UJ Advances Public–Academic Partnerships with the Launch of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements Research Chair – UJ News

Report on the Launch of the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements Research Chair

Introduction: A Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Development

On 20 November 2025, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHS) formally launched the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements Research Chair. This initiative represents a significant public-academic partnership designed to address critical urban challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the Gauteng province. The collaboration aims to leverage academic rigour to inform government policy and drive transformative outcomes in housing and urban development, directly contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Core Objectives and Mandate

The Research Chair, under the leadership of Director Prof. Clinton Aigbavboa, is mandated to serve as a strategic vehicle for research, innovation, and capacity building. Its primary objectives are intrinsically linked to achieving sustainable urban futures.

1. Develop Evidence-Based Solutions: To generate robust, data-driven solutions for the creation of sustainable human settlements, directly addressing the targets of SDG 11.
2. Strengthen Policy-Research Interface: To bridge the gap between academic research and policy implementation, fostering effective governance and partnerships as outlined in SDG 17.
3. Build Research and Innovation Capacity: To cultivate a new generation of postgraduate talent, enhancing local expertise and innovation in sustainable construction and urban planning, in line with SDG 4 and SDG 9.
4. Support Municipal Learning and Innovation: To create innovation ecosystems that support municipal-level learning and drive transformative outcomes in housing, contributing to resilient and inclusive communities under SDG 11.

Direct Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The establishment of the Research Chair is a targeted response to complex, interconnected challenges, including the expansion of informal settlements, strained infrastructure, climate change impacts, and persistent spatial inequalities. The Chair’s agenda is therefore in direct alignment with several key SDGs:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): This is the central goal of the initiative. The Chair will focus on creating dignified, inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements for all residents of Gauteng.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The partnership between UJ and the GDHS exemplifies a multi-stakeholder collaboration essential for achieving the SDGs, combining academic expertise with public sector vision.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By focusing on research and innovation, the Chair aims to develop solutions for resilient infrastructure and promote sustainable industrialization within the built environment sector.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): A core focus is to address the spatial inequalities that have persisted, ensuring that urban development is inclusive and benefits all segments of the population.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The commitment to developing a pipeline of postgraduate talent directly supports the goal of providing inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The Chair will address the threat of climate change by integrating resilience and sustainability into human settlement planning and practice.

Leadership and Stakeholder Remarks

The launch event was attended by over 150 participants, including policymakers, researchers, and key leaders. Presiding over the event were Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Ms. Tasneem Motara, and UJ Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya.

Professor Phaswana-Mafuya stated that the partnership operationalises UJ’s commitment to conducting research that addresses pressing continental challenges. She emphasised that the collaboration positions the partners at the forefront of transformation, building upon the proven capacity of UJ’s Sustainable Human Settlement and Construction Research Centre to generate impactful solutions. Professor Clinton Aigbavboa affirmed that the Chair will be a strategic vehicle for supporting evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable human settlements policy and practice in the province.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article’s central theme is the establishment of a Research Chair focused on “sustainable human settlements.” It directly addresses challenges like “informal settlements expansion,” “infrastructure stretched to its limits,” and “spatial inequalities,” which are core to SDG 11’s mission to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The initiative described is a “public–academic partnership” between the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements. This collaboration to “mobilize and share knowledge” and expertise exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships that SDG 17 aims to foster for achieving sustainable development.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  A key focus of the Research Chair is to “Building long-term research and innovation capacity, with a strong pipeline of postgraduate talent.” This directly contributes to SDG 4 by providing specialized education and research opportunities that equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article emphasizes the need for “evidence-based innovations” and “cultivating innovation ecosystems” to address infrastructure challenges. The Research Chair’s mandate to serve as a “strategic vehicle for research, innovation, and capacity building” aligns with SDG 9’s goal of enhancing scientific research and fostering innovation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. This is directly relevant as the partnership aims to find solutions for “informal settlements expansion” and achieve “transformative housing and settlements outcomes.”
   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management. The Chair’s goal to “support evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable human settlements policy and practice” is a direct reflection of this target.

2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources. The collaboration between the university (“academic rigour”) and the government (“government vision”) is a clear example of such a partnership to share knowledge and expertise.
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The launch of the Research Chair is the formal operationalization of a public-academic partnership, directly promoting this type of collaboration.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. The initiative’s focus on creating a “strong pipeline of postgraduate talent” in the field of sustainable human settlements directly supports this target.

4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… including… encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers. The Chair’s mandate for “research, innovation, and capacity building” and “cultivating innovation ecosystems” aligns perfectly with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

   • The article implies a need to measure “transformative housing and settlements outcomes.” This suggests an indicator related to the proportion of the urban population living in informal settlements or inadequate housing (Indicator 11.1.1), with the goal being a reduction in this proportion.
   • The development of “evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable human settlements policy and practice” can be measured, implying an indicator such as the number of new policies and plans developed and implemented through the partnership.

2. For SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • The very existence and launch of the “Gauteng Department of Human Settlements Research Chair” serves as an indicator of a functioning partnership. Progress could be measured by the number of collaborative research projects, policy briefs, or joint publications produced by this public-academic partnership.

3. For SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • The goal of creating a “strong pipeline of postgraduate talent” implies a measurable outcome. A direct indicator would be the number of postgraduate students enrolled in and graduating from programs associated with the Research Chair.

4. For SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

   • The focus on “evidence-based innovations” and “solutions that work” suggests that progress can be tracked. An implied indicator would be the number of innovations, new technologies, or evidence-based solutions developed and adopted as a result of the Chair’s research.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: news.uj.ac.za