Professor Andile Khathi
Loading player...
In a compelling address at the MUT Research Colloquium that took place off campus on 5 November 2026, Professor Andile Khathi from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) appealed to academics and researchers to elevate their work beyond academic journals and focus on creating real-world socioeconomic impact that directly transforms lives.
Speaking under the theme of shifting from basic research output to tangible societal benefit, Professor Khathi challenged researchers to rethink the fundamental purpose of academic inquiry. “Research excellence only asks: What have we discovered? But if you are aiming for socio-economic impact, you and your students need to ask: What is different because of our discovery?” Khathi told the audience. “Let every paper be the beginning of a pathway towards useful innovation, stronger communities, and more opportunities.”
Speaking under the theme of shifting from basic research output to tangible societal benefit, Professor Khathi challenged researchers to rethink the fundamental purpose of academic inquiry. “Research excellence only asks: What have we discovered? But if you are aiming for socio-economic impact, you and your students need to ask: What is different because of our discovery?” Khathi told the audience. “Let every paper be the beginning of a pathway towards useful innovation, stronger communities, and more opportunities.”
