Foreword Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, Vice Chancellor and Principal As the University of Fort Hare at the start of this year began implementing its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan focused on institutional renewal, it is important to showcase our recent research. Given the UFH’s unique location and specific context, we aim to produce research that is both locally responsive and globally relevant and impactful. For the period 2021-2022, we have achieved excellence in several research areas as well as in the financial and administrative management of our institutional resources that support research endeavours. Our aim is to create an enabling environment for our researchers, and to cultivate an institutional culture that nurtures young researchers and values the quality and depth of our research output. As I write to you, 39 academics have received NRF-ratings, demonstrating a solid upward trajectory. This achievement goes a long way towards positioning UFH as a research-focused university that has a strong and visible footprint regionally, nationally and internationally. We have also been working on building, formalising and strengthening our Research Niche Areas (RNAs). In addition, significant shifts have taken place in terms of support for researchers and the establishment of a proper research office. Following the formal approval of the Research Rewards Policy and the SOPs for operationalizing the policy, research cost centres were created 1 | University of Fort Hare