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College of Education

The Office of Graduate Studies and Research (OGS&R) is the nodal point for research and postgraduate studies at the College level. Our success lies in our collective efforts to support research and invest in people and innovative ideas. These include attracting top researchers through our collaborative approach; taking a focused approach to human capital development; driving a transformation agenda that focuses on transforming the cohort of researchers who are research active. The Office is mandated to coordinate, monitor and provide an enabling environment to the researchers in the College, ensure sustainable development of researchers, promote cutting edge innovative, impact-oriented research and centres of excellence to meet the changing needs of society, foster and manage graduate training, provide interventions and actions to improve M&D throughput and the capacity for quality postgraduate supervision.

Testimony to the strength and quality of research, the College prides itself with 15 NRF rated researchers who hold B and C rating. It is the home to three Research Chairs (UNESCO chair on Open Distance Learning, UNESCO co-Chair on Early Childhood Development and Commonwealth of Learning Chair on OEP/OER) as well as three Research Professors.  To ratify internationalization, the College houses more than 10 Postdoctoral Fellows per year and currently has more than 40 Academic Associates sourced to enhance high quality research output, to sustain a supportive research culture that encourages critical discourse and scholarly debate and to strengthen research capacity. Over and above these top researchers, the College is the custodian of several flagship projects investigating critical issues in school and teacher education. Some of these projects are solution-oriented as they focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and COVID-19 pandemic. With Open Distance Learning (ODL) advocacy, its footprints are visible through research. The ODL is driven through Institute for Open and Distance Learning, researchers who are located in 10 departments as well as postgraduate offerings. The hard work of our researchers is recognised and rewarded through several awards, prizes and membership to notable research academies.

The staff members below are responsible for driving the agenda of the Office of Graduate Studies and Research:

NRF Rated Researchers

The NRF rating system is a key driver in the NRF’s aim to build a globally competitive science system in South Africa. It is a valuable tool for benchmarking the quality of our researchers against the best in the world.  NRF ratings are allocated based on a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers. The rating system encourages researchers to publish high quality outputs in high impact journals/outlets. Rated researchers as supervisors will impart cutting-edge skills to the next generation of researchers.

Research Chairs

Research Chairs are world-class academics whose positions are supported by targeted funding from a funding agency. Research Chair positions are used to attract and retain the best research talent from around the world.

Research Professors

The appointment of Research Professors (RPs) is to enhance UNISA’s academic profile and prestige and to support and strengthen emerging areas of research excellence at UNISA, thus enabling the institution to respond to South Africa’s development needs.

Academic Associates

Academic Associates (Professor Extraordinarius, Research Fellow and Honorary Professor) are recruited to volunteer their experience, expertise and knowledge for the benefit of the university. They contribute to the sustained growth of academic scholarship among employees and students at UNISA and enhance UNISA’s academic profile and prestige.

Postdoctoral Fellows

A Postdoctoral Fellow is a person professionally conducting research after the completion of his/her Doctoral degree. Postdoctoral Fellows are supported in preparation for an academic career at a university or a Research Institute.

Expert Consultants

Expert consultants offer support to Unisa researchers through mentorship, peer review and the assessment of research endeavours and research capacity building.  The use of expert consultants, who are not only recognized as established researchers, but who are also experienced in the review, peer review and assessment of research, contributes positively to the implementation of the Research & Innovation Strategy.

Achievements

Research awards and prizes make an important contribution towards recognizing excellence in research and providing an enabling environment at Unisa.

• Women in Research Awards

The Women’s Prize for Excellence in Research is an annual prize that is given to active and deserving UNISA women researchers. The prize is aimed at increasing and strengthening the participation of women in research at UNISA thereby responding to the Research and Innovation Strategic goal. The categories are Leadership Prize for Excellence in Research, Emerging Researcher Prize for Excellence in Research and Resilience in Research Award.

• Women in Research: Leadership Prize for Excellence in Research

The Leadership in Research Award is awarded to researchers who, in the last five years, have demonstrated their outstanding leadership in research by publishing widely, contributing to the advancement of research within their field, participating in the development of scholars through mentorship, providing supervision to a substantial number of postgraduate students, receiving recognition and awards in their field as achievers and participating in community and/or industry engagement.

• Women in Research: Emerging Researcher Prize for Excellence in Research The Emerging Researcher Award is aimed at encouraging new or aspiring PhD candidates to become established researchers. To be considered for this award, a candidate who is permanently employed by Unisa must show a promising track record in research.

