Hardworking and active researchers at Univen received a pat on the back when they were rewarded for their excellence.
The vice-chancellor's excellence in teaching and learning research innovation and community engagement awards started in 2008 and, for the first time, awards in all areas of core business were bestowed this year.
During a recent function, which was held at the PorscheVilla Hotel at Muledane outside Thohoyandou, researchers were awarded certificates, trophies and cash incentives for their efforts.
The principal of Univen, Prof Peter Mbati, said research and research-based teaching and learning were essential to the enterprise of a university, which set the stage for the awards.
He mentioned that the awards had had positive spinoffs as witnessed in the dramatic research output, together with the impressive growth in pass rates.
“'Univen is committed to investing resources to create a nurturing environment, so that excellence in its broadest definition, including service excellence, can flourish. Therefore, we will continue to pay special attention to matters related to infrastructure and appropriate staffing complement in both the care and operational divisions to enhance the performance of both our staff and students,” he added.
Prof  Xikombiso Mbhenyane said the awards were such a motivation that the number of researchers was steadily growing. "We started with 124 in 2009, 138 in 2010 and 224 in 2012. Our university has been awarded 76,76 units for research output publications in 2010, an increase of 18,39 units from 2009. The 2011 Department of Higher Education research publication output units were 138,3, excluding the postgraduate outputs," she said.
Mbhenyane said a new category for the Most Improved School was added in 2011 to ensure motivation and acknowledgement of efforts by schools that are building capacity.