in South African courts of law is presently English. This research indicates, for example, that sworn statement made in languages other than English are often translated incorrectly and that this process disadvantages the complainant. Sworn statements therefore contribute to judgements that are decided on linguistic misunderstandings and that cannot hold up in a court of law – this research is therefore very important in highlighting these challenges since police officers are required to act as translators; a discipline for which they are not trained for.

It is hoped that our new Chief Justice will take a more inclusive approach to multilingualism and all indications point to the fact. She has already agreed to open the 2025 International Association of Forensic and Legal Linguists Conference that will be hosted at UWC in July 2025. It will be the first time that this conference is held on African soil. It will hopefully be a time to unpack the SDGs in a holistic way to see how the research conducted under the Chair can influence policy decisions and access to justice through languages that South Africans understand best – their mother tongues.

Prof Yonatan Fessha UWC Research Chair of Constitutional Design for Divided Societies, Department of Public Law and Jurisprudence Between April and July 1994, Rwanda was a living hell to many. Over the course of some 100 days, more than one million Tutsi and moderate Hutus perished. That is what is known today as the Rwandan Genocide. Next door in Burundi, a country with the same ethnic makeup as Rwanda, life, to use the famous words of Hobbes, was equally “nasty, brutish and short”. As a result of decades of tension between members of the Hutus and Tutsi ethnic groups, the country experienced extremely violent armed conflict and political instability. These two countries are often referred to as the false twins. Yet the two countries have adopted a radically different constitutional design to deal with ethnic tensions.

Ethnic-based political divisions dominate the political landscape of African states. Even ethnically homogenous societies have not managed to avoid communal tensions and conflicts. The population of Somalia belongs to the same ethnic group, profess the same religion and use the same language but owing to clan-based political divisions has not been able to form an effective government for the last two decades. Whether the tensions in ethnically divided societies can be managed or reduced by constitutional design is a question that is particularly relevant to Africa, and yet it has not been the subject of any major work.

Prof Yonatan Fessha is Professor of Law and the current holder of the UWC Research Chair in Constitutional Design for Divided Societies at the University of the Western Cape. The Research Chair brings to fore the much-neglected debate on constitutional design and divided societies in Africa. This is an important contribution since Africa has so far remained on the margins of this discussion. The works of the Chair interrogates constitutional design in the management of divided societies. It seeks to identify constitution-based institutions and examines their relevance and effectiveness in promoting peaceful management of divided societies. With African states and their constitutions as a primary focus, the Research Chair allows a team of scholars, both student and staff to analyse the various options and challenges that constitution makers face in re-ordering the state in the context of a deeply polarised society.

The objectives of the Research Chair correspond with both national and international priorities. Chapter 3 of the National Development Plan is dedicated to moving South Africa from its era of divisions towards an era of national unity. The Chair presents an opportunity for the university to contribute to the realisation of the sustainable development goals. SDG 16 calls for the promotion of ‘peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development’, the provision of ‘access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels’.

Contributing to the academic project, by facilitating dialogue and conversations, is one of the important objectives of the Chair. Consequently, the Chair has introduced a seminar/webinar series on constitutional matters. ‘Conversations in Constitutional Design’ bring together scholars and practitioners of constitutional design to explore and highlight the relevance and effectiveness of constitutions to deal with the challenges of divided societies.

Engaging in and promoting collaboration is another major objective. At regional level, the Chair has initiated collaboration with experts of African constitutionalism. This collaboration is in the process of producing a major book on ethnicity and constitutionalism in Africa that will be published as part of the Oxford University Press series on constitutionalism in Africa. The Chair has also pursued collaboration opportunities beyond the continent by allowing further integration into the broader international network of scholars on constitutional design and divided societies.

The international collaboration focuses on how constitutional design should regulate centreregional relation in divided societies. Constitutional design that provides territorial autonomy does not make the subnational political space immune from national government interferences. National governments are often allowed to intervene in subnational affairs. However, this should be done under limited circumstances and regulated procedure. The collaboration, that is scheduled to present its findings in a form of a book, sheds light on the law and politics of national government intervention in subnational units.

International Relations Office - Rectors office Fostering Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development: UWC's Commitment to SDGs 16 & 17 In an era where global challenges demand collaborative solutions, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) stands as a beacon of international cooperation and institutional development.

Through its International Relations Office (IRO), UWC actively contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 and 17, focusing on strong institutions and global partnerships.

Building Strong Institutions Through International Collaboration As a public African university committed to excellence and societal transformation, UWC's approach to institutional development aligns seamlessly with SDG 16's focus on peace, justice, and strong institutions. The university's Institutional Operating Plan (IOP) demonstrates this commitment through its integrated framework that emphasizes internationalization across seven faculties, combining academic excellence with community engagement.

The IRO's vision serves as the hub of international linkages in support of UWC scholars for the internationalisation of their work. It reflects UWC's dedication to building robust institutional frameworks. By facilitating beneficial and dynamic partnerships, the office strengthens institutional capacity while promoting peaceful and inclusive societies - key aspects of SDG 16.

Partnerships for the Goals: UWC's Global Network SDG 17 emphasises the crucial role of partnerships in achieving sustainable development, and UWC's international engagement strategy exemplifies this principle. The university's extensive network of partnerships spans multiple prestigious organisations, including: • Association of African Universities (AAU) • Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) • European Association for International Education (EAIE) • Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD) • Matariki (MNU) network These partnerships demonstrate UWC's commitment to fostering North-South cooperation, directly addressing SDG 17's call for enhanced global partnerships.

Creating Impact Through Strategic Focus UWC's internationalisation strategy is particularly noteworthy for its emphasis on: 1. Building resilient North-South partnerships 2. Enhancing knowledge production through cooperative engagements 3. Developing socially-responsive scholars committed to transforming marginalised communities

This approach aligns with both SDG 16's focus on inclusive institutions and SDG 17's emphasis on knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Community Engagement and Global Perspective The university's commitment to "responding in critical and creative ways to the needs of a society in transition" demonstrates how international partnerships can be leveraged for local impact. By sharing African-centered research and scholarship "for the greater global good," UWC creates a bridge between global partnerships and community development.

Looking Forward As UWC continues to expand its international footprint "from the African continent to the world," it sets an example of how educational institutions can contribute to the SDGs through meaningful partnerships and strong institutional frameworks. The university's approach demonstrates that achieving sustainable development goals requires both local commitment and global collaboration.

Through its International Relations Office, UWC continues to build partnerships that not only strengthen its own institutional capacity but also contribute to the broader goals of peace, justice, and global cooperation envisioned in SDGs 16 and 17.

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