Building Responsible Research Leadership at Nelson Mandela University

Strengthening Equitable Partnerships and Research Security for Emerging Research Leaders

Nelson Mandela University (NMU) is committed to developing research leaders who are globally engaged, ethically grounded, and prepared to navigate an increasingly complex international research landscape. The Mandela Imvuselelo Professors Programme (MIPP) is a transformative initiative launched by NMU in 2025. This program aims to support mid-career researchers and enhance the institution's research community. It focuses on revival and repositioning to boost research outputs and improve the research environment and supervision of postgraduate students. The program is a significant step towards elevating academic excellence and fostering a vibrant research culture within the university. 

Formation was invited to design and deliver a tailored workshop for aspiring professors to suppor them in their journey to becoming effective research leaders. The two‑day programme supported participants to strengthen their professional identities and deepen their understanding of responsible, secure, and mutually beneficial research engagement.

Our Approach

Formation Consultancy designed and delivered a two‑day, interactive professional development programme tailored to NMU’s institutional context and the needs of early‑career academics.

Equitable Partnerships (Day 1)

Led by Eva Kagiri‑Kalanzi, this session reframed the principles of equitable partnership through a Southern lens, exploring:

• Power dynamics and value‑attribution bias in research ecosystems.

• Practical principles for designing fair, inclusive, and mutually beneficial partnerships.

• Case studies illustrating common pitfalls in global collaborations and strategies to prevent inequitable practices.

• A structured approach to support participants to identify barriers, root causes, and concrete actions for driving more equitable practice. 

Research Security and Responsible Research (Day 2)

Led by Sapna Marwaha, this session addressed the rapidly evolving area of global research security, including:

• Core concepts and drivers shaping the international research‑security landscape.

• Case studies demonstrating how security risks materialise in real‑world research settings. 

• Dual‑use technology awareness and its ethical, legal, and reputational implications. 

• Tools for assessing critical assets, mitigating security risks, and strengthening institutional resilience. 

• Guidance on developing institutional responsible‑research frameworks that align with emerging global standards.

Across both days, the programme combined:

• Interactive group exercises

• Scenario‑based discussions

• Peer‑learning presentations

• Reflective practice

• Practical strategy development

This blended approach ensured relevance across disciplines and supported participants in applying concepts directly to their research contexts. 

The Impact

Participants rated the programme exceptionally highly, with an average score of 9 out of 10 across relevance, facilitation quality, interactivity, and logistics. They found the sessions engaging, well‑structured, and directly applicable to their professional development. 

Participants highlighted several aspects as particularly impactful:

• Practical strategies and real‑world examples that could be implemented immediately.

• Deepened understanding of inequality, power asymmetry, tokenism, and structural barriers in global research. 

• Insightful discussions on transparency in research funding, mutualism, and creating fairer partnership conditions. 

• Rich peer learning and two‑way engagement that strengthened confidence and collaboration.