The University of Pretoria recently initiated a process designed to identify the unique research strengths of this institution and to support the development of strong multidisciplinary research groups clustered around the identified strengths.
This process of clustering has two tiers:
Institutional research themes (IRT), which are major initiatives involving a set of participating faculties
Faculty research themes (FRTs), which involve participation on a more limited scale by a lesser number of faculties.
Both the IRTs and the FRTs are designed to recognise and foster excellence in research and to be led by acknowledged international leaders in their specific disciplines.
It is anticipated that these themes will add to the University’s research reputation as they develop, and at the same time will engender a climate that promotes scholarship among academic staff and postdoctoral fellows, and will also produce more doctorates.
Institutional Research Themes
Faculty Research Themes
News
New Poultry Disease Management Agency (PDMA) and UP Research Poultry Chair launched in the Faculty of Veterinary Science - 13/06/2013
The new PDMA-UP Poultry Research Chair in the Faculty of Veterinary Science was recently launched by the Faculty and the South African Poultry Association (SAPA). This exciting collaborative partnership aims among other things, at conducting research on poultry diseases that have an impact on our economy.
The first incumbent of this Chair, Prof Celia Abolnik, who was recently appointed by the Production Animal Studies Department, will be conducting research projects in conjunction with the Poultry Disease Management Agency (PDMA), the government as well as other relevant stakeholders.
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UP crosses borders with tourism - 13/06/2013
The Faculty of Humanities of the University of Pretoria was recently represented by two academic staff members at the Atlas Africa conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Mr Richard Wyllie (Department of Historical and Heritage Studies) and Professor Chris Boonzaaier (Department of Anthropology and Archaeology) both presented papers.
For the first time in its history, the eighth bi-annual event was hosted by the Rwanda Tourism University College (RTUC) from 3 to 5 June 2013.
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Theatre highlights: Chasing and As Night Falls - 11/06/2013
There are performances of the shows Chasing (based on the life of Ingrid Jonker) and As Night Falls (based on the life of Helen Martins) at the Masker Theatre at the University of Pretoria.
These shows are collaborations between the Drama Department and Matchbox Theatre Collective and both shows are choreographed by Nicola Haskins. Make sure you don't miss these shows before they head to perform at Smithfield and at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. As Night falls won a Standard Bank Ovation Award in 2011.
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Marketing honours students impress Newsclip - 10/06/2013
Part of the BComHons (Marketing Management) programme is to equip students with practical skills that they will need as young marketers in the industry. In order to meet this goal, the Department of Marketing Management partnered with Newsclip.
The partnership enabled students to conduct media monitoring in the print, broadcast, online and social media environments, by utilising the various Newsclip delivery and media platforms available.
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Faculty of Veterinary Science: Research article about Dinosaurs published in the prestigious journal, Nature - 07/06/2013
The Department of Paraclinical Sciences of the Faculty of Veterinary Science is not only expanding its horizons, it is also digging deeper into the past. Dr Fritz Huchzermeyer, an extraordinary lecturer in the Department, was a co-author of an article that was recently published in the prestigious journal, Nature.
The work was done in collaboration with paleontologists in China. This publication reported the preservation of ovarian follicles in Mesozoic birds from China and the early evolution of avian reproductive behaviour. Crocodilians and birds are closely related to dinosaurs and are, therefore, ideal models to explain the reproductive behaviour of these extinct animals.
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Future talent meets research industry - 07/06/2013
The Future Talent Meets the Industry initiative allows students from around the world the opportunity to participate in one of the European Society for Opinion and Market Research (ESOMAR) global events. Two BComHons (Marketing Management) students from the University of Pretoria were selected to partake in this initiative. ESOMAR is a world association for market, social and opinion researchers who aim to encourage, advance and elevate market research worldwide.
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Multi-pronged response required to curb Xenophobia in South Africa - 07/06/2013
The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, expresses its concern over the most recent upsurge in xenophobic violence across South Africa. This comes in the wake of reports on the attacks on, and killings of, Somalian nationals in Diepsloot, Gauteng, and outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.
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