Prof José Frantz is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of the Western Cape. Image: Shelley Christians

As the University of the Western Cape’s current Institutional Operating Plan (2021-2025) draws to a close, Goal 3, which focuses on research and innovation, does so on a high note. 

At the 2025 National Research Foundation (NRF) Annual Awards, UWC was recognised for its significant growth in research productivity and research support over the past five years. 

This prestigious accolade, awarded to historically disadvantaged institutions in Higher Education and Training, affirms UWC’s upward trajectory in building a strong, sustainable research ecosystem.

Over the current IOP cycle, UWC has implemented strategic interventions that have shaped this success. 

These include:

• Strengthening postgraduate education through targeted funding support, expanded supervision capacity, and improved completion rates for Master’s and Doctoral programmes.
• Expanding research chairs and centres of excellence, particularly through the UWC chair initiative, to advance cutting-edge, impactful research.
• Aligning research with national and global priorities, with a deliberate focus on projects contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NDP and Agenda 2063.
• Fostering partnerships and collaborations locally and internationally to amplify the reach and relevance of UWC’s research outputs.

These actions reflect the guiding principle of the IOP — to be an institution “led by research, with a nexus between degree and research programmes, and a keen focus on transforming lives.” 

Reflecting on the NRF accolade, UWC Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, Prof José Frantz, said: “There are moments when you wonder if your efforts are truly making a difference — when the obstacles feel greater than the progress, and the impact seems invisible. Yet, this recognition serves as a powerful reminder that the journey, with all its trials and triumphs, has mattered.

The University of the Western Cape received the Focused Research Advancement Award from the National Research Foundation. Image: Supplied

It affirms that the difficult conversations, the moments of doubt, and the quiet victories have all contributed to something meaningful.”

She added that the NRF Award is a milestone achievement for UWC: “This reward is not just a symbol of achievement, but a testament to the belief that leadership is about service, influence, and transformation. It confirms that the direction given, the decisions made, and the vision held onto — even when it was hard — have left a mark worth celebrating.”

As UWC celebrates this milestone, the recognition is not simply a conclusion, but a launchpad for the next five-year cycle. Building on the solid foundation laid during the 2021–2025 IOP, the University is poised to accelerate its research and innovation agenda, deepening its impact on society, advancing knowledge that transforms lives, and reaffirming its role as a beacon of research excellence in South Africa and beyond.

The NRF this year also notably recognised two UWC researchers with A-ratings.

Prof Ernst Conradie is one of the country’s leading scholars in systematic theology and ethics, and was awarded an A2-rating by the NRF. He has been at UWC for more than 30 years and has focused his research on the intersection between ecotheology, systematic theology and ecumenical theology. Another UWC researcher, Professor Ralf Henkel, is a leading authority in the field of reproductive biology, particularly male reproductive health, in the Department of Medical Biosciences. He is an A-rated researcher covering numerous areas, including the bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants in South Africa, oxidative stress, and sperm DNA.

The NRF Focused Research Advancement Award underscores UWC's evolution from a historically disadvantaged institution to a beacon of research excellence that directly serves its community.

This NRF recognition belongs not just to UWC's leadership, but to every researcher, postgraduate student, and faculty member who has contributed to building the University's research capacity.

See the UWC Research and Innovation journey over the last five years through our Annual Reports and Future Research eMagazines HERE, and watch the full NRF Awards ceremony HERE.