newsletter DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg, edition

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DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg, edition 03 2012 In this issue: Information Seminar Research in Germany Prof Neville Alexander National Science Week University visits SPACES Research Grant &

book Publisher: DAAD South Africa Contact

1 DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg, edition In this issue: Information Seminar Research in Germany Prof Neville Alexander National Science Week University visits SPACES Research Grant & Sandwich Model Advert: Alumniportal Deutschland Useful links Advert: Goethe Institute Like us on Facebook Publisher: DAAD South Africa Contact: Tel: Senate House East Campus Wits University Consultation Hours: Tue & Thur 10h00 12h00 Wed 14h00 15h00 Or by appointment Information Seminar Research in Germany The first South African Information Seminar: Research in Germany was held by the DAAD South Africa and the German Embassy at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria on August 28, The seminar introduced participants to the profiles of Germany s largest research institutions and portrayed opportunities for South African researchers to collaborate with German partners. The more than 150 participants were welcomed by Dr Sibusiso Sibisi, CEO of the hosting CSIR, one of South Africa s leading applied research, science and technology institutions and a long-standing close partner to various Fraunhofer Institutes in Germany. Vinny Pillay, Chief Director Overseas Bilateral Cooperation in the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Andreas Kuenne, Minister for Economic and Global Issues in the German Embassy Pretoria, placed the seminar in the context of a series of successful joint endeavours within the German-South African Year of Science which is collaboratively organized by the BMBF (German Ministry of Education and Research) and the DST. Likewise, Robert Kriger, representing the National Research Foundation, pointed out the long-standing fruitful cooperation with German partners such as the DAAD and the German Research Foundation (DFG) and best practice projects such as Inkaba ye Africa or EnerKey. Mr Kriger dedicated his speech to the legacy of Prof Neville Alexander whose rich life as a campaigner for justice, a top-rank scholar in a number of fields, Humboldt fellow and highly esteemed partner to the German academia had sadly come to an end the day before. During the main information sessions, Dr Ralf Hermann, Head of DAAD South Africa, and Ms Maja Clausen, Head of Research, Science and Innovation at the German Embassy, provided an overview of the German research land- Ralf Hermann, Robert Kriger and Vinny Pillay scape. The presentation focused on leading facilities such as the 18 Helmholtz Centres and more than 80 institutes within each of the other research societies, i.e. Leibniz, Max Planck and Fraunhofer. Also highlighted were the most influential current policy initiatives by the BMBF that give an additional boost to Germany s research capacity. The DAAD, as a global player in international higher education and research support, highlighted their In-Country scholarships and Research Grants for Germany, to name only two of 25 funding schemes run in South Africa. Prof Louis Jonker, Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, gave insights into the impact the Humboldt fellowship made on his academic career, and into the funding programmes of the organization. Prof Wolfgang Preiser represented Africa s first International Research Training Group, in which the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch cooperate on HIV/AIDS research with the University of Wuerzburg. This is a prestigious example of support by the DFG in cooperation and co-funding with the NRF. The information seminar was a great success and underlined the strong interest within the SA research community in collaborating with German partners. Please find the full article, as well as the presentations, on the German Embassy s website: Vertretung/suedafrika/en/ pr/2 Embassy/ YOS/09-RiG-seminar.html

A great loss: the death of Prof Neville Alexander The DAAD South Africa was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Prof Neville Alexander, academic, historian and freedom fighter.

development. Prof Alexander was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation fellowship in 1958 and completed his PhD at the University of Tübingen in 1961.

Prof Alexander had a passion for German literature which was transpired through his PhD dissertation on the works of Gerhart Hauptmann.

