iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu recently attained another prestigious research milestone after being awarded two South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chairs through the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and National Research Foundation (NRF) Decadal Plan Aligned Research Chairs Programme.

Walter Sisulu made history as the first Historically Disadvantaged Institution (HDI) to have two SARChI Chairs appointed in a single funding cycle since the initiative was established in 2006. This achievement reinforces the University's progress towards becoming a research-intensive institution.

The award marks a significant institutional milestone, as SARChI Chairs are highly competitive and provide substantial long-term funding to attract world-class researchers, enhance institutional reputation, and significantly increase postgraduate research outputs.

Both Chairs are based in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The first Chair, in Hypertension in Children and Young Adults, is led by Prof. Benedicta Nkeh-Chungag, an established NRF C2-rated researcher.