• Women in Research: Resilience in Research Award The Resilience in Research Award is awarded to a researcher who, in the last three years, has succeeded in attaining a doctoral qualification in spite of extraordinary personal circumstances that would inhibit possible completion. The award celebrates the values of perseverance, commitment and singular dedication in the pursuit of academic goals. This award was discontinued from 2017.

• The Principal’s Prize for Research Excellence The Prize is targeted at young and developing researchers (not older than 35 years) or groups who have achieved academic research excellence of the highest quality as published in the preceding two years. The research cohort comprises of scholars who are generally in the minority throughout the national higher education system. Traditionally awarded bi-annually, it alternates with the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Research.

• Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in Research The Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in Research is regarded as the most prestigious prize for research and innovation at Unisa. Awarded every second year and alternating with the Principal’s Prize, it rewards high-quality published research by permanent Unisa researchers and research groups.

• The Half Million and Million Rand Club Awards The Half Million and Million Rand Club Awards are a new award introduced in 2019 to recognise researchers who have obtained competitive external funding for their research projects.
• Half Million Rand Club The Half Million Rand Club Award recognises a researcher who has received external funding for his/her research from R500 000.00 to R1million.

• Million Rand Cub The Million Rand Club Award recognises a researcher who has received external funding for his/her research of R1million or more.

• Prestigious External Research Awards and Memberships External awards and memberships serve to provide credible affirmation of excellence. Hence, researchers who have been recognized by external bodies are eligible for awards at Unisa.

Capacity building and training

The office of Graduate Studies and Research hosts several capacity building and training workshops for the researchers in the College. The workshops that were mainly face to face are now held online due to COVID-19 pandemic. Since the adoption of a new normal, all research activities are conducted fully online. This has increased the number of online workshops that are being attended in big numbers. A series of article writing workshops, NRF rating information session, grant research proposal and postgraduate supervision are organised throughout the year. Furthermore, the researchers are guided by the Consultants when applying for internal and external grants. This has increased the number of researchers obtaining different grants.

• External grant holders

• Internal grant holders

Strategic partnerships

• JET Education Service, Johannesburg (MoU)
• Open University of Mauritius, Mauritius (MoU)
• Liverpool John Moores University, UK (MoU)
• Oldenburg University, Germany (MoU)
• University of Helsinki, Finland (MoU)
• University of Tampere, Finland (MoU)
• The Farhangian Teacher Education University (FTEU), Iran (MoU)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• The Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
• South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE)
• Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges
• University of Zimbabwe (UNESCO Chair)
• University of Botswana UNESCO Chair)
• Makerere University (UNESCO Chair)
• University of Zambia (UNESCO Chair)
• University of Malawi (UNESCO Chair)
• Athabasca University (UNESCO Chair)

Postgraduate Studies

• Support for master’s and doctoral studies The Office of Graduate Studies and Research organizes discipline-specific research training workshops for Postgraduate students. These workshops are usually held face to face during the first and second term in selected regional offices. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the mode of delivering these workshops changed to fully online. Students are informed of these workshops through their ‘mylife’ email addresses. It is important that new students activate their ‘mylife’ account immediately after registration.
• Research Focus Areas
• Postgraduate Bursaries Postgraduate students are encouraged to apply for bursaries and grants. For detailed information click here

Research resources

• Flagship projects

Work related to COVID-19

• Researcher: Prof M Noor Davids published a paper in Yesterday & Today Journal (Special Edition) titled: The history of pandemics: Responding to the COVID 19 pandemic from a curriculum perspective.
• Researcher: Prof Mpine Makoe is leading the project on: Response to COVID 19 by training teachers to teach online using OERs. This project has more than 300 teachers from schools, District Offices and TVET colleges in Gauteng and Kwa Zulu Natal Provinces
• Researcher: Prof Jenny Roberts was requested to write the narrative on the South African case and submitted her contribution on 5 May 2020. The full article is currently being finalised with publication expected in June 2020. The research that she sent through was titled” Reflections on the educational landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa”. As a response to interruption of education due to COVID-19 pandemic, this study is a collaborative reaction that narrates the overall view, reflections from educational landscape, lessons learned and suggestions from a total of 31 countries across the world with a representation of 62,7% of the whole world population.
• Researcher: Dr Gloria Ledwaba conceptualized collaborative research related to covid19 with two colleagues, one from Wits and the other one from UP.  Initially they wanted to develop communication symbols (using PCS software) for COVID 19 awareness for learners with severe speech difficulties (for home and school context).  Topic: “Understanding of prevention messages of COVID19 by learners with complex communication needs”.
• Researcher: Dr Asteria Nsamba is conducting research with a colleague from East Africa on knowledge, skills, attitudes and values students have learned during the COVID 19 lock-downs.
• Researcher: Professor Veronica McKay published an article titled ‘Adult learning and education as a tool to contain pandemics: The COVID‑19 experience (Henrique Lopes & Veronica McKay) in the International Review of Education journal.
• Researchers: Professor Ngubane-Mokiwa, S.A. and Mr Zongozzi, J.N. published an article titled ‘Exclusion Reloaded: The Chronicles of Covid 19 on Students with Disabilities in a South African Open Distance Learning Context’ in the Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment.
• Researcher: Professor Davids M.N and Dr Meeran S. published an article titled ‘COVID-19 catalysing assessment transformation: a case of the online open book examination’ in the South African Journal of Higher Education (SAJHE).

