The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has retained its position as South Africa’s leading producer of accredited research outputs, according to the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) Sector Report on the Evaluation of the 2024 Universities’ Research Outputs, released in June 2026.
UJ produced 3,513 accredited research output units during the 2024 reporting cycle, outperforming all other South African universities and securing the number one position nationally for the fourth consecutive year. The University contributed 13.52% of the country’s total accredited research output, meaning that more than one in every eight research output units generated by South African universities originated from UJ.
More significantly, UJ has now maintained the top position through four consecutive DHET reporting cycles, reinforcing its standing as one of Africa’s leading research-intensive universities.
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said the achievement reflects years of deliberate strategic investment in research excellence, innovation and institutional capability.
“This achievement is the outcome of a deliberate and sustained institutional investment in research excellence, innovation and impact. Over many years, UJ has invested in research infrastructure, digital capabilities, laboratories, postgraduate training, academic support systems, and an enabling environment that empowers researchers to excel.
“Through strategic initiatives such as GES 4.0 Societal Impact, precision research and innovation systems, robust enabling processes, evidence-based planning, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, we have positioned UJ to deliver research that is relevant, impactful and responsive to society’s needs.
“While we are proud of this national recognition, what matters most is the contribution our researchers make towards advancing knowledge, driving innovation and improving lives. This recognition by the DHET affirms that our investments are translating into meaningful outcomes for society, the economy and future generations.”
Importantly, UJ’s research leadership is founded on both quality and quantity. The University’s high-quality, cutting-edge research is published in leading international databases and is extensively indexed through Scopus. UJ continues to demonstrate strong academic impact through improved citation performance, including field-weighted citation impact and other internationally recognised measures of research influence. This demonstrates University’s commitment to producing research that is not only prolific, but also globally relevant, credible and impactful.
The DHET report highlights the growth of South Africa’s research system over the past two decades, with national publication output increasing almost fourfold since 2005. Despite an increasingly competitive environment, UJ has consistently strengthened its research performance while maintaining high levels of productivity across accredited journals, books, book chapters and conference proceedings.
This sustained performance reflects the strength of UJ’s research and innovation ecosystem, built through strategic investment, strong institutional support, international collaboration, and the development of emerging researchers. The University’s continued growth demonstrates a commitment to advancing research that is relevant to local, continental, and global challenges while strengthening its academic impact and influence.
Over the past four reporting cycles, UJ has consistently ranked first nationally in accredited research outputs, demonstrating its ability to sustain excellence in a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive research landscape.
Professor Mpedi concluded: “Being recognised as South Africa’s leading producer of accredited research outputs is an important milestone, but it is also a reflection of who we are as a university and what we aspire to achieve.
“Research lies at the heart of UJ’s mission. It enables us to generate new knowledge, drive innovation, contribute to economic growth, and help address some of our country’s most pressing challenges. As South Africa and the world confront increasingly complex issues, universities have a responsibility to produce research that is relevant, impactful and transformative.
“This achievement belongs to every member of the UJ community who contributes to our research enterprise. It reaffirms our commitment to advancing knowledge in service of society and strengthens our resolve to remain at the forefront of research excellence, innovation and impact in South Africa, on the African continent and globally.”
