DRD team engages with global experts at 2024 SARIMA conference in Mozambique
November 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs
Another UFS poster by Mpho Mashamba, Officer: RIMS Development and Maintenance, and Ethics and Katleho Nyaile from the Centre for Graduate Support (CGS) focused on “Breaking Down Silos: Enhancing Interdepartmental Communication in Research Administration”. They highlighted the need for collaboration within the university, emphasising how interdepartmental communication enhances research outcomes. “We referred to the importance of collaborating with other units, keeping a line of communication open, as well as engaging various stakeholders. This is especially important for a team like ours whose work impacts every faculty member,” said Mashamba.
Mandy Jampies, Senior Officer Postdoctoral Fellows presented on “It Takes a Village: Fostering Collaborative Networks for Postdoctoral Fellow Management”. This talk focused on building a ‘village’ for postdoctoral fellows by streamlining visa processes and establishing partnerships with other institutions, such as the University of Johannesburg. "The audience showed great interest in our initiatives, particularly the visa partnership with the Department of Home Affairs," Jampies remarked.
Jampies’s commitment to supporting postdoctoral fellows extended beyond her presentation. In addition to discussing ways to build a supportive ‘village’ through streamlined visa processes and collaborative partnerships, she also played a role in the science communication pre-conference workshop. Reflecting on this workshop, Jampies noted it as a standout moment. “Boemo Segoje and I had the chance to present on the university’s initiatives to boost research visibility through newsletters, social media and webinars,” she shared.
Sugan Moodley, Director of Research Development Finance, remarked that it was interesting to see the Research Management progression made by universities and to compare similarities, differences, strengths and weaknesses between the UFS and other universities.
AI, here to stay
Mashamba found inspiration in a session by the University of Ghana, where he drew parallels between Ghana’s research fund and the UFS Central Research Fund. “Learning from their experience will help enhance our processes here at the university,” he shared. A big fan of lifelong learning, he saw the conference as a great opportunity to pick up new ideas. He said, "I really made the most of every moment. For me, a few key things stood out. First off, having clear policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) is important for making things run smoothly and getting more done.”
He continued, “As for AI, it’s definitely here to stay. I’m excited about the potential AI has to help streamline our work. Once it’s ready to be used effectively in the workplace, I’d love to bring it into our systems and even use it to improve what we’re already doing." Additionally, Dr Glen Taylor, the Director of Research Development at the UFS, expressed similar enthusiasm for the AI presentation, finding it an interesting insight into the future of research processes.
For Segoje, the conference also highlighted the importance of leadership in research management, referring to a session by the University of Pretoria on Ubuntu leadership. “The emphasis on Ubuntu aligns with the UFS’s values, emphasising the importance of sharing knowledge and empowering others,” she said.
Reflecting on the conference, Jampies concluded, “SARIMA 2024 was one of the best conferences I have attended, providing a wealth of practical knowledge that I can apply to improve my work portfolio.”