2005 Annual Report

The 2005 Annual Research Report of the Durban University of Technology provides stakeholders with a comprehensive overview of the status of research at the institution. As a university of technology, the institution is carefully locating itself within the South African research arena. DUT does not see itself as a research-intensive organisation. However, research is a core function and the selection of DUT’s applied research programmes, which are defined by “excellence with relevance”, are central to a number of regional and national imperatives, contribute to poverty eradication and attempt to address the Millennium Development Goals.
The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa is one of the key funders of research at the DUT. The following research niche areas were funded by the NRF in 2005, viz.:
Water and wastewater technology
Appropriate design education for sustainable development
Materials design and manufacture
Dynamical systems research
ICT and development.

In 2005 DUT continued to recognise and affirm its researchers. This wasachieved by acknowledging and celebrating all NRF-rated researchers, creating a forum and providing funds to address gender equity in research.