Research focusing on SDGs

Conferences

There are three conferences that are part of the College of Education’s calendar. These conferences form part of the drive to increase the scholarship of academics, international collaboration and research outputs.

• Teacher Education and Interdisciplinary Research Conference (TEIR) TEIR Conference is a well-established part of the College of Education’s calendar. This conference is held annually in different provinces in South Africa as well as SADC countries. It is part of the drive to increase the scholarship of academics, international collaboration and research outputs in the College of Education. www.unisa.ac.za/te@distance
• Masters and doctoral students conference This annual conference offers masters and doctoral students an opportunity to present and discuss their latest work and discover new and interesting developments in their field. It helps them to recognize and establish scholarly benchmarks in terms of cutting edge discoveries and theories, learning the best practices, methods and resources in research and personal networking.

Media & events

Follow this link: https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Colleges/College-of-Graduate-Studies/Research-resources/M&D-Policies

Units linked to OGS&R

• Institute for Open and Distance Learning (IODL)

The Institute provides support and equip UNISA staff members with the appropriate knowledge and skills to carry out ODeL research, to produce articles and develop research capacity.

• UNESCO Chair on Open Distance Learning (ODL)

The UNESCO Chair on ODL seeks to promote an integrated and co-ordinated system of research, research training, production and dissemination of knowledge on ODL at Unisa.

Registered Unisa M&D students are enrolled automatically within the college. This enables the students to upload their academic papers to the Turnitin database.  Students LOG IN directly online using their myLife email addresses.  The Unisa Turnitin Team can be contacted on [email protected] . For more information click here.

Research Ethics

The College of Education adheres to the Policy on Research Ethics by ensuring that the researcher is informed of his/her responsibilities in conducting ethical research. The CEDU Research Ethics Committee (REC) is mandated to promote compliance through the evaluation of ethics clearance applications. As a result, all students and staff members are required to apply for ethics clearance before the collection of any data . Applications may only be submitted by the supervisor on behalf of the student.

When UNISA staff, students or data form part of your research you also need to obtain permission from the Research Permissions Subcommittee (RPSC) of the Senate Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Degrees Committee after ethical clearance has been obtained from the CEDU REC. The clearance certificate should be appended to the RPCS application.  Applications to RPSC need to be submitted through the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, College of Education.

Ms LK Nthekenyane Tel: 012 429 3526 E-mail: [email protected]

Ms P Maapola Tel: 012 429 6260 E-mail: [email protected]

Last modified: 2023/08/07

Examining research support programmes for academic staff at a South African open and distance learning institution

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Obesity in mums doubles the risk of autism in babies

25 September 2024

Funded by Centre of Research Excellence Health in Preconception & Pregnancy and conducted in partnership with Curtin University , Monash University ,   SAHMRI and a team of national institutions*, the systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 3.6 million mother-child pairs across 42 epidemiological studies found that obesity during pregnancy:

• increases the risk of ADHD in children by 32%.
• doubles the risk of developing ASD in children (by 2.23 times).
• increases the risk of conduct disorders by 16%

The study also found that maternal pre-conception obesity or overweight was linked with an increased risk of ADHD, ASD, conduct disorder and psychotic disorder as well as a 30% increased risk in both externalising symptoms, and peer relationship problems.

Lead researcher UniSA’s Dr Bereket Duko says the study provides new insights into the long-term impact of maternal body weight on child mental health.

“Maternal obesity has long been associated with a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth, low birthweight, stillbirth, and it is also linked with macrosomia, or high birthweight,” Dr Duko says.

“In this study, we examined maternal overweight and obesity before and during pregnancy, finding that both are significantly linked with psychiatric and behavioural problems in children later in life, specifically ASD, ADHD and peer relationship problems.

“Given the rising global obesity rates among women of reproductive age, and the growing numbers of children identified with neurodiverse conditions, it’s important that we acknowledge the potential long-term consequences of maternal adiposity on child mental health.”

