Opportunity: Systems Analysis UK-South Africa
Call for UK PhD co-supervisors and participation in PhD Capacity Development programme in South Africa
The South African National Planning Commission has set a target of a threefold increase in doctoral graduates by 2030, and an annual target of 5000 doctoral graduates per annum for the South African higher education system. While increasing the output of PhD’s is a major priority, South Africa also faces the added challenge of a lack of PhD supervisory capacity. In order to address these twin challenges the British Council, under the Newton Fund, has partnered with the National Research Foundation to support and expand its SASAC (Southern African Systems Analysis Centre)/ IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) PhD programme. Support for the programme includes supporting collaboration between South African leading and established researchers in Systems Analysis with British leading and established researchers in Systems Analysis in order to co-supervise a cohort of 10 PhD scholars registered at a South African institution and for researchers to participate in training and development workshops in South Africa.
In order to facilitate this research collaboration (institutional link) and support of South African early career researchers, a grant is offered to cover the time for UK Researchers to support 2 PhD students at each UK institution (10 PhD scholars in total). The grant is calculated at a rate of £500 per day for a maximum of 35 days for co-supervision. This is inclusive of all time spent on the programme, namely, in-country capacity building workshops, face to face visits and remote support (e.g via skype, email or other forms of supervisory support).
The UK researchers are asked to establish a link with a South African leading and established researcher in Systems Analysis and to establish an agreement (in principle) regarding the proposed PhD candidate’s co-supervision and mobility arrangements to the UK. Links can be facilitated by contacting Universities UK International and expressing your interest in partnering with a South African leading and established researcher in Systems Analysis.
Once a partnership has been established, the UK researcher will be expected to provide the incoming PhD candidate with a letter of support from the UK host institution which reflects a commitment to co-supervision as well as a draft supervision plan for mobility visits/ outline of proposed PhD study. This is a requirement for the PhD scholar’s application via the NRF application system.
Each UK researcher is expected to co-supervise at least 2 South African PhD scholars and to work closely with their South African supervisors. The PhD scholars will receive funding to support 2 research visits to the UK institution, each of 6 weeks duration, to be distributed over the course of the 3 years. The remainder of the co-supervision should take place remotely. Additional face to face time will also be possible during times in the programme where the UK researcher is invited to participate in training workshops in South Africa.
In addition, the UK researchers will be expected to:
· Contribute to and participate in a 3 week capacity building programme which usually takes place in May annually.
· To spend a minimum of 10 days in South Africa at the start of the SA students PhD scholarship period
· One UK leading and established researcher in Systems Analysis will be asked to participate in the review process for applications from South African students for the PhD scholarship. This is not expected to require more than 4 hours of input.
A background document explaining the context of the South Africa PhD call is included in Annexure A
The PhD call document, which opened in South Africa, is attached in Annexure B
Should you be interested in establishing a research link with a South African researcher working in a similar area and using a Systems Analysis methodology, please contact Universities UK International (UUKi) by emailing
Annexure A
Background to the SASAC PhD Programme in South Africa
The Southern African Systems Analysis Centre (SASAC) is a consortium of South African higher education institutions working together to deliver a 3 year PhD capacity development programme. The Consortium is led by one Director and three Deputy Directors – one each from the individual host institutions.
· The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is the lead contributor and is primarily responsible for the administrative component of the project
· Stellenbosch University (SU)
· Wits University
· University of Limpopo (UL)
The programme is structured as follows:
Three-year Systems Analysis Bursary Programme for South African students (hereafter referred to as “the Scholarships component”) who are registered for new PhD studies at a South African university. Students are required to have a supervisor who is recognised as an expert in systems analysis methodology. 30 PhD scholarships are available. A co-supervisor from IIASA/ the UK or an IIASA alumnus is considered preferential. For 10 of the 30 awarded scholarships, a UK co-supervisor is an essential requirement. In light of the specialised nature of systems analysis, the timeframe for implementation and the imperative of ensuring that systems analysis methodologies are entrenched in the system, the call for PhD scholarships is conducted through a targeted headhunting approach to awarding the bursaries – rather than issuing an open call. Academics that are recognised experts in systems analysis from institutions across South Africa will be approached to nominate 2-3 high potential students (see annexure for call document). The 30 bursary holders will be selected from this pool. As systems analysis approaches become more institutionalised within the system an open call system can be considered in the future.
b) Two-month Systems Analysis Capacity Development Programme (hereafter referred to as the “Capacity Development component”) for students in the early stages of their PhD studies. The programme will be hosted during May-July at one or more of the collaborating host institutions on an annual basis. Students accepted into the Capacity Development component must be conducting research supported by a systems analysis related methodology focussed broadly on addressing the DST Grand Challenges. The group of students participating in this component will include the ten students who have received bursaries, but will also include other students from South African institutions, Southern Africa and students from other NMO countries. Students who participate in the two-month capacity development programme will ideally be supported by a South African supervisor and a supervisor from IIASA/ UK or an alumnus of IIASA (during the programme, not necessarily for the entire duration of their studies). Supervisors will spend a minimum of ten days in South Africa on site with the students at the beginning of the programme. UWC and SU will collaborate and share responsibility for hosting the two-month capacity development intervention for the three-year period.
