DST- NRF Research Development Grants for New Generation of Academics Programme (ngap) Scholars Frame Directorate : Human and Infrastructure Capacity Development Date : March 2018
Contents 1. Introduction... 3 2. Rationale... 6 3. Objectives... 6 4. Allocation Principles... 7 5. Application Process... 7 5.1. Eligibility... 7 5.2. Approval Process... 7 6. Funding Principles... 7 6.1. Funding Principle: Source of Grant Funding... 7 6.2. Funding Principle: Institution... 8 6.3. Funding Principle: Demographics... 8 6.4. Types of Financial Support... 8 7. Awards and Period of Funding... 9 8. Reporting... 9 Page 2 of 9
1. Introduction In 2015, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) launched the Staffing South Africa s Universities Frame (SSAUF) which presents a comprehensive, transformative approach to developing future generations of academics and building staff capacity. The SSAUF has a focus on both research and teaching development to ensure that academics who are supported through programmes in the frame acquire training and mentoring over the full spectrum of academic roles. The SSAUF consists of four core programmes linked to the academic development pathway, and a cross-cutting support programme, which are the: Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP) that will target senior undergraduate or Honours students for active recruitment and development; New Generation of Academics Programme (ngap) that will recruit new academics against carefully designed and balanced equity considerations and in disciplinary areas of greatest need. The ngap scholars will comprise of masters and doctoral candidates and postdoctoral emerging researchers appointed against new academic positions to be created; Existing Academics Capacity Enhancement Programme (EACEP) that will support the development of academics currently employed in the sector, for example through support to complete their doctoral studies or through addressing specific gaps with respect to teaching development, research development, social engagement and academic leadership; Supplementary Staff Employment Programme (SSEP) that will enable universities to recruit specific skills on a needs basis, in a temporary capacity, to address specific gaps as the overall staffing challenge is being addressed, and to support the implementation of other SSAUF programmes underway at the university; and Staffing South Africa s Universities Development Programme (SSAU-DP) that cuts across the core programmes and supports teaching and research development needs in each programme. This Frame focuses on the ngap staff to facilitate complementary support from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Department of Science and Technology National Research Foundation (DST-NRF) through the developmental stages of the ngap scholars. Page 3 of 9
The SSAUF initiative aims to appoint 400 ngap scholars per annum, across the Higher Education (HE) sector. On average, each university could be allocated 16 ngap posts per year. The ngap will be structured as follows: A development programme of three year duration, with the possibility of the programme being tailored to meet the needs of individuals; Three year induction after successful completion of the Development Programme; and Continuing permanent employment at the appointing institution thereafter. Table 1 below shows the structured developmental aspects to be covered by the ngap scholars during the six year programme and Table 2 that follows gives a breakdown of the costs that will be borne by the DHET. Table 1. Developmental aspects for ngap scholars over a six-year period Developmental Aspect Employment M / PhD/ Post- Doctoral study Stage 1 Development Programme Stage 2 Induction and early career development Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 [reduced load¹] [reduced load] [reduced load] [increasing load] PhD Possibly still completing [full load] [full load] Mentoring Participation in development activities as part of the SSAU-DP Research Study Equipment International mobility Contribution towards the lecturer s research study costs. The intention is to support one international mobility opportunity, to take place at a point where it will have maximum benefit for the development of the ngap lecturer. Page 4 of 9
Table 2. Categories of funding support for ngap scholars from the DHET Cost Item Salary costs of the ngap appointees Contribution towards registration and tuition fees Costs for mentors Contribution towards participation in the SSAU-DP Costs of equipment e.g. laptops International conference / mobility participation costs¹ TOTAL Maximum % covered by DHET 18% of the total allocation per annum for each of the first three years 14% of the total allocation for year four (university contribution to meet gap) 9% of the total allocation for year five (university contribution to meet gap) 5% of the total allocation for year six (university contribution to meet gap) 2% of the total allocation over the full registration period 4% of the total allocation over the first four-year period 6% of the total allocation over the full programme 5% of the total allocation over the full programme 1% of the total allocation over the full programme 100% = Specific allocated amount for each year The ngap funds will cover the cost of the scholar s salary; contribution towards registration and tuition fees; mentoring; contribution towards participation in the SSAU (Staffing South Africa s Universities) Development Programme; infrastructure and equipment, e.g., laptops; and International conference / mobility. The notable exclusion is research running costs. The DHET and the DST have therefore agreed that the ngap scholars will access funds for research costs and postgraduate training through competitive funding instruments managed by the NRF. Furthermore, the DST-NRF have agreed to make available Research Development Grants for ngap scholars in the first and second year of appointment to enable these young academics to develop and submit applications in funding instruments such as the Thuthuka PhD- and Post-PhD tracks. Research Development Grants for ngap Scholars will be made available from the 2016 academic year and a maximum of 250 ngap scholars will be supported in any given academic year. Page 5 of 9
