South Africa’s social sciences and humanities science council, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Mpumalanga (UMP), to formalise their cooperation in research and other academic activities. The MoU will facilitate collaboration between the two institutions in research, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building.

“It is a moment to pause and celebrate the achievements of 30 years of democracy,” noted HSRC CEO Professor Sarah Mosoetsa. “It is also not just a ceremonial signing of an MoU but a partnership of like-minded institutions with an aligned vision of development, capacity building, and innovation. These are the key drivers that inform the HSRC decision to embark on this journey with UMP.”

The areas covered by the MoU include the co-design and implementation of applied research projects aimed at meeting development and community challenges and participation in multistakeholder science-policy-society platforms. Another important area covered is working with government departments to create employment and so alleviate poverty and strengthen social cohesion.

Regarding capacity-building, such initiatives will include mentorship of postgraduate students and early-career researchers, co-supervision of postgraduate students, and opportunities for internships. They will also include workshops on methodology, research writing and policy communication.

“By partnering with a research giant such as the HSRC, we are ensuring that our solutions are grounded in evidence-based research and shaped by people with lived experiences, so that we do not produce white-elephant solutions but meaningful, practical interventions,” highlighted UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa. The aim is not research that does not go beyond published papers or even policies, but research that leads to real change, that transforms the lives of especially young people in Mpumalanga province, the country and the continent.

Moreover, the HSRC and UMP will jointly host the Africa Young Graduates and Scholars Conference. This will strengthen research capacity by means of pre-conference training and engagements after the conference concludes.