4 Research and Internationalisation INTRODUCTION | VICE-DEAN In 2025, the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture strengthened its research profile through a combination of increased global engagement, improved research productivity and focused support for postgraduate success. These advances reflect the ongoing consolidation of the faculty’s research strategy and its alignment with broader institutional and international priorities. A key highlight of the year was the successful hosting of the internationally recognised Cumulus Conference under the theme Design Intelligence and 5IR. The conference brought together scholars and practitioners from 37 countries, significantly enhancing the faculty’s global visibility and reputation. This momentum was reflected more broadly in expanded Pan-African and Global South partnerships, as well as increased inbound and outbound mobility, reinforcing FADA’s position within international research and teaching networks. The faculty also recorded a marked increase in textual research productivity, with outputs rising from 41 publications in 2024 to 79 in 2025. These outputs aligned strongly with priority areas such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. This growth is attributable to a coordinated research strategy that emphasised structured support, including mentorship, writing retreats, seminar programmes, targeted funding and the development of collaborative, crossdisciplinary research environments. The faculty remains committed to sustaining this upward trajectory. In the domain of creative research, 43 outputs were reviewed internally and submitted for external peer review. Of these, 19 were ultimately submitted to the DHET for accreditation following peer review. The reduced number reflects challenges associated with the revised DHET peer review process, which has introduced greater levels of scrutiny and unpredictability. This remains an area requiring ongoing strategic attention. Postgraduate performance showed positive gains, with the faculty exceeding its targets for both coursework and research master’s degrees, as well as doctoral graduations. A shortfall of seven Honours graduates was recorded, largely due to unforeseen changes in student registration status, including shifts from full-time to part-time study. In response, the faculty will implement more rigorous monitoring of Honours progression and strengthen early risk identification mechanisms. While 2025 was a successful year overall, the faculty remains focused on further strengthening its research ecosystem. Priorities for the coming year include deepening international partnerships, consolidating gains in research productivity, and improving postgraduate throughput across all levels. Prof Neshane Harvey Vice-Dean | Research & Internationalisation
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