2 A great loss: the death of Prof Neville Alexander The DAAD South Africa was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Prof Neville Alexander, academic, historian and freedom fighter. Prof Alexander played an important role in the struggle for a democratic and non-racial South Africa as well as being a well-respected academic in the fields of education and language policy development. Prof Alexander was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation fellowship in 1958 and completed his PhD at the University of Tübingen in He was the youngest ever PhD fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and graduate at the University of Tübingen. Prof Alexander had a passion for German literature which was transpired through his PhD dissertation on the works of Gerhart Hauptmann. His intellectual output is marked by a series of influential books and articles. Prof Alexander s most recent work focused on the tension between multilingualism and the hegemony of English in the public sphere. Photographer: H Agenbag Dr Neville Alexander at the joint DAAD Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Alumni meeting earlier this year He was a close friend of both Germany and the German language. He delivered his last public address on June 6 in Osnabrück at an event held as part of the DAAD programme on Public Policy and Good Governance, which he was instrumental in developing. DAAD President Prof Margaret Wintermantel paid her respects to Prof Alexander, calling him a role model for younger generations in both Germany and South Africa. National Science Week launched by the DST The National Science Week (NSW) organised by the Department of Science and Technology has become an annual event since its inception in This year s event took place at venues all over South Africa with the official launch on 28 July at the Soweto Campus of the University of Johannesburg. With the aim of encouraging a passion for science among the youth, the opening event featured a Science Expo which had role players from the industry and academia, as well as the public sector, showcasing their involvement in the landscape of science and research. Together with the German Embassy, the DAAD promoted Germany as a leading destination for study and research. Dignitaries included DST Minister Naledi Pandor and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Horst Freitag, who addressed the participants and inspired the youth to foster their scientific curiosity. German Embassy Pretoria Maja Clausen from the German Embassy with scholars at the German stand University visits 2012 Within the German South African Year of Science, the DAAD visited 10 universities across the country to promote study and research in Germany. Overall around 180 students and academics attended the seminars, significantly increasing the awareness of the DAAD on the respective campuses. Meetings were also held with university management strengthening the cooperation ties within the German-South African higher education landscape. Visits were made to the University of Johannesburg, Wits University, University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Rhodes University, Central University of Technology, University of the Free State, Durban University of Technology and University of KwaZulu-Natal. Among the programmes highlighted were the DAAD-NRF In-Country scholarship and research opportunities in Germany such as the Research Grant for Doctoral Candidates & Young Academics & Scientists. Please find the call for applications on page 4. Arne Leeflang addresses students at UP

3 SPACES Science Partnerships for the Assessment of Complex Earth System Processes Programme objectives The general objective of the SPACES Programme (Science Partnerships for the Assessment of Complex Earth System Processes) is to develop partnership projects in research and development in the Southern African Region which will contribute to the formulation of science-based recommendations for Earth System Management for the sustainable use of goods and services provided by the system. SPACES builds on previous work done by German scientists in the Southern African Region and will strive to consolidate the generated research competence in Earth System Research, while broadening the scope of the current cooperative activities thematically and geographically by bringing in new research themes involving additional new partners from the region. Envisaged in the programme is cooperation with partners from research institutions and universities in the South African Region and Germany. Capacity Building is an essential component of the SPACES Programme. For this reason, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is financing a special scholarship programme conducted by DAAD. In principle, applications are open to qualified students from Namibia and South Africa interested in pursuing their doctoral studies under the overall theme of Earth System Management in the following specific fields: (1) Environmental Sciences (2) Landscape Ecology (3) Geology and Oceanography Support is structured to run for a period of 40 months. Funding is provided for an obligatory four-months intensive language course (start: March 2013) and a generally three-year doctoral study (start: July 2013). The grant includes: a home country dependent lump-rate travel allowance, a monthly grant payment of 1,000,- EUR, an annual study and research subsidy of 460,- EUR, costs of insurance for health, accident and personal liability in Germany, four-months German language course (in Germany). Where applicable, family-dependent allowances or benefits may also be paid. The choice of the scholarship holders will be made by a selection committee of German scientists. The decisive selection criteria for the doctoral students are the quality of the Master's thesis, the relevance and quality of the research proposal, the academic achievements/proficiency in the Master's degree programme in the home country and English language skills. Experience abroad and knowledge of other foreign languages can be of significance. The members of the selection committee will also propose the German institution where the individual research should be carried out. Applicants from South Africa send the full and complete application documents to the DAAD Information Centre in Johannesburg. Applicants from Namibia send the complete application documents to the German Embassy in Windhoek. The complete documents must have been received in paper form in Johannesburg and Windhoek by the extended deadline of 15 October 2012 at the latest. We do not accept online applications. For the full call for applications and the application form, please the DAAD Johannesburg: daad@wits.ac.za

