NRF, FirstRand renew black academics advancement programme

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is pleased to announce the renewal of its partnership with the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) aimed at deepening transformation in the country’s academic cohort.

The Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP), aimed at supporting the development of Black South African academics and South African academics with disabilities to attain PhDs and acquire Post-PhD training, will continue until 2028 under the renewed agreement.

BAAP trackrecord

Established in 2018 under an initial five-year contract, BAAP has supported approximately 347 academics at 26 universities in completing their PhDs and acquiring postdoctoral training.

BAAP details

The programme provides funding to applicants or academics seeking financial support for six months, one year and up to three years. The maximum yearly funding is R300 000 and R400 000 for PhD and postdoctoral, respectively.

BAAP alignment with national plans

BAAP also contributes directly to the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP Vision 2030) target of equipping 75% of university academic staff with a PhD qualification by 2030. The Council on Higher Education report revealed that in 2009, only one-third of full-time permanent academic staff held PhD degrees. Furthermore, there was a net decline in full-time academic staff across all public universities over the same period.

Qualified academic staff statistics

The impact of the low proportion of suitably qualified academic staff increases the burden of supervision for postgraduate supervisors. This burden of supervision, at both the Master’s and PhD levels, increased across all fields of science between 2000 and 2005. At the Master’s level, the ratio increased from 3.8 to 5.2 students per supervisor, and at the PhD level, from 1.3 to 2.2 students per supervisor over the six years.

“The renewal of the funding agreement by the NRF and FREF is a significant step towards supporting black academic emerging researchers in South Africa,” says Dr Gugu Moche, NRF’s Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO): Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA). “This initiative contributes to the diversification of the research landscape and fosters innovation. It is wonderful to see such commitment to empowering under-represented groups in academia.”

Partnership goals

Konehali Gugushe, FREF Head of Social Investing, says: “The partnership with the NRF demonstrates our organisation’s commitment to addressing inequality through impactful Public Benefit Activities that promote BBBEE. Our Quality Education pillar is dedicated to enhancing access to higher education, improving skills and earning opportunities, and strengthening institutional capacity to foster sustainable growth in the education sector.”

“Furthermore, FREF is fully committed to establishing strategic partnerships with organisations like the NRF, which leverage their research and innovation capabilities to ensure the continued delivery of high-impact societal interventions. Our partners are essential to realising our shared vision for a better future,” adds Gugushe.