Innovation, excellence, and equity were at the centre of the 2025 Southern African Association for Institutional Research (SAAIR) Institute, hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) from 8 to 10 September 2025. The event brought together institutional researchers, academic leaders, early-career professionals, postgraduate students, and policy makers to explore how universities can adapt to rapid technological change, expand equitable access, and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.

According to Dr Loquitur Maka, Assistant Director: Monitoring and Institutional Research (MIR) in the Directorate for Institutional Research and Academic Planning (DIRAP) at the UFS, the theme Future-Ready: Pioneering Innovation, Excellence, and Equity in Higher Education is “highly relevant today as South African higher education navigates rapid technological change, increased demand for equitable access, and the need for evidence-based decision-making. The theme underscores the strategic role of institutional research in preparing universities to be adaptive, innovative, and inclusive, while enhancing academic quality and operational efficiency”.

Insights and discussions

Dr Maka explained, “Hosting the institute at the University of the Free State (UFS) positioned the university as a hub for innovation and research. The UFS’ strong research infrastructure, commitment to excellence, and collaborative culture provided an ideal environment for exploring cutting-edge institutional research practices. The venue allowed for hands-on workshops, interactive sessions, and networking that reinforced the UFS’ role as a leader in fostering transformative higher education practices.”

Keynote addresses included Leveraging National Data for Innovation and Transformation in Higher Education by Solly Molayi (Statistics South Africa) and The Future of Institutional Research: Insights for Action by Dr Dhaya Naidoo (UFS). Workshops covered emerging and advanced methodologies, including Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Institutional Research (IR) in the Age of Digital Futures by Dr Herkulaas Combrink (UFS), Advanced Methodologies in Institutional Research: From Data Visualisation to Learning Analytics by Innocent Mamvura (Wits), and Dr Maka’s own workshop, Future-Ready Institutional Research: Leveraging Bibliometrics for Strategic Insight and Decision-Making.

Reflecting on the discussions, she said, “Interactive sessions and panels generated lively discussion, including Shaping the Future of Institutional Research in South Africa (Dr M Mbodila); Becoming an IR Leader – Reflections and Lessons for Early-Career Professionals; and Beyond Graduation: Redefining Student Success through Institutional Research (multi-institution panel). Participants were particularly engaged in exploring strategies to enhance equity, leverage data analytics, and foster cross-institution collaboration.”

Adding to these insights, Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation at the University of the Free State, emphasised the importance of building a globally connected and inclusive research ecosystem. He explained that such an ecosystem should prioritise high-quality, impactful research aligned with international standards, while also contributing to global knowledge production and collaboration. At the same time, it must recognise the unique value proposition of each institution, support diverse forms of knowledge production, and reimagine research as a vehicle for addressing ‘wicked problems’ through innovation, inclusivity, and activism. Prof Reddy challenged participants to reflect on how the pursuit of excellence can avoid excluding other voices, what institutional mechanisms are needed to embed inclusivity into core strategies and practices, how institutional research can be leveraged to drive innovation and equity, and how global competitiveness can be balanced with local research priorities.

The sub-themes of the conference – innovation, excellence, and collaboration – also played a central role. Dr Maka explained: “Innovation highlighted AI, bibliometrics, and advanced research methodologies. Excellence emphasised quality assurance, strategic planning, and global competitiveness. Collaboration focused on multi-institutional partnerships, sharing tools and insights, and building research capacity collectively.”

She highlighted the diversity of the gathering, noting that “the institute brought together a diverse audience, including institutional researchers, academic leaders, early-career professionals, postgraduate students, and policy makers. Delegates represented a broad spectrum of South African universities, African universities and research institutions, fostering rich dialogue across disciplines, roles, and institutional contexts”.

Challenges, opportunities, and the way forward

Challenges were also raised. According to Dr Maka, these included “gaps in digital literacy and data integration across institutions, limited resources for cross-institution research initiatives, and ensuring equity in student outcomes and access”. Yet opportunities were also identified, including “leveraging AI and analytics to enhance institutional decision-making, strengthening collaboration across universities for research and policy impact, and building capacity and mentoring early-career IR professionals”.

She added that the ideas emerging from the conference are likely to inform “evidence-based policy making at institutional and national levels; strategies for improving student success and retention; institutional approaches to benchmarking, data-driven planning, and innovation; and the development of collaborative research networks to address shared challenges”.