Research Development

As a research driven university committed to increase the quality and quantity of its research output, Wits recognises that development is a key component to success. Consequently, the Research Office, under the leadership of Professor Helen Laburn, established a directorate for Research Development in March 2011, under the directorship of Dr Robin Drennan.

The directorate will work with the five Faculties to identify research development opportunities. Among the opportunities likely to be identified will be:

• Mentoring/coaching – One-on-one discussions with experienced researchers;
• Skills enhancement – Training in the “art and craft” of doing research;
• Advocacy – Assisting to remove or reduce (internal) hindrances to research;
• Recognition – Recognising achievements;
• Exploiting networks – linking researchers with appropriate funders, for example.

The scope of the impact of the Research Development directorate is conveniently grouped into three areas: Initiatives focused on the new generation of researchers, emerging researchers and established researchers.

The directorate will fully integrate its activities with those of the Research Office and thus offer a “complete” service to the research community at Wits. The principle values of the new directorate will be transparency, value addition and accountability.