2018 Annual Report

Initiated by the Research and Innovation Strategy Group in 2015 and following a grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the study was commissioned to the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology
(CREST) at Stellenbosch University for implementation during 2017. CREST presented the study findings to USAf in February 2018.

The study identified the following:
- The profile of lecturers and senior lecturers in South Africa’s university system
- The proportion of lecturers and senior lecturers who are research-active; that is, publishing and actively seeking research funding
- Key drivers in South Africa’s public university system that prevented young scholars from progressing towards becoming active researchers
- Key enablers for, and impediments to, building a pipeline of emerging researchers.
Since this study’s findings were published, the sector has had two engagements dedicated to them. The initial feedback meeting was held on 8 March 2018, where Prof Johann Mouton, head of CREST, presented headline findings to senior executives and heads of research in public universities. The latter engaged with and gave inputs to the findings in time for the report to be finalised and submitted to the DST, which had funded the study. Stakeholders next engaged on this issue at the 6th Biennial Research and Innovation Dialogue from 31 May to 1 June. However, the time allocated at the Dialogue alongside other matters proved insufficient to do justice to the issue. It was then decided to dedicate attention to this matter at yet another platform, which would probably take place in 2019. The Emerging Researchers Study did however deliver answers to our desktops. The sector is now sufficiently equipped to identify appropriate strategies to transform and capacitate our institutions for the future.