In Australia, about one in 150 people have ASD with more than 8% of children aged 4-11 diagnosed with ADHD. Globally, one in eight people live with obesity .

Dr Duko says the study’s results underscore the need for interventions targeting maternal weight management before and during pregnancy.

“Public health efforts that target improving maternal health could help mitigate some of the risks of neuropsychiatric and behavioural disorders in children,” Dr Duko says.

“While further research is needed to explore the biological mechanisms underlying these associations, the findings do stress the need for health interventions that promote healthy living and weight among parents to be.”

Notes to editors:

*Additional partners include Monash University , University of Western Australia , Fiona Stanley Hospital , University of Queensland , Edith Cowan University , and University of Sydney .

The paper is available online here:  Associations between maternal preconception and pregnancy adiposity and neuropsychiatric and behavioral outcomes in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Contact for interview:  Dr Bereket Duko M: +61 410 350 140 E: [email protected] Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: [email protected]

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Majority of Americans continue to favor moving away from Electoral College

As has been the case for over 200 years, the Electoral College will determine the outcome of the U.S. presidential race this fall. Yet most Americans have long supported moving away from this system.

In 2000 and 2016, the winners of the popular vote lost their bids for U.S. president after receiving fewer Electoral College votes than their opponents. To continue tracking how the public views the U.S. system for presidential elections, we surveyed 9,720 U.S. adults from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, 2024.

Everyone who took part in the current survey is a member of Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

Here are the questions used for this analysis, along with responses, and its methodology.

The Electoral College allocates a number of electors based on how many senators and representatives each state has in Congress (plus three electors for the District of Columbia, for a total of 538). Most states award all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins that state.

More than six-in-ten Americans (63%) would instead prefer to see the winner of the presidential election be the person who wins the most votes nationally. Roughly a third (35%) favor retaining the Electoral College system, according to a Pew Research Center survey of 9,720 adults conducted Aug. 26-Sept. 2, 2024.

The Electoral College is always in focus during presidential elections. But a recent – as yet unsuccessful – effort to change how Nebraska awards its electoral votes has highlighted the prospect of a narrow Electoral College victory for either candidate in an extremely close race.

Related: In Tied Presidential Race, Harris and Trump Have Contrasting Strengths, Weaknesses

As has been the case for more than two decades, there are wide partisan differences in attitudes about the Electoral College:

• Eight-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents favor replacing the Electoral College with a popular vote system.
• Republicans and Republican leaners are more evenly divided: 53% favor keeping the Electoral College, while 46% would prefer to replace it.

Focus on the Electoral College

In 48 states and D.C., the candidate who receives the most votes in that state is awarded all of its electoral votes.

Nebraska and Maine have a different approach, allocating two electoral votes to the candidate who wins the most votes statewide and one to the winner of each congressional district. Some Republicans have been pressing to change Nebraska’s rules so that the statewide winner gets all five of its electoral votes. This would likely work to former President Donald Trump’s advantage, given Nebraska’s consistent support of GOP presidential candidates .

A candidate must win a majority of the 538 electoral votes to become president. If no candidate wins a majority , the election outcome is decided by the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state’s delegation casting one vote.

Under the current electoral system in the United States, the winner of the popular vote may not secure enough Electoral College votes to win the presidency.

• This occurred in both the 2000 and 2016 elections. George W. Bush and Donald Trump, respectively, won these elections with clear Electoral College victories, but they did not win the most votes nationwide.
• In 2020, while President Joe Biden won the popular vote by more than 7 million votes, his Electoral College victory was decided by fewer than 50,000 votes in a few close states.
• As a result of the Electoral College system, there is outsize attention to outcomes in a handful of battleground states . This year, those battlegrounds include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Partisan views of the Electoral College over time

Since the 2000 election, two-thirds or more Democrats have backed moving to a popular vote system.

Republicans remain fairly divided today, with 46% in favor of moving to a popular vote system.

Republicans were less supportive of this change following Trump’s 2016 win. In November of that year, in the wake of Trump’s Electoral College victory and popular vote loss, just 27% of Republicans supported a popular vote system.

Party and ideology

There are only modest differences by ideology on this question among Democrats:

• 87% of liberal Democrats and 74% of conservative and moderate Democrats say they would prefer presidents to be elected by popular vote.

Ideological differences are wider among Republicans:

• 63% of conservative Republicans prefer keeping the current system.
• In contrast, 61% of moderate and liberal Republicans (who are a much smaller share of the Republican coalition) say they support a popular vote for president.

