Providing better Amadumbe varieties for consumers
Amadumbe is a vegetatively propagated plant that grows in many countries in Asia, Africa and Central America. It is grown widely in home gardens in the higher rainfall areas of South Africa. The plant is also known as taro in some countries. Amadumbe is used as a staple food and is rich in carbohydrates, proteins minerals and vitamins. In spite of taro’s value as a food source, few studies has been conducted to genetically improve the crop. The taxonomy (names) of taro is not well established and cultivars are usually named from the place where they are collected. The plant varies widely in size, color and number of corms they produce. The genetic variation of the species has not been investigated in detail. A wealth of genetic resources exists but attempts to conserve the germplasm and use it to solve production problems that have not been successful.
Community Project at Thuto Lore High School
The whole point of the community was to promote research, informing students that learning doesn’t only end with your National Diploma or B-Tech. We made them aware that they can still further their studies and if they perform well academically they can get funded too. Students were also made aware of how much this country needs researchers especially in the field of Science.
The mentees were divided into two groups since we were only given two classes. One class had the Biotechs and Engineering. The other class had the Chemistry students and Human Science. In each class, mentees were expected to present for an hour. After an hour the mentees rotated. In each class, the group that presented had one mentor with them (Prof. Visagie or Dr. Maritz).
An Inter-Institutional Graphic Design Student Research Seminar
The first inter-institutional research seminar between VUT and TUT senior graphic design students organised by Kate Chmela-Jones (Senior Lecturer: Graphic Design) took place at the Department of Visual Arts & Design on the 10th September 2012. The theme of this colloquium was simply Research and Inquiry in Visual Communication with the aim to allow students and staff to discuss and present their completed research and research-in-progress, to benchmark their work at an inter-institutional seminar, and to open a dialogue for further research collaborations with the staff and students from TUT.
International researcher visits Vaal University of Technology
Professor Dan Remenyi of St School of Systems and Data Studies at Trinity College Dublin and a Visiting Academic Fellow at Henley Business School in the United Kingdom visited the Vaal University of Technology in August 2012. He works in both research methodology and the sociology of research in which he teaches and researches. He works extensively with research degree candidates and supervisors at both Doctoral and Masters level. Professor Remenyi’s research has been published in some 60 peer reviewed papers in the top journals in the UK. His ISJ paper was voted one of the 50 most influential papers in the IS field.
Creating new knowledge by producing more researchers
A PhD Proposal Development Programme
This initiative is called “The PhD Proposal Development Programme” and is facilitated by Santrust, an international legal entity with head office in South Africa. Santrust has entered into partnership with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) to support VUT’s vision towards the realisation of higher levels of academic qualification’s for existing academic staff members.
At a recent gathering of the two companies, held at VUT, it was revealed that 21 candidates joined the field of vibrant research. This fits into our corporate strategy to broaden the VUT research base and to fast track the development programmes for Pre-doctoral candidates.
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