Page 50 - DUT Annual Report 2020

Name
Project Title
Description
TRL
Prof K Bisetty
Improvement and Commercialisation of a Chilli Aptasensor
TSf REF: 5537/01
This is a continuation of a previous project (U637) - development of a Chilli Aptasensor for the detection of capsaicinoids, a chemical compound that contributes to the heat of chili-based food samples. A complete patent application for this invention was filed in 2018. The current project aims to improve the existing device, conduct benchmarking studies and do market testing. This project is expected to lead to the production of a quality biosensor for full-scale production.
TRL 5
Mr Mohamed I Ally
Examination eTracking System
TSF Ref: 5535/01
This project aims to create an app to improve and expedite the process of setting examination papers by making it more efficient, secure and easy to use.
TRL 6
Mr Cassim Vanker
DUT Electronic Testing and Simulation for Information Technology
TSF Ref: 5534/01
This project aims to assist lecturers to electronically create and moderate assessments in a single repository. The system will electronically administer the assessment and provide learners with feedback at the end of the assessment. The system will allow simulation-based questions for IT students and the project could be expanded for other simulations.
TRL 6
Prof Francis O Shode
Fortification of Scalas Foods and Nutraceuticals for Enhanced Nutrition and Health
The purpose of the project is to produce functional foods and nutraceuticals from sweet potatoes, cowpeas, pigeon peas, and other local vegetables and commercialise them. The project seeks to address the problem of malnutrition in children under the age of 3 years.
TRL 7
Prof Ian Lazarus
Solar Boat Challenge
This competition provides DUT’s IEETR Technology station the opportunity to be the first team from SA & Africa to compete in this prestigious event. The application of renewable energy to the boating industry will champion the cause for a cleaner and more efficient industry and environment.
TRL 5
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DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Table 4: TIA-funded projects
RESEARCH OUTPUT INDICATORS
AND MEASUREMENT
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) released the “Report on the Evaluation of the 2019 Universities’ Research Output” to universities. The details of how research outputs are measured are based on the 2015 Research Outputs Policy.6 The policy aims to encourage research productivity by rewarding quality research outputs at public institutions. Note that while the focus here is on publications, Master’s and Doctoral outputs and the policy, the DHET also introduced the policy on the evaluation of creative outputs and innovations produced by South African Public Higher Education
Institutions (gazetted in 2017) for implementation in 2018.7 This policy measures creative outputs in the Fine Arts and Visual Arts, Music, Theatre, Performance and Dance, Design and Innovations that include Patents and Plant Breeders’ Rights.
Table 5 gives the weighting per research indicator shown and the and value. According to the DHET report, DUT produced a total of 353.2832 publication units in 2019 which resulted in a 95.21 success rate. There is an increase of 7.8533 units from the 345.4299 units awarded for 2018 publications. The institutional publication trend for all publications (books, journals and conference proceedings) in the past 5 years (2016 – 2020) is shown in Figure 20.
6. http://www.dhet.gov.za/Policy%20and%20Development%20Support/Research%20Outputs%20policy_2015.pdf
7. http: //www. sun. ac. za/english/research-innovation/Research-Development/Documents/Research%20Outputs/Government%20Gazette%20 Policy%20Evaluation%20Creative%20Ouputs%202017.pdf