2. Rationale Through this support for ngap scholars, the DHET and the DST-NRF will provide holistic and complementary support for the career development of next generation scholars focussing on teaching, learning, research and postgraduate supervision. The DHET will provide financial support for the following: Salary costs for ngap scholars; Registration and tuition fees; Mentoring costs; Participation in the SSAU Development Programme (teaching and research development); Equipment, e.g., laptops; and International conference / mobility participation costs The DST-NRF Research Development Grants for ngap Scholars will provide funding for two years to cover the following costs: Proposal development; Research running expenses; and Small research equipment. It is expected that the ngap scholars will focus on developing their research proposal in year one and in year two will submit a Thuthuka grant proposal for research funding to the NRF. These proposals will be subjected to merit review and grant awards will be made on a competitive basis. 3. Objectives In light of the above, the objectives of the grant are to: Accelerate the doctoral level training of ngap scholars in the doctoral track at public universities; Effect a rapid transformation in the demographic composition of the emerging researcher community with respect to gender, race and persons with disabilities through support for ngap scholars in the postdoctoral track; and Provide DST-NRF Research Development Grants for ngap Scholars in the first and second year of appointment to enable these scholars to develop and submit research grant applications aligned to the Thuthuka- PhD- and Post-PhD tracks. Page 6 of 9
4. Allocation Principles Once appointed as a ngap scholar, incumbents will be eligible for consideration for a Research Development Grant for ngap Scholars. This grant funding will be awarded for a maximum of two years. 5. Application Process The NRF call for applications process will apply to this grant, with all applications submitted electronically on the NRF Online Submission System. Applicants will be required to complete a concise application form indicating the activities that will be supported by the Research Development Grant, timelines and a budget breakdown and expected outputs. All documentation related to the call will be obtainable from the NRF website. 5.1. Eligibility To qualify for the grant, applicants must comply with the following eligibility criteria: Applicants must be appointed as ngap scholars at a public university in South Africa; Applicants must be South African citizens or permanent residents; Applicants that hold a valid NRF rating are not eligible to apply; and Applicants who are currently NRF research grantholders are not eligible to apply. 5.2. Approval Process The applications submitted to the NRF will undergo a technical review only to ensure accountability and appropriate utilisation of funds that are released. Approval of the grants will be in accordance with standard NRF grant approvals by senior management. 6. Funding Principles 6.1. Funding Principle: Source of Grant Funding For the 2018/19 financial year projections are based on the assumption that around seventy percent (70%) of the cohort will be in the PhD track and around thirty percent (30%) will be in the Post-PhD track. The funds for the ngap Research Development Grant will be sourced from the Human and Infrastructure Capacity Development (HICD) funding for emerging researchers provided for under the Human Capital Development Funding Agreement NUMBER: DST/CON 0145/2017. Page 7 of 9
6.2. Funding Principle: Institution The number of applications an institution may submit, in any given financial year, is limited to the number of ngap scholars in their first or second year of appointment. 6.3. Funding Principle: Demographics The demographic targets will be in alignment with the approved targets for the ngap, i.e., 80% of the awards must be to black South Africans and/or women. 6.4. Types of Financial Support The grant is intended to fund research costs and/or research proposal development in order to prepare the ngap scholar to apply to the NRF for a competitive research grant that will be subjected to merit review. This grant may not be held concurrently with any NRF research grant. In cases where the DST-NRF Research Development Grant and another NRF research grant are submitted simultaneously and both are successful, then the ngap Research Development Grant will not be awarded. The DST-NRF Research Development Grants for ngap Scholars may be used to cover the following costs: Proposal development; Research running expenses; and Small research equipment. The Research Development Grants for ngap Scholars may not be used to cover the costs provided for by the DHET viz.: Salary costs for ngap scholars; Registration and tuition fees; Mentoring costs; Participation in the SSAU Development Programme; Equipment e.g. laptops; and International conference / mobility participation costs Page 8 of 9
7. Awards and Period of Funding Two types of awards will be provided based on the level of the ngap scholar, namely: An award of R30 000 per annum for two years for ngap scholars in the doctoral track; and An award of R50 000 per annum for two years for ngap scholars in the Post-PhD track. Carry-over of unspent funds will only be permitted under extenuating circumstances, e.g., illhealth, and must be motivated for in writing. The grant will not be transferable to another grantholder. 8. Reporting The NRF will monitor and evaluate the progress of the ngap grantholders at an individual, institutional and funding instrument level as follows: All grantholders are required to submit Progress Reports (PRs) covering performance and financials. The NRF will use these reports to assess project performance against timeframes and deliverables as indicated in the application. Continued funding for year two will be subject to the submission of a PR for the first year of funding and meeting the deliverables for year one. On an ongoing basis, the NRF will undertake institutional visits and focus group discussions which will be conducted at the host institutions; and The funding instrument will undergo an independent evaluation every five years or as agreed by the DST and NRF. Page 9 of 9