4 Research Grant for Doctoral Candidates & Young Academics & Scientists Objectives Research grants provide young foreign academics and scientists with an opportunity to carry out a research project or a course of continuing education and training at a German state (public) or state-recognised higher education institution or non-university research institute. The prime goal is the funding of the doctoral dissertation. Specifically, this grant serves the following purposes: research projects at a German higher education institution for the purpose of gaining a doctorate in the home country this includes the doctoral programmes offered for developing and transformation countries under the "DAAD Sandwich Model" - see Information Leaflet, which is also available on the Internet ( research projects at a German university for the purpose of gaining a doctorate in Germany; for projects of these kinds, we would particularly refer to the structured doctoral study programmes, such as Research Training Groups or Doctoral Research Groups, International Postgraduate Programmes, Graduate Schools, Max Planck Research Schools, etc. Please go to the following website for further information: research projects or continuing education and training, but without aiming for a formal degree/qualification. Duration The length of the grant is set by the grant committee at the selection session. Depending on the project in question and on the applicant's work schedule, grants can be paid generally for between one and ten months, in the case of full doctoral programmes in Germany for up to three years, and in exceptions for up to a maximum of four years. Support can only be provided for the completion of a full doctoral programme in Germany when special support policy reasons exist. Such reasons include, for example, the lack of comparable research or academic supervision opportunities in the home country or when the doctoral topic requires several years of research in Germany. Even when support has been awarded for a full doctoral programme, that award will initially be limited to a maximum of one year. Extensions then depend on whether or not the evaluation finds the previous award period to have been successfully completed. Requirements Applications for DAAD research grants are open to excellently-qualified university graduates who hold a Master's degree at the time they commence the grant-supported research and, in exceptional cases, graduates holding a Bachelor's degree or already holding a doctorate/phd (post-docs). It is required that doctoral candidates wishing to take a doctorate/phd in theirhome country will already have been admitted to an appropriate course at their home university. The application papers must include written confirmation of academic supervision by a professor in Germany and expressly refer to the applicant's project, thereby confirming that the host institute will provide a workplace. If the applicant is planning to complete a doctorate at the German host university, the letter of confirmation must come from the academic supervisor (for the applicant's doctoral programme/thesis). Applicants who intend to gain their doctorate within the scope of a structured doctoral study programme are required to present a letter of admission from their study programme or at least proof that they are being considered for admission. Besides previous study achievements, the most important selection criterion is a convincing and well-planned research or continuing education and training project to be completed during the stay in Germany and which has been coordinated and agreed with an academic supervisor at the chosen German host institute. German language skills are generally required. In the natural sciences and in engineering disciplines, in particular, and when English is spoken at the host institute, proof of good English language skills may also be accepted. The DAAD decides on a case-bycase basis whether the applicant can attend a German language course before beginning the research grant (free of charge for the award holder). This option is only available for research grants lasting more than six months. At the time of application, generally no more than six years should have passed since gaining the last degree; in the case of doctoral students, no more than three years should have passed since starting the doctoral process; and in the case of postdocs, no more than two years should have passed since gaining the doctorate. In the case of postdocs who are applying for a short stay (of up to six months), no more than four years should have passed since gaining the doctorate. Applicants, who have been resident in Germany for longer than one year at the time of application, cannot be considered. Application deadline: 15 October 2012 For the full call for applications and the application form, please the DAAD Johannesburg: daad@wits.ac.za

