The 2025 Faculty Research Day, hosted by Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at The Maslow Time Square in Menlyn, Pretoria, showcased the cutting edge research conducted by staff and postgraduate students of TUT, Faculty of Humanities, under the theme “Intersections of Progress: Fostering Sustainable Development through Education, Inclusive Governance and Human Safety”. This event highlighted the university’s commitment to addressing societal challenges through research, collaboration, and innovation.
The day opened with a presentation by Dr. Carlit Casey Tibane, titled “Neuroscience in Education.” He explored how understanding attention, memory, emotion, and motivation can help educators create inclusive and transformative learning environments.
Dr. Tibane urged teachers to align their teaching with learners’ diverse cognitive and emotional needs. “Every brain has the potential to learn it just needs the right teaching environment,” he said, reflecting on how neuroscience can bridge the gap between theory and classroom practice.
Active engagement and collaboration characterised the day, with Dr. R.K. Manyaka encouraged presenters to expand on their key points and refine their methodologies through constructive dialogue. In a session on ICT in schools, researchers highlighted the growing importance of digital tools in education. While teachers continue to face challenges integrating technologies such as robotics, findings showed that these tools enhance both learner engagement and assessment. As one study concluded, “Competency in the use of technology has become mandatory in most professions, including education.”
Prof. S. Mnisi of the Educational Foundation commented, “At the Faculty of Humanities Research Networking session, students share ideas, refine methodologies, and build connections that strengthen the future of research.”
The session, which also featured Prof. T.J. Rakgogo and Dr. Y.L.P. Majola, reflected TUT’s strong culture of mentorship and academic growth.
A significant highlight was the Rule of Law session, which examined governance challenges in South Africa. Dr J Maswanganyi emphasised the need for Chapter 9 based oversight institutions to strengthen accountability and promote long-term solutions beyond temporary commissions. “Short-term commissions can’t fix long-term problems stressing that effective oversight requires independent and transparent institutions accountable to Parliament”.
The event not only celebrated the academic excellence of TUT’s students and staff but also created a platform for intellectual exchange and innovation. From conceptual discussions to practical applications, the 2025 Faculty Research Day demonstrated how collaborative inquiry can drive inclusive, sustainable, and impactful change in South African society.
