The Faculty of Economic and Financial Sciences hosted Prof Ravinder Rena, Professor of Economics at Monarch Business School in Switzerland, during its Research and Innovation Day 16 September Speaking to students and academics, Rena urged the South African research community to expand and focus its work on solving urgent social and environmental problems.
WHAT HAPPENED
Prof Rena opened his keynote by reminding participants that research is not only an academic pursuit but a journey of creating and sharing knowledge. “Research must be a response to the challenges our world faces,” he said, encouraging his audience to reflect on purpose, not just process.
He presented striking statistics: fewer than 10 million of the world’s 8.1 billion people are active researchers. In South Africa, only 61 PhD holders exist per million citizens well below the National Development Plan’s goal of 100. This shortfall, he stressed, this shows how important it is to invest in and support the next generation of young scholars
OFFICIAL RESPONSE
The Faculty welcomed Rena’s message as timely and necessary. “Prof Rena challenged us to think deeply about the role of research in society,” said a faculty spokesperson. “His focus on resilience and relevance resonated strongly with our mission.”
Rena also explained how technology, from artificial intelligence to big data, has transformed research over the past three decades. While tools are more available, he warned that focus must remain on impact rather than academic titles.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
The address ended with a call to action on sustainability. Rena urged participants to plant trees, manage waste responsibly, and consider how their work contributes to protecting “Mother Earth.” Students and staff described his words as both motivational and practical.
“It made me realise that finishing a degree isn’t the end goal,” said one postgraduate student. “It’s about making sure my work actually helps society.”
