Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
Prof RF Sandenbergh, Dean
Telephone number: 012 420 2440
Fax number: 012 362 5173
E-mail address: roelf.sandenbergh@up.ac.za
Preface by the Dean
The research philosophy in the Faculty is that it is an integral part of our activities and the development of scholarship, linkages with industry and other stakeholders, and meaningful contributions that are internationally competitive as well as locally relevant are emphasized. Based on a broad foundation of participation, the Faculty has been able to increase the funding for research and the publication output over the last number of years. Strong links with industry and other stakeholders are maintained to ensure relevance of the research and to obtain support and funding. Some success has also been achieved with obtaining international research support.
Staff members are encouraged to form and join research focus groups to facilitate interaction and to create the critical mass of effort to attract support and make meaningful contributions. An example of such an initiative is digital@SERA, a joint research initiative in ICT between the University of Pretoria and the CSIR that was launched during 2004. The idea is to create synergies between the significant research capabilities that exist in several groups at both the University and the CSIR, such as in Human Language Technologies, Computer Security and Open Source Software. Similar initiatives are planned for the future.
Participation in the initiatives to stimulate and support intellectual property and product development is encouraged. Examples of such activities are the program to develop novel silicon based light emitting devices, which is receiving significant support from the Innovation Fund as well as from the University, and various projects related to mine safety, such as the development of a novel stope support system and silent drill, supported by the mining industry.
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