Majorities across all age groups support changing the system. However, adults younger than 50 are somewhat more supportive of this than those ages 50 and older (66% vs. 59%).

Note: This is an update of a post previously published in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

In January 2020, Pew Research Center ran a survey experiment that asked this question in two slightly different ways. One used the language that we and other organizations had used in prior years, with the reform option asking about “amending the Constitution so the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide wins the election.” The other version asked about “changing the system so the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide wins the election.” The January 2020 survey revealed no substantive differences between asking about “amending the Constitution” and “changing the system.”

We conducted this experiment in large part because reforming the way presidents are selected does not technically require amending the Constitution. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact , for example, could theoretically accomplish it without a constitutional amendment. Since there was no substantive difference in the survey results between the two question wordings, we have adopted the revised wording, which references “changing the system.”

• Election System & Voting Process
• Politics & Policy
• U.S. Elections & Voters

Jocelyn Kiley is a senior associate director of research at Pew Research Center .

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It does not take policy positions. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, computational social science research and other data-driven research. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts , its primary funder.

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Registered students and academics involved with research have various resources available to their specific research needs.

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Personal librarians are responsible for assistance with research needs

Research Data Management

Research data management concerns the organisation of data, from its entry to the research cycle through to the dissemination and archiving of valuable results

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The Research Commons is on level 4 of the library and provides a congenial environment for Unisa researchers.

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The Unisa Institutional Repository (UnisaIR) is an open digital archive of scholarly, intellectual and research output of the University of South Africa.

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Open Access is the free, immediate, online availability of research articles coupled with the rights to use these articles fully in the digital environment.

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Guidance to researchers in creating and maintaining an online presence on the Web. Attention will be given to developing an online presence with focus on the formal researcher e-profiles an online research presence using social media tools and platforms.

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DHET accredited journal list for publications

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Is there study space in the Unisa Main Library or any of the branches?

Study space in support of researchers:

Each of the Unisa Libraries has a limited amount of seating for students and visitors who need a desk at which to study or at which to consult Library material. However, please be aware that the number of seats is limited for public safety reasons.

Master’s and Doctoral students have access to the Research Space on the 4th floor of the Muckleneuk Library where they may write and work on their research projects. Access to this area is controlled by the use of your electronic student card.

A study carrel is a small, lockable room in the Library reserved for study. Study carrels are available for use by Master's and Doctoral students on Levels 5 to 8 of the Muckleneuk Library. Enquire at the Lending Counter of the Library if you wish to make use of a study carrel.

How do I find, retrieve and evaluate information for a research topic

You can link to the following topics to help you to find, retrieve, evaluate and manage information on your research topic:

• Using the Unisa Library Homepage
• Formulate an Effective Search Strategy
• Finding Subject Databases
• Finding Books
• Finding Journal Articles
• Theses and Dissertations
• Finding e-Reference Sources
• Finding e-Newspapers
• Finding Legal Information
• Evaluating your Information
• Managing Your References
• Keeping Up to Date
• Using Citation Resources
• Free Apps for Research

What research services and tools are available to academics and students?

Below are links to useful resources and tools to support research:

Research Skills

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Research Data Management

MOOCs - Massive Open Online Courses

Open Educational Resources (OERs)

Who can assist me if I am a Master's or Doctoral student?

The Unisa Library supports Master's and Doctoral students in the following ways:

Library Guides

The Library guides are part of the Library's efforts to support students and researchers to develop their research skills.

Guides cover a wide range of general topics , for example  Research Skills ,  Literature Review , e-Journals ,  E-books  and  Requesting and finding library material .

You can select the guide for your specific course of subject  from the list of Subject-specific guides . 

Personal Librarians

A list of  Personal Librarian  and the subjects they are responsible for is available on the main Library page. Personal Librarians support academics and postgraduate students in the following ways:

• assistance with research needs; ​
• training in the use of the subject databases;
• ​support in setting up alerting services; 
• partnering with academics in the structuring of study material;
• gathering subject-specific input for collection development 
• developing partnerships with academics, researchers and graduate students

Information Search Librarians

A literature search service  is delivered by the Information Search Librarians Team to all Unisa staff and students .

You can  request a literature search  on a specific research topic:                                      

Go to myUnisa , enter your student number and myUnisa password , or your staff login codes , then click on Log in

• Click on myModules
• Click on Sites and then select Library or Staff Library Pages , and then Literature Search Request Form
• Complete the form and click on Submit once - an  acknowledgement email will be sent to  your myLife mailbox .