5 Vacancy Announcement Alumniportal Deutschland is a joint project of five organisations in the field of international cooperation under the leadership of the GIZ: the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation, Center for International Development and Migration (CIM), and the Goethe-Institut. Presently 15 additional strategic partners are supporting this joint venture with their worldwide structures and offers for Alumni. The portal is financed by the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation. It is a website for Germany-alumni, i.e. people from all over the world who have studied, researched, worked or completed a course of advanced training in Germany. The Alumniportal supports their efforts to secure, expand and apply the skills and qualifications they have obtained. It also promotes the establishment of international networks among interesting protagonists from the fields of economy, society, culture, science and research. To support the implementation of the Alumniportal Deutschland in South Africa, GIZ is now looking for a professional and dynamic South African national to fill the following position: Main responsibilities: Multipliers Alumniportal Deutschland (freelance, 40 hours/month) Duty Station: Johannesburg or Pretoria Marketing the portal Acquire new users through online and offline marketing activities: events, s, presentations, social media marketing etc. Motivating the Community Motivate users already registered in the portal: online networking activities, blogging, moderation of forum discussions, etc. Providing editorial support Contribute content focusing on agreed topics: delivering alumni portraits, forwarding information on events, trainings, news etc. to the editorial team etc. Acquisition of jobs and cooperating with companies and organisations Research job offers and approach companies and other institutions and motivate them to become active members and to use the portal Minimum qualifications: Germany-alumnus/alumna (or equivalent close connection with Germany) Very good German language skills (written and spoken) Ability to communicate and cooperate with different players e.g. embassies, foundations, companies, universities etc. Internet expertise and enthusiasm for new forms of online communication Substantiated experience of social networks as well as the generation of articles, blogs, moderation of forums, online marketing etc. Experiences in event management, organising workshops, receptions and/or conferences Self-reliance, talent for organisation, communication and networking skills, creativity, responsibility, intercultural sensitivity Membership in alumni-structures and networks is helpful, but not required Access to an excellent internet connection Duration of contract: 31 st December The continuation of the contract in 2013 is intended. Closing date for applications: Monday, 17 th September Helga Wenhold: helga.wenhold@giz.de

Useful Links Higher education & research in Germany: ELibrary - Free access to German ebooks, wherever you are, at all times www.daad.de www.study-in.de www.phdgermany.de www.research-ingermany.

With the Onleihe-App, you can download and access the media through your smartphone or tablet-pc.

There is no need to worry about returning the items on time: At the end of the loan period, the files automatically become inaccessible. To register, simply complete the online registration form.

de Please note that the Amazon Kindle does not support the elibrary-formats. www.uni-assist.de www.academics.de www.bildungsserver.

6 Useful Links Higher education & research in Germany: ELibrary - Free access to German ebooks, wherever you are, at all times Access German books from anywhere on your computer or mobile device for free! The Goethe- Institut South Africa has just started its new digital library, the elibrary. With the Onleihe-App, you can download and access the media through your smartphone or tablet-pc. Alternatively, you can read the materials on any PC and Mac in PDF-format, or on any ebook-reader in epubformat. There is no need to worry about returning the items on time: At the end of the loan period, the files automatically become inaccessible. To register, simply complete the online registration form. We will then send you the registration code and further instructions via . Anyone who lives in South Africa can sign up. The service is free of charge. Please note that the Amazon Kindle does not support the elibrary-formats Available items include: German classic novels Contemporary German fiction Crime fiction Travel guides German newspapers and magazines More questions? Easy Readers German language learning material Audio books Children s literature Language, culture and life in Germany: Visit or contact Fiona Dwinger: lic@johannesburg.goethe.org or johannesburg diplo.de Like us on Facebook! DAAD South Africa is on Facebook! Simply search for DAAD South Africa, where you can like our page and receive up to date information on the activities of the DAAD in South Africa. This was compiled by the DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg. If you do not wish to receive future s, please reply to this and type UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. To change and/ or update your contact details, please send an to daad@wits.ac.za.

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TP.HCM, n à Về việc: ô ề u i H t i u i DAAD, www.daadvn.org/hcmc DAAD Information Centre Ho Chi Minh City 18 ường số 1, ư Thành, 4, Q 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Kính i: - h n ợ t Quốc t Trườn i h c TP.HCM, n à 27.09.13 Về việc: ô ề u i H t i u