The third annual Vice-Chancellor Researcher and Supervisor Appreciation Event took place at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Monday, 24 August 2026.
The event honours UJ’s dedicated researchers and supervisors who embody the spirit of excellence that defines the university.
Hosted at the Arts Centre, the special awards were guided by Prof Barwa Kanyane, Executive Director: Research Development and Support who served as the programme director.
The Greenside High School choir opened the proceedings and set the tone in vibrant, traditional-inspired outfits embracing the diverse African culture and sang Swahili song, Malaika by Miriam Makeba.
Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Prof Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya, highlighted Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi’s distinguished role in higher education, calling him “a guiding force who drives the university into the future and a leader of the university that embodies the very same spirit of excellence, innovation, and transformation that we celebrate through these awards.”
Prof Mpedi’s keynote celebrated resilience, mentorship and excellence in research. Drawing on the metaphor of Bill Withers’ Lovely Day, he reminded the audience that breakthroughs often begin in obscurity but, through persistence, become transformative. He praised the supervisors as “guardian angels” who shape not only scholarship but human beings. The VC further highlighted UJ’s achievements, from hosting UNESCO Chairs to recording postgraduate outputs. He concluded with a powerful message, “we don’t want UJ to be the best University in the world. We want UJ to be the best for the world.”
The award ceremony celebrated achievements across diverse fields; published outputs, creative outputs, supervisors, rated researchers and prestigious awards. Prof Bhaso Ndzendze, Senior Director for Global Engagement, emphasised UJ’s global footprint and the importance of recognising excellence across all disciplines. He congratulated colleagues who were rated researchers and the newly re-rated scholars, and the winners of prestigious awards such as the NSTF-South32 Awards.
Certificates were also presented to honourees, an act reinforcing the university’s commitment to celebrating dedication and scholarly impact.
Prof Clinton Aigbavboa, Director of the CIDB Centre of Excellence and Sustainable Human Settlement and Construction Research, in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) described receiving both the Researcher and Supervisor Awards as a profound honour, crediting UJ for investing in his growth and acknowledging the mentorship he received from his own supervisor. He emphasised the importance of supporting students and redefining the research narratives, noting that his own work naturally aligns with his students’ projects, allowing them to expand the frontiers of knowledge together. Looking ahead, he expressed confidence in UJ’s strong research ecosystem and the role of emerging technologies in shaping impact.
“For me it is an honour… we need to keep supporting our students and contributing to the future of UJ, because we need to redefine the narrative of how research is being done.”
Prof Desiree Smal, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA), who won the Supervisors Award, described the award as an unexpected but deeply meaningful honour, especially during Women’s Month. She emphasised that each successful supervision inspires the next generation of academics and researchers. She also highlighted the importance of inclusiveness and mentorship in shaping futures. Reflecting on her legacy, she noted that the value of recognising creative disciplines in art, design and architecture and the collective voice they contribute to scholarship.
“With every supervision concluded, I think we inspire younger generation of future academics and researchers… I am really honoured to be recognised for the impact my students are making.”
In the vote of thanks message, Prof Tien-Chien Jen, head of the JENano Research Group, said: “None of this happens by accident. It is built one supervision, one experiment, one proposal at a time.”
The ceremony concluded with a musical item by the Greenside High School choir bringing the celebration to a dignified and uplifting close.
By fostering an ecosystem of global collaboration, interdisciplinary inquiry, and innovative solutions, UJ continues to position itself as a leading research-intensive institution.