To compile the literature search, a  number of electronic databases  are searched to provide you with an  overview of the literature  written on your topic. The search results will include  citations ,  abstracts , and  links to full-text articles , where available.

I nstructional material  compiled by the Information Search Librarians will guide you in acquiring the necessary skills in finding and retrieving information on your research topic.

• How to write a literature review
• How to search
• Current awareness : setting up journal article alerts
• E-books @ Unisa Library
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Branch Librarians

If you visit the Library in person, the Branch Librarians will be able to guide you in how to search the Library Catalogue and other electronic resources.

Who can assist me if I am an undergraduate or Honours student with a research component to my studies?

The Library offers support for the research skilling of undergraduate and Honours students.

1. Library guides

Library guides are available to support students and researchers to develop their research skills:

The Library guide on  How to Search  explains the basics of searching the Library's resources, including how to make the most of Google and Google Scholar.

If your course includes a research component, you will find the Library guide on How to write a Literature Review  helpful.

There is also a link on the Library home page to Research Support where you will find a useful set of tutorials on Research Skills . Topics covered include:

• Using the Unisa Library home page
• Researching your topic
• Using the Library's subject databases
• Finding books
• Finding journal articles
• Finding theses and dissertations
• Finding other electronic material
• Findling legal information
• Evaluating  your information
• Managing your references
• Keeping up-to-date with your research
• Citation resources

2. Branch libraries

3. Scheduled training sessions

Training sessions are offered by the Branch Librarians of the Library on the Unisa Main Campus in Pretoria. Visit the Library training page for the trianing shedule and contact information. Sessions offered are:

• Introduction to the Library: Services and Procedures
• Using the Unisa Library Catalogue
• Introduction to E-Resources
• Using Reference Sources
• Introduction to Reference Techniques

4. Literature search services

As long as your assignment or research project does not require you to do a literature search independently as a learning exercise to develop your research skills, or, if you have carried out a literature search and are simply not finding relevant or sufficient information, you may submit a request for a literature search on your research topic.

What is plagiarism?

Using information ethically for written assignments and research is extremely important.  The ethical use of information does not only reflect a person's integrity, but it is also mandated by law.  

Unethical use of information is referred to as 'plagiarism' and may be prevented by citing sources. 

For an overview and help ensure that written assignments and research conform to the current standards of using information ethically, consult the Research Support: Plagiarism Library guide. 

You can also download the Unisa Policy for copyright infringement and plagiarism .

Where can I find more information on research methods

SAGE Research Methods supports beginning and advanced researchers in every step of a research project, from writing a research question, choosing a method, gathering and analyzing data, to writing up and publishing the findings.

Selecting the approach to use

Summary of different research methodologies

Research design vs research methodology

Quantitative vs qualitative method

Click here for a selected list of books on research methodology in general, writing research proposals, dissertations and theses, time management and reference styles.

You may also access the search results on the topic of research methodology in the Encore Library Catalogue .

Where can I find information on how to write a literature review?

• Literature review process
• Purpose of a literature review
• Evaluating sources
• Managing sources
• Request a literature search
• Diagram: importance of research
• Attributes of a good research scholar
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UC Davis’ Historic Expect Greater Campaign Raises $2.25 Billion

Over 93% of the 448,000 gifts were $1,000 or less.

• by Courtney Tompkins
• September 24, 2024

The University of California, Davis, is celebrating its most successful fundraising campaign — Expect Greater: From UC Davis, for the World — a multi-year effort that raised over $2.25 billion for student support, health research and care, sustainability, innovation and more.

Gifts to the campaign have empowered first-generation students to achieve their dreams, funded groundbreaking research across disciplines, and expanded resources that contribute to the university’s vibrant culture and academic excellence.

“Expect Greater has proven that when we come together, our community can achieve extraordinary things,” said Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations. “Its success demonstrates the profound trust our donors place in us to educate, innovate and lead. We are immensely grateful for their support and partnership.”

From July 2016 through June 2024, over 133,000 donors worldwide gave $2,255,625,098 in more than 448,000 gifts and pledges to support UC Davis’ efforts to advance solutions to the planet’s most pressing problems and build a brighter future for California and beyond.

UC Davis exceeded its $2 billion campaign goal 10 months ahead of schedule, in August 2023, which is a remarkable achievement considering the campaign launched publicly in 2020 amid a worldwide pandemic that closed schools and exacerbated economic uncertainty.

Legacy of impact

Of the total campaign gifts and pledges, donors gave $822 million — or more than one-third of all funds raised — to support research and identify solutions to society’s most pressing challenges, like food security, health equity and climate change. These funds also bolster UC Davis’ interdisciplinary approach to making transformative discoveries, together.

