The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is one of Africa’s premier research-intensive institutions, renowned for its longstanding commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and transformative research across a wide range of disciplines. Wits is dedicated to producing high-quality, locally relevant, and globally competitive knowledge while nurturing critical thinking and innovation to address pressing societal challenges. Home to four Nobel Laureates, the university is recognized as a center for thought leadership, policy engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration both within Africa and internationally. Wits plays a leading role in advancing research aligned with the JET, a priority of both national and global significance.
 

The university’s work explores the complex intersections between energy, the environment, and social justice, advocating for equitable access to sustainable energy solutions. Wits researchers actively inform national policy through contributions to the Presidential Climate Commission and collaborations with key institutions such as Eskom, NERSA, and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). Furthermore, Wits is a founding member of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Center of Excellence in Energy, which supports continent-wide research focused on energy justice and sustainability.
 

At the heart of the JET, the University of the Witwatersrand leverages its network of specialized research centers and laboratories across electrical engineering and business to drive innovation and thought leadership.

These include:
• The Future Electrical Energy Technology (FEET) Research Group, which focuses on cutting-edge developments in electrical energy systems;
• The Center of Excellence in High Voltage Engineering, advancing research in power systems and grid resilience;
• The African Energy Leadership Center (AELC) within the Wits Business School (WBS) cultivates strategic leadership and capacity building in the energy sector.