Message from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academia)

The 12^th Edition of the Research Week will demarcate itself significantly from previous editions in that the emphasis will be highly multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary. This year’s edition in particular will encompass research findings pertaining to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the main thrust of this edition, academics have been invited to disseminate outcomes of their research on the 17 SDGs as adopted by the United Nations. The eco-system that characterises the SDGs is well aligned from the national and regional if not international perspectives besides academia and the world of industry. Needless to add, the chosen thrust is broad and clearly addresses the national priorities of Mauritius.

It is also worth noting that this research thrust also aligns itself with one of the Task Forces that has recently been created at the UoM by the Vice-Chancellor relating to the SDGs while at the same time it adheres to the UoM’s vision as a ‘Research Engaged and Entrepreneurial University’.

By and large, the Research Week remains the most important disseminating research platform which fosters significant involvement, dedication and interaction of academics and students across the different Faculties and Centres on campus. The Call for Abstracts and Papers has again been enlarged this year to rope in researchers who have been and are still working jointly on projects or papers. This allows for much greater visibility of the research being undertaken by the UoM staff and students. Moreover, it is expected that interaction with varying groups of researchers will further enhance the cross-fertilisation of views and ideas and consolidate the base for more in-depth academic collaboration.

In addition, the different sessions will provide excellent opportunities for researchers benefiting from different funding schemes to showcase their research commitments and achievements. Opportunities will be provided to specific research groups which have benefited from alternative sources of funding - locally and internationally – to be more visible in what they do as well.

All in all, the dissemination exercise and outcomes will to a great extent shed light on research emanating from different internally funding schemes that have been introduced at the UoM since 2017 and the projects carried out by Poles of Research (PoIs, PREs and PRs), Research Centres and other teams of researchers over the past few years. It is anticipated that the 12^th Edition will involve more people from the industry, policy-making circles and the community at large. Undoubtedly, these deliberations either through oral or visual presentations will provide meaningful insights into our economy and society and its upliftment.

It is with immense pleasure therefore that I wish all of you well for an insightful, thought-breaking, impactful and fruitful Research Week 2020.

Prof Sanjeev K Sobhee