Other funding highlights: 

• $469 million in department and faculty support . This includes over 70 new endowed chairs and professorships, as well as new graduate student fellowships, classroom and laboratory resources, and other funding to support faculty and foster academic growth.
• $323 million in student support. This includes 1,573 new scholarships, funds for student emergencies, basic needs and research opportunities, as well as awards for experiential learning and professional development.
• $267 million for construction and renovation. This includes new, state-of-the-art spaces at UC Davis and UC Davis Health in Sacramento, such as the Edwards Family Athletics Center, Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center, Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute Building, Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center, and the UC Davis Coffee Center, the nation’s first academic research and teaching facility dedicated entirely to the study of coffee.

Every gift fuels a brighter tomorrow

More than 93% of gifts to UC Davis were $1,000 or less, and with a median gift amount of $25, the Expect Greater campaign demonstrated the collective power of community support and the key role that every donation plays in creating lasting change.

“We are deeply grateful to all who have given so generously throughout this campaign,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “On behalf of our students, faculty and the entire UC Davis community, thank you for believing in our mission and strengthening our impact at home and around the world.”

From an 11-year-old’s $20 gift to the Bodega Marine Laboratory to grateful patient Ernest E. Tschannen’s $38.5 million commitment to vision science, private support is vital because it drives innovation and accelerates discovery. Thirteen gifts were $10 million or more.

Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-owners of The Wonderful Company, were the top individual donors with $50 million to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The Resnicks’ gift is helping build a world-class agricultural innovation center and funding competitive research grants for projects focused on agricultural sustainability.

UC Davis Foundation Chair Deborah J. Neff ’76 expressed appreciation to the university’s volunteer community for their pivotal role in the campaign’s success.

“We owe our deepest thanks to our incredible volunteers who generously gave their time and energy to support this campaign,” Neff said. “Their leadership and dedication have truly made a difference for UC Davis.”

A momentous final year

The final year of the Expect Greater campaign was the second-best fundraising year in UC Davis history. In fiscal year 2023-24, UC Davis raised over $290 million, or about $55 million more than its annual fundraising goal.

Noteworthy gifts include:

• $20+ million from philanthropist Maria Manetti Shrem to establish the Maria Manetti Shrem Arts Renaissance in the College of Letters and Science, funding programming plus endowed chairs in arts, arts history and sustainable design
• $8 million estate gift from Victor and Phela Vesci to the UC Davis Children’s Hospital to help create a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and establish endowments for pediatric intensive care, lung and gastrointestinal programs
• $4.1 million from more than 4,700 donors on the eighth annual Give Day, “Reaching Greater Heights,” which set a university giving-day record

To learn more about the historic Expect Greater campaign, visit giving.ucdavis.edu .

FOR THE WORLD

With funding from Expect Greater donors, UC Davis is advancing life-changing research and innovations.

• A man paralyzed by ALS spoke to his family for the first time in years. Read his story .
• A new stem-cell therapy treated spina bifida in bulldogs and was adapted to treat human babies in utero. Watch the video here .
• When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Healthy Davis Together set a national model for keeping communities safe. See how we did it .
• The UC Davis arts scene is thriving like never before. Explore the arts renaissance underway.
• The next generation of nutritious, planet-friendly foods is on the menu. Get a taste here.

About UC Davis

UC Davis is a top-ranked, public research university recognized for its leadership in addressing global challenges through innovative research and education. With more than 40,000 students enrolled across undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, UC Davis offers a diverse and inclusive academic environment.

The university consistently ranks among the top 10 public universities in the United States – today, it’s No. 3 in a Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranking – and is a global leader in the fields of veterinary medicine, agriculture and environmental science, health care and sustainability.

Located in California’s Central Valley, UC Davis drives groundbreaking research and fosters a culture of hands-on learning, collaboration and public service that seeks to benefit humans, animals and the planet. 

Media Resources

Media Contact:

• Betsy Towner Levine, Development and Alumni Relations, 530-752-9693, [email protected]

Primary Category

Unisa has taken a significant step forward in advancing agricultural education, research, and community engagement with the acquisition of an experimental farm in Bronkhorstspruit. The formal signing ceremony for the transfer of ownership was held at the office of Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the institution’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor (PVC) on 19 September 2024. The signing marked a major milestone in the university’s vision to establish a truly world-class research and training hub dedicated to agricultural and environmental sciences.

