College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2022 17 development practices SETA (ETDP-SETA). The Chair conceptualised and set up the 4IR hubs in the 10 TVET Colleges, a Department of Higher Education and Training, Science, and Innovation initiative. Training solutions are developed by actioning the research outcomes’ identified gaps. In this regard, the Chair creates short learning programmes. In 2022, the TVET colleges’ finance staff and unemployed youth in Gauteng enrolled. 11. The Wholesale and Retail Seta Leadership Chair (Gauteng) (WRSLC) conducts exceptional national and internationally relevant research. It equips retail professionals and academics with the knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the 4th industrial revolution. Research is aligned with the national imperative to encourage more postgraduate studies and to increase research outputs through accredited research articles, books, book chapters and conference proceedings. 12. The TETA 4IR Research Chair conducts evidence-based research for a better understanding of the future of the transport sector’s skills needs. In addition, it contributes to transforming the industry by training transport sector employees in 4IR technologies, improving societal mobility solutions and increasing the employability of transport trainees. Ultimately, these outcomes will support policy responsiveness and the six TETA strategic pillars. RESEARCH FUNDING Much of the CBE’s research activity is funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and competitively won research grants. Research income rose to R30 million in 2022, an increase of 16.8% compared to 2021. Revenue for research projects with a contract stipulating the deliverables grew by more than 58%. This growth was particularly noteworthy given the continued disruption to research experienced across the University due to the pandemic. Selected research funding highlights in the past year include: • Dr Stiehler-Mulder secured R2.3 million from the Wholesale and Retail SETA for youth skills development and professionalisation of the retail industry. • CCRED secured R8.97 million from the Department of Trade and Industry to support the Industrial Development Think Tank (IDTT) in better understanding the challenges of industrialisation. • Prof Chioma Okoro secured BankSeta funding of R3.87 million for students undertaking research in Technology, Digitisation and Innovation, and Management and Leadership Development within the Department of Finance and Investment Management. • Professors Tregenna and Visiting Professor Padmashree Gehl Sampath (Harvard University) secured a significant international research grant of R11,5 million from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH for the project: Accelerating Vaccine Production in Africa.
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