Research Institutes and Chairs

Unisa undertakes research through a variety of endowed research chairs as well as its institutes, to find cutting-edge solutions to international challenges and Africa’s educational and developmental problems.

Institutes

• Institute for Corporate Citizenship

  The institute seeks to conduct critical academic research that influences and provokes business enterprises to change in ways that make them even more accountable to society. Through its research, the institute poses pertinent, often difficult questions about the role and contribution of business to sustainable development.
  
  The institute, which also creates platforms for information sharing and debate about corporate citizenship, has four active research programmes. These are the Exxaro Chair in Business and Climate Change, the Responsible Investment Programme, the Teaching Business Ethics Programme and the Information Security as Corporate Responsibility Programme.
  
  Prof Mariki Eloff is the head of the Institute for Corporate Citizenship. The Institute can be contacted on 012 433 4604 or at
  Eloffmm@unisa.ac.za

• Institute for Open and Distance Learning (IODL)

  The Institute for Open and Distance Learning (IODL) is an academic unit of Unisa, charged with the responsibility to undertake pragmatic and reflexive research including the organisation of academic and professional research training programmes in Open and Distance Learning (ODL).  This is in response to the growing demand not only for qualitative higher degree qualifications and professional studies in ODL niche areas but also in strengthening ODL practice at Unisa by benchmarking it against ODL institutional practice globally.
  
  Housed in the College of Education, the Institute for Open Distance Learning is headed by Prof Sindile Ngubane and can be contacted on 012 337 6178 or iodl@unisa.ac.za

• Research Institute in Theology and Religion (RITR)

  The RITR was founded in 1975. As the Research Institute of the School of Humanities at Unisa we initiate, develop, manage and disseminate theological and religious research and its interface with society.
  
  Prof Cornelius du Toit is the head of the institute and can be contacted on 012 429 4369 or dtoitcw@unisa.ac.za

• Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS)

Through IDEAS, the university is positioned to contribute towards meeting the energy challenges facing Africa, particularly sustainable energy that can fuel Africa’s growth and improve the quality of life of the people of Africa.

Research at IDEAS is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and, in particular, Affordable and Clean Energy (Goal 7) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11).

• Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS)

The Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS) is a strategic research niche at the College of Science, Engineering and Technology that addresses current and emerging issues relating to water quality and water scarcity. Central to this, is the use of conventional and innovative technologies that will help provide alternative water resources and to ensure that such water is treated to acceptable levels suitable for its purpose, for example, drinking or any non-potable use, such as industrial, agricultural or groundwater discharge.

The iNanoWS draws expertise from a number of researchers, collectively with lots of experience and their international collaborators have answered a number of research questions pertaining to water quality and supply issues.

Prof Thabo Nkambule (acting) heads the Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability and can be contacted on nkambtt@unisa.ac.za or nanows@unisa.ac.za 

• Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS)

  Resonant with the developmental objectives of a range of institutional, national, continental and global instruments, the Institute for Social and Health Sciences is centered on research, postgraduate training, knowledge brokerage and research translation, service and networking.
  
  As its name suggests, the ISHS enacts research that addresses priority developmental challenges and makes critically oriented contributions to the social and health sciences. The MRC-Unisa Violence, Injury and Peace Research Unit (VIPRU) www.mrc.ac.za/crime/crime.htm, a flagship initiative housed at the institute, is focused on explicitly developing and documenting interventions that address the multiple drivers and complex dynamics underlying violence and injuries.
  
  Prof Mohamed Seedat heads the institute which can be contacted on 011 857 1142/3 or via email at dreyema@unisa.ac.za

• Institute for Global Dialogue (IGB)

  The Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD) is an independent South African-based foreign policy think tank dedicated to the analysis of, and dialogue on the evolving international political and economic environment and the role of Africa and South Africa.
  
  Dr Philane Mthembu heads this institute and can be contacted on 012 337 6064 or via email at philani@igd.org.za

• Institute for Gender Studies

  The underlying philosophy of the Institute for Gender Studies is that raising awareness about gender is the only way to make progress towards eliminating gender-based violence, homophobia, transphobia and discrimination against women in the workplace and in civil society.
  
  The Institute promotes scholarship as a way of changing society in Southern Africa to make it more gender equitable, and investigates all aspects of gender studies by conducting theory led, multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research.
  
  Prof Nokuthula Mazibuko is the head of the Institute for Gender Studies and can be contacted on 012 429 6652 or via email at genderstudies@unisa.ac.za

• Institute for African Renaissance Studies (IARS)

  The Institute is a Unisa academic unit that undertakes African Renaissance Studies, using multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary paradigms. Its main activity is research, with special emphasis on academic publishing as well as postgraduate supervision.
  
  Over the past years more than 30 African countries have had their electoral officials trained in this IARS programme. The Institute is also the home of the internationally accredited journal, The International Journal of African Renaissance Studies: Multi-, Inter- and Transdisciplinary.
  
  The IARS is led by Prof AG Velthuizen and the contact details are as follows, 012 337 6007 or email velthag1@unisa.ac.za

• Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs (TM-School)

  The Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs (TM-School) is envisioned as a premier graduate school to advance public sector education in public and international affairs. The TMSchool seeks to be a magnet of excellence in education, experiential learning, and research.
  
  Prof Vuyisile Msila is the Director of Academic Research and Knowledge Hub and can be contacted via email at msilavt@unisa.ac.za 

Research Chairs at Unisa

The university has seven endowed research chairs funded by education partners or donors and one research chair funded by Unisa. Research chairs enable a dedicated focus on specific areas of research in which Unisa excels and which are national and continental priorities. 

Research Chair

Endowed Chairs