Unisa executives look on as Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor (front, second from right), sign documentation formalising the transfer of the farm’s deed to the university

The signing ceremony saw the presence of the PVC, as signatory on behalf of Unisa, supported by members of the institution’s executive leadership, including Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, Professor Solomon Magano, Acting Vice-Principal: Institutional Development, Matsiababa Motebele, Vice-Principal: Operations and Facilities, Byron Stanfliet, Acting Chief Financial Officer, and Professor Ntanganedzeni Mapholi, Deputy Executive Dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. This diverse representation reflects the integrated approach the university takes in managing and advancing its operations. Present also was the seller and legal representatives for both parties.

Addressing global challenges through agriculture

The PVC commended the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences for its foresight in addressing pressing global challenges through agricultural education and research. "Agriculture plays a pivotal role in addressing issues like food security, climate change, and economic development,” she stated. “This farm is not just a site for agricultural production, but a space for multidisciplinary transformation. It will allow us to train future business leaders and entrepreneurs, while also fostering a deep respect for the land and an understanding of indigenous knowledge systems."

She continued: “This acquisition will open doors to new possibilities in sustainable farming practices, climate change research, food security and innovation in agriculture. It reflects Unisa’s commitment to creating an environment that supports academic excellence and practical learning, benefiting not only our students but society at large.”

The PVC stressed the importance of integrating diverse knowledge systems, especially in the aftermath of global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. She sees the farm as a place where science, research, and traditional knowledge can come together to create meaningful impact.

A hub for innovation and practical learning

The newly acquired farm is set to become a centre for teaching, research, and community involvement. The farm will support practical training for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, fostering cutting-edge research and driving innovation in the field of agriculture. It will also serve as a platform for entrepreneurship and commercialisation, with a strong emphasis on community engagement, particularly with the local municipality.

Mapholi emphasised the significance of the acquisition. "Today,” she said, “marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Unisa. This farm will play a crucial role in training our students, advancing research and development, and engaging with the community. The farm will host a variety of units, including smart greenhouses, an automated dairy farm, and small stock facilities for sheep and goats. Our goal is to create models that can be shared with smallholder farmers, helping to improve their practices."

The farm will also house several research facilities, including a veterinary laboratory and clinic, where students and researchers will focus on animal health and veterinary science. Other key components of the farm will include units for pigs, large stock (beef and dairy), poultry production, horticulture, aquaculture, food processing, and an omics and drug discovery centre.

Strategic imperative for student learning

Magano expressed delight at the acquisition, highlighting the critical role of practical learning in agriculture. He said: "This farm will enhance the training of our students and support the strategic imperatives of both the college and the university as a whole. It will also provide a space for our highly qualified academics in agriculture and animal health to further their research. The veterinary clinic will be fully resourced and serve as a centre for animal testing and drug discovery, strengthening our capacity in veterinary health."

For students, the farm will offer hands-on experience and practical exposure to agricultural techniques, contributing to the development of skills necessary for success in the field. Moreover, postgraduate students will have access to facilities that support advanced research and entrepreneurship, ensuring that they can contribute to both academic knowledge and real-world applications.

A vision for entrepreneurship and community engagement

Motebele shared the university's excitement about the acquisition. "This project has been a long time in the making, and we are thrilled to see it come to fruition,  he said. “The farm will not only support academic research but will also serve as a hub for entrepreneurship, helping students transition from education to business. This is a community engagement initiative, and we believe the farm will have a positive impact on the local communities, contributing to society at large."

Motebele further noted that property management played a key role in ensuring that the farm was purchased at a market-related price. He emphasised that the new developments planned for the farm will make it a vital resource for Unisa's students, researchers, and the surrounding community.

A new chapter for Unisa

The acquisition of the experimental farm marks a new chapter in Unisa's efforts to contribute to agricultural research, innovation, and education in South Africa. With plans for smart farming, veterinary research, and entrepreneurial development, the farm will be a critical resource for students, faculty, and the broader community. By investing in practical learning and community-based projects, Unisa is positioning itself as a leader in agricultural sciences and a key player in addressing some of the most urgent challenges facing the continent and the world.

The university is now set to transform the farm into a vibrant centre of learning and discovery, one that will empower future generations of agricultural professionals and innovators.

The experimental  farm will undoubtedly become a cornerstone for the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, playing a crucial role in advancing Unisa’s goals of enhancing research capacity and fostering innovative solutions to real-world challenges. As the university continues to lead in various academic and research fields, this initiative sets the stage for future successes that will further solidify Unisa’s reputation as a global leader in higher education.

* Co-reporting by Gugu Masinga, Marketing and Communication Specialist, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and Kgothatso Mojela, Journalist Intern, Department of Institutional Advancement

** Photograph by Kgothatso Mojela

Publish date: 2024/09/20

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