Post on 01-Apr-2015
Mapping the crooked path: a journey of discovery
11th Southern African Online Information Meeting (SAOIM)
Glynnis Lawrence & Cyrill Walters
Higher Education Landscape
South Africa’s policy emphasis had focused explicitly on undergraduate levels and first entrants into higher education.
Since 2006/7 that national policies have begun to view the PhD distinctively from other postgraduate degrees (Backhouse 2009).
Government MandatesGreen Paper of January 2012Align the post-school education and training with South Africa’s educational development program2011 university enrolment 899 1202030 mandated university enrolment 1 500 000
PhD GoalsPhD numbers are far too low should increase from 1 200 in 2005 to 6 000 by 2025
PhD frequency
BRICSPopulation per million persons: Brazil 192, Russia 143, India 1210, China 1344, South Africa 50
Estimate GDP in 2011: Brazil at $2.3 trillion; Russia at $1.5 trillion; India at $1.8 trillion; China at $6.5 trillion; South Africa at $379 billion
% GDP spent on R&D in 2006:Brazil (1.04), Russia (1.28), India (0.84), China (1.31%), South Africa (0.74)
South Africa vs. Egypt vs. Nigeria – SA still has the largest economy out of the 3, well developed markets, infrastructure and communication systems, more politically stable, international leadership by being the only African member of G20
University of Cape Town
Strategic goals
1.Internationalising UCT via an Afropolitan Niche 2.Transformation of UCT Towards Non-Racialism - Redress, Diversity, Inclusiveness and the Recognition of African Voices 3.Working Towards a Desired Size and Shape for UCT 4.A Vision for the Development of Research at UCT: Greater Impact, Greater Engagement 5.Enhancing the Quality and Profile of UCT's Graduates 6.Expanding and Enhancing UCT's Contribution to South Africa's Development Challenges
University of Cape TownSize & shape
From 2006 – 2011 PG overall increase of 14% vs 2% in UG
Development of research – some highlights related to other strategic indicatorsNo of PhDs down by 18 (2010)Increase of 13 PhDs from rest of Africa (2010)Decrease of 7 PhDs from rest of the world (2010)Increases in postdocs and research fellows492 academics received some form of support from ERP – 60 joined in
2011 but proportion of black researchers dropped from 42% to 25% - new areas and streams
Development of research – some highlights related to other strategic indicators
Interim eResearch site set up – aim for research portal by end 2012
Establishment of the Research Commons
Much progress in digitisation of resources Appointment of senior scholars augmented capacity and research
Our Response – UCT Libraries and UG Support Services
Library Social Teaching and Learning Space
First Year Experience
Extended Orientation programmes
Extended 4 year degrees
Our Response - PG
SciVal SpotlightTracking publication activity and impact – determining your university’s particular strengths.
UCT research competencies assessed
Largest
Assessing leadership
Collaborating institutions of the University of Cape Town (2006 - 2010)Institution Country Co-authored articlesUniversity of Stellenbosch South Africa 582University of the Witwatersrand South Africa 316South African Medical Research Council South Africa 281University of Oxford United Kingdom 196
University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 183London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
United Kingdom 183
University of the Western Cape South Africa 171Harvard University United States 157University of Pretoria South Africa 144Imperial College London United Kingdom 123
Columbia University United States 123University College London United Kingdom 118
South African Astronomical Observatory South Africa 105Johns Hopkins University United States 98Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (SA)
South Africa 91
University of Cambridge United Kingdom 90
University of Bergen Norway 89University of Toronto Canada 78University of Washington United States 77Medical Research Council United Kingdom 76
Rhodes University South Africa 74University of Copenhagen Denmark 71CNRS France 70University of Sydney Australia 68University of Edinburgh United Kingdom 68
UCT Stellenbosch Co-operation
PG Response
Adobe Connect
Online Q & A
Physical SpacesFlexible, collaborative work spaces. Flexibility in spaces is critical –
research & academic needs changing rapidly.Comfort/Flexibility
Re-structuring of staff
The Traditional Hierarchy
Conclusion• It’s a whole new world out there for us
• Our assertive engagement WILL assist in not only the production of substantive academic research but also assist in its quality
• Our commitment to our institutions goes beyond the ‘job’, research adds value to this country and therefore your commitment is beyond vocation
Reference List• Backhouse, J. 2009. Doctoral education in South Africa: Models, pedagogies and student
experiences. Johannesburg: Unpublished PhD thesis, School of Education, University of theWitwatersrand.
• Blom, R. 2011. The size and shape of private, post-school education and training provision in South Africa: a study for the Department of Higher Education and Training. Centre for Education Policy Development.
• BRIC invite: sign of China's Africa ambition. 2011. Africa Monitor: Southern Africa. 16 (3): 3. Available from EBSCOHost Business Source Premier [2012, April 18].
• BRICS Joint Statistical Publication 2012. http://www.bricsindia.in/publication.html
• Department of Higher Education and Training. 2012. Green Paper for post-school education and training. Department of Higher Education and Training. Republic of South Africa.
• Hall, P. 2011. BRIC to BRICS. Trade Finance. 14 (1): 170. Available from EBSCOHost Business Source Premier [2012, April 18].• Kaplan, D. 2004. South Africa’s national research and development strategy: a review. Science, Technology & Society. 9(2):
273- 294. DOI: 10.1177/097172180400900204.
• Maesaroh, I. and Genoni, P. 2009. Education and continuing professional development for Indonesian academic librarians: a survey. Library Management. 30 (8/9): 524-538. DOI: 10.1108/01435120911006494.
Reference List
• Nevin T. 2011. South Africa vaults into elite BRIC club. African Business. (372): 56-57. Available from EBSCOHost Business Source Premier [2012, April 18].
• Noury, V. 2011. What BRICS membership means to Africa. African Business. (376): 37-39. Available from EBSCOHost Business Source Premier [2012, April 18].
• Schiller, Ben. 2011. Beyond the BRICS. Financial Management. 27-30. Available from EBSCOHost Business Source Premier [2012, April 18].