The 2025 University of Johannesburg (UJ) Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) Competition showcased the creative brilliance of postgraduate researchers on 13 June 2025.
Hosted by the Research Capacity Development (RCD) Unit at the Postgraduate School Training Room, Akanya Building, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, the competition brought together students, judges, and guests for a dynamic celebration of visual research communication.
This annual competition offers a platform for Master’s and Doctoral students from across all faculties to present their research through engaging 60-second videos aimed at a non-specialist audience. Using a standard template, participants are challenged to translate complex academic work into visually compelling and accessible content.
Aligned with UJ’s commitment to research excellence and innovation, the competition builds participants’ science communication skills while encouraging digital literacy, visual storytelling, and public engagement.
The 2025 competition followed a structured timeline. A preparation session was held on 11 April, with 56 students registered and 50 in attendance. First-round submissions closed on the same day, followed by feedback on 25 April. Final submissions were due on 3 June, with a judges’ and keynote speaker briefing taking place on 4 June. A final participant briefing was held on 9 June in hybrid format.
The final event, held on 13 June, featured 12 participants (nine in person and three online), along with nine judges, one keynote speaker, 10 Postgraduate School staff members, and four guests. A total of 92 people attended, including 32 in person and 60 online. Winners were announced, and the event closed with a celebration of excellence in research communication and visual storytelling.
Participants described the experience as enriching and rewarding. Phillip B.Z Mutemasango said he was honoured to be among the winners and to have his work recognised across RCD’s digital platforms. Nasreen S Amanjee highlighted the value of the support provided throughout the competition, noting that the experience was not only enjoyable but also an important learning opportunity.
Another participant appreciated the chance to present research to people from a wide range of academic fields, adding that the process was made clear and efficient by the organisers.
Audience engagement extended beyond the competition itself. One online viewer, an academic, remarked that the event helped them understand the concept of VYT and sparked their interest in participating in future editions. The judges also responded positively, with one calling it “a wonderful and successful gathering.”
The 2025 Visualise Your Thesis competition reaffirmed UJ’s role in fostering the next generation of scholars who can communicate their research with clarity, creativity, and impact. Through initiatives like this, UJ continues to shape postgraduate researchers who are not only academically rigorous but also publicly engaged and digitally skilled.
