The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria (UP) hosted its highly anticipated Faculty Research Day at the Tswelopele Building, Prinshof South campus, on August 24, 2023.. This significant event, organised by the FHS Research Office and Chaired by Prof Mashamba-Thompson. The event attracted an impressive crowd of 728 participants.

The event brought together a diverse assembly of distinguished delegates, oral presenters, and innovative exhibitors. It served as a vibrant celebration of research and innovation, spotlighting the Faculty's commitment to advancing knowledge.

Innovative exhibits on display at the Faculty Research Day 

The Faculty of Health Sciences Choir, enchanting all with their harmonious performance. 

The primary aim of the event was to provide a dynamic platform where staff, students, research entities, and partner organisations could converge, fostering interaction, knowledge sharing and unveiling of the cutting edge research projects.

Professor Tiaan de Jager, the Dean of the Faculty and Director of the UP Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, welcomed attendees with an insightful opening presentation. The event's theme, 'Co-create, Collaborate, and Innovate,' resonated deeply with the Faculty's core values.

Professor de Jager explained the significance of these principles in the context of healthcare research. Co-creation involves recognising the uniqueness of healthcare challenges, shaped by the diverse needs and perspectives of individuals and communities. He encouraged attendees to actively engage with this approach, stating, "Co-creation represents a fundamental shift in how we approach problem-solving. It is about recognising that healthcare challenges are not one size fits all; they are shaped by the unique needs and perspectives of individuals and communities."

Professor Tiaan de Jager, the Dean of the Faculty if Health Sciences emphasing the significance of co-creation, collaboration and innovation research 

Discussing collaboration, Professor de Jager emphasised, "In health sciences, collaboration means breaking down silos between different fields of study and between academia and healthcare institutions, partners, and industry." He also stressed the importance of global partnerships: "It's about forging inter and transdisciplinary partnerships that allow us to tackle complex health problems with multiple angles."

Regarding innovation, he described it as "a dynamic process that encompasses a wide spectrum of activity." He urged attendees to embrace innovation as a means of "re-imagining healthcare delivery models, optimizing healthcare systems, and designing novel approaches to health education and public health campaigns."

Dr Gugu Moche discussing research funding during her keynote speech.

Dr. Gugu Moche, Acting Deputy CEO of Research, Innovation, and Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA) at the National Research Foundation (NRF), delivered a keynote address that shed light on the research funding landscape in South Africa. She addressed the challenges faced by researchers, noting, "The gross expenditure on research and discovery has been declining over the years."

Despite these challenges, Dr. Moche commended South Africa's global ranking in research outputs and spotlighted Centers of Excellence (CoEs) as beacons of quality research, collaboration, and innovation. She encouraged researchers to seek international collaborations and funding within their domains.

The event featured 134 traditional posters categorised under sub-themes of "collaborate" and "innovate." Throughout the day, participants had the opportunity to explore these posters, providing a platform for students and staff to disseminate their research findings.

Poster gallery: A visual feast of research and innovation

Three panel discussions brought researchers together to discuss their work in front of a captivated audience, aligning perfectly with the Faculty Day's theme.

Panel discusion on Co-creation

The event reached its pinnacle with the presentation of Faculty Research Day awards, graced by the presence of Prof. Themba Mosia, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, as a special guest.

Prof Themba Mosia, Acting Vice Chancellor of UP, presiding over the Faculty Research Day awards

As part of the closing remarks for 2023 Faculty Research Day, Prof Mashamba-Thompson together with TURF launched the undergraduate research methods course, the first at UP. The main goal of this course to improve undergraduate students’ engagement with research. The cause is introduced in response to research pain-points exposed by undergraduate students during the 2022 Faculty Research Day’s TURF panel discussion. During this discussion It was revealed that there is lack of student engagement. Student’s limited understanding of the nature and scope of research, as well as a few myths and misconceptions around what research were among the listed contributing factor to this limited engagement.

The Faculty Research Day at UP's Faculty of Health Sciences showcased the institution's unwavering commitment to fostering collaboration, nurturing innovation, and driving groundbreaking research. It stood as a vibrant platform where ideas converged, nurturing a spirit of co-creation and knowledge sharing.