May – June: UWC based component
PhD students will spend the first three weeks of the programme at UWC. During this initial period, the supervisors will be expected to spend the first 10 days of the programme on campus with the students. The programme will kick start with a series of high level keynote lectures by internationally recognised scholars in systems analysis who will address critical issues in the field such as vulnerability and risk, and demography. These lectures will set the tone for an intensive academic programme of the highest standards. During the two months the students will participate in capacity development workshops, and have time to engage substantively with their supervisors to plan their research. Time for writing and reflection is planned for students to appropriately conceptualise their research in preparation for the remainder of the programme and their PhD study.
June – July: SU based component
PhD students will spend five weeks of the programme on the SU campus. During this period they will have time for writing, reflection and communication with their supervisors, and will participate in structured capacity development courses.
Students in the programme will spend three out of the five weeks participating in targeted capacity development courses offered by the ADA. These capacity development initiatives will include generic topics3 (including how to plan your PhD research, scientific writing for the dissertation, writing and publishing during the doctorate, communicating with stakeholders and the media, translating research into policy and practice etc.), research skills development (SPSS analysis, Atlas.ti), and courses specifically related to systems analysis methodologies. The participation in the ADA courses will expose students to a diversity of disciplines and cultures which will serve to broaden their thinking and consider diverse perspectives in research.
17 July – 22 July: Writing retreat
Students will spend the final week of the programme at a writing retreat hosted at a quiet, picturesque location in the Western Cape. Experts from the SU Writing Lab, and experienced writing coaches (such as Dr Ruth Albertyn4) will be engaged to assist students during this week. Supervisors will be invited to join the student group again during this period to provide discipline specific and technical inputs into the students’ proposals. The retreat will culminate with students doing speed presentations of their proposed research for input and discussion.
c) High level Systems Analysis Capacity Strengthening Program (hereafter referred to as the “Capacity Strengthening component”) will be a three week intensive initiative that will be held at one or more of the collaborating host institutions. The programme will target postdoctoral fellows, early career academics and supervisors from South Africa, Southern Africa, the UK and other NMO countries. A target of 30 participants per annum is anticipated. The programme will include high level lectures and capacity development workshops related to systems analysis capacity strengthening. The intention is to create a virtuous, reinforcing cycle between the Capacity Development and Capacity Strengthening components which will contribute to the establishment of a network of well capacitated researchers in the South African higher education system. Wits in collaboration with UL will share responsibility for hosting the three-week capacity strengthening intervention for the three-year period.
The Capacity Strengthening component of SASAC will be hosted by Wits and the University of Limpopo for the three year period during September/October. Participants in the programme will be exposed to high level inputs of an academic nature to strengthen their systems analysis capacities. As return on investment, and to promote scholarship based on systems analysis methodologies, participants in the programme will be expected to produce a publishable article within one year of their participation in the programme.
The three week programme will include keynote presentations by internationally recognised, high profile scholars working in systems analysis methodologies. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a capacity development workshop and have adequate time to engage in conceptualisation, writing and reflection.
A field trip to the Wits Rural Facility will be a highlight of the programme where participants will have the opportunity to be exposed to working with systems in conservation planning and public health policy. Participants will visit Agincourt, which has the most comprehensive and longest dataset of health and policies. One day during the field trip will be dedicated to engaging with social development issues.
Annexure B
Call information: Systems Analysis- South Africa PhD Scholarship Programme
Background
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) have taken a strategic decision to continue investing in and expanding activities in developing systems analysis. This type of research will play a pivotal role in solving global challenges and contributing to development. In collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Newton Fund (UK) – a component of which is managed by the British Council – the NRF is pleased to announce the third call for a three-year Doctoral scholarship in any field, but with a Systems Analysis methodology and approach being applied to the research topic. All academics or researchers based at public universities and research institutions with the requisite expertise who wish to supervise doctoral students in 2018 are invited to submit applications.
South Africa, through the NRF, became a member of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in 2007. A range of research and capacity building activities have been developed by South African research partners and IIASA. The Southern African Systems Analysis Centre (SASAC) was officially launched by the Minister of Science and Technology in May 2016. The SASAC initiative follows on the Southern African Young Scientists Summer Programme (SA-YSSP) that was launched in November 2011. SASAC is a multi-year initiative coordinated by the University of the Western Cape, in partnership with the Universities of Limpopo the Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch. This initiative takes cognisance of the need for additional and multi-level systems analysis capacity interventions, and a comprehensive approach to policy related activities in South- and Southern Africa. SASAC offers dedicated three-year scholarships for South African and African PhD students based at a South African university to complete their studies with a supervisor from South Africa experienced in systems analysis, in collaboration with a co-supervisor from a Southern African or UK-based institution associated with IIASA.
SASAC PhD Programme Objective
The aim of the SASAC PhD programme is to provide an opportunity for excellent young doctoral students to advance their research under the direct supervision of senior scientists from South African and UK-based research and higher education institutions and IIASA, and at the same time contribute to IIASA’s on-going scientific agenda and to the DST’s strategic research agenda of the DST’s grand challenges as expressed in the ‘10 Year Innovation Plan. The SASAC PhD curriculum will provide young and emerging researchers with the following benefits:
§ A three-year scholarship for 20 South African citizens and 10 African PhD students based at South African universities.
§ 10 of these scholarships will be awarded to students being co-supervised by a UK research or higher education institution, including mobility grants to support collaboration on the PhD study.
§ A capacity development intervention during the early stage of their PhD studies.
§ Supervision by experienced South African/African and IIASA/UK scientists/alumni, as well as contributing to collaborative research by the supervising senior scientists.