NRF Funding Opportunities
Sabbatical Processes Workshop (UP)
12 June 2017
Melissa Govender
GMSA: Emerging Researchers
NRF
• promote and support research
through funding, human resource development
and the provision of the necessary facilities in
order
• to facilitate the creation of knowledge,
innovation and development in all fields of
research, including indigenous knowledge,
• and thereby to contribute to the improvement of
the quality of life of all the people of the
Republic.
GMSA
• Grants Management and Systems Administration
– Emerging Researchers
– Established Researchers
– Strategic Investments
• Total budget = R2 billion
• Processes
– Pre-award
– Award
– Post-award
Emerging Researchers Programme
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Fund next generation and emerging researchers
Budget = R900 million
Total no. grantholders = 10 000
Duration
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*Funding period is based on the date of initial
Honours = 1 year
registration for the degree (H,M&D) or commencement
Master’s = 2 years
of research (postdocs).
Doctoral = 3 years
Post-Doctoral = 2 years (unless specified by programme)
• Types of grants
• Free-standing grants (Individual grants where applicants are grantholders)
• Block grants (Funds given as a lump sum to the grant-holder who
distributes according to set NRF guidelines)
• Grantholder-linked (Researcher is given funds and can nominate
students under his/her grant)
NRF Funding Instruments
Free-standing Grants
Block Grants
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• Honours and Master’s
Block Grants
• Professional Development
Programme (PDP)
• Collaborative Postgraduate
Training Programme
Innovation Fund Scholarships
Scarce Skills Scholarships
NRF Free-standing Scholarships
DAAD-NRF In-Country Master’s and Doctoral Scholarships
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Fellowships
Desmond Tutu Doctoral Scholarships
Green Economy Doctoral & Post-Doctoral
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Programme
Early Career Researchers from the UK
Research Career Awards (RCA)
SANCOR
Waste RDI
nGAP
Extension Scholarships for Master’s and Doctoral
Staff Development Grants:
• Thuthuka
• Sabbatical Grants
• Part-time Doctoral Scholarships
• Travel Grants
Sabbatical Grants to Complete
Doctoral Degrees
Sabbatical Grants
• Academic staff to complete doctoral degrees
in any field of study
• Special intervention aimed at addressing:
– the decline in the number of full- time university
academic staff with doctoral degrees and
– the inadequate supervisory capacity
Level
Value
Doctoral
R100 000 for 6 months
R200 000 for 12 months
Eligibility
• Applicants must be full-time academic
employees, in public universities in South Africa,
engaged in research in any discipline and,
registered in a doctoral program
• Applicants must be South African citizens
• Applicants will be expected to have no teachingrelated duties assigned to them during the six or
twelve month period of the sabbatical
• Sabbatical must start between January and
September of the year of award
Selection Criteria
• The research project must be registered with an accredited
institution;
• The application must include a project plan which outlines the
following:
– The Project Organisation (Progress to date, Project team members,
roles and responsibilities of each member, tasks assigned to each
member);
– Project schedule/Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) with the work
divided into manageable activities linked to specific time-bound
outcomes; and
– Project budget (listing activities, costs and motivation towards
efficient use of resources).
• Applicants should be close to completion at the point of
application; and
• Applicants must intend to complete the dissertation write-up during
the six or twelve month sabbatical period.
Financials
• The grant is intended to fund two distinct cost
drivers:
– lecturer replacement costs; and
– costs related to completing the dissertation writeup
20%
80%
LR
RC
Carry Forwards
• Sabbatical grants awarded in a calendar year
• Carry forward
– Only considered under extenuating circumstances
– Motivation required
– Automatic if >60% spent
Reporting
• Final report
• Proof of submission of thesis (within 1 year)
http://www.nrf.ac.za/nrf_funded_thesis_dissertation_requirements
Call Process
Call advertised
Eligible applications
sent to Reviews
and Evaluations
(RE)
Applications
reviewed by
external experts
Applications online
GMSA screens
(eligibility and
application
requirements)
Funding decisions
Submitted to NRF
for review
Call closed
Awards made
Call advertised
±6 months
Awards made
Sabbatical Proposals: Screening Checklist
1. Supervisor’s recommendation
Check application for
completeness
If yes
2. Proof of duration of full-time,
permanent or fixed-term
contract employment
If yes
No
No
REJECT
Reject: basic responses
1. Application is incomplete
2. No supervisor recommendation attached.
3. Proof of duration of employment not
attached.
Accept
Accept: basic responses
1. Application is complete
2. Supervisor recommendation attached.
3. Proof of duration of employment attached.
Scorecard for the Evaluation of Proposals
Section 1: Work plan for completion of doctoral studies
Section 2: Research Outputs
Call Process
Call advertised
Eligible applications
sent to Reviews
and Evaluations
(RE)
Applications
reviewed by
external experts
Applications online
GMSA screens
(eligibility and
application
requirements)
Funding decisions
Submitted to NRF
for review
Call closed
Awards made
Call advertised
±6 months
Awards made
Funding Decisions
• Applications score
• Targets
– 80% Black (Black, Indian, Coloured)
– 55% Female
– 4% Persons with disabilities
• Institution spread
• Budget
Award and Post-Award Process
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Successful list published
Grants created on system
Award notifications
Grantholder to sign Conditions of Grant (CoG)
Designated Authority uploads to system
– Signed CoG
– Proof of Registration
• Release funds
Online Application Process
https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za
Framework
Application and
Funding Guide
• Degree to be Funded section
*Please indicate your Running Costs individually
Details of Research section – Page 22
Details of Research section – Page 22
• Rationale and Literature Review
– Please provide a brief description of the doctoral study.
• Aims and Objectives
– Please provide an indication of the progress achieved thus far against the aim
(s) and set objectives of the doctoral study (maximum one page). This should
be divided into the relevant years, providing the following information per
year:
• Research objectives according to work plan
• Achievements
• Reasons for non-achievement, if applicable
• Methodology and Proposed Research Plan
– This section is divided into Aim(s), Objectives, Activities and Expected Outputs.
– Each Aim should have Objectives linked to it with relevant activities, a
workplan, timelines, team members and expected outputs.
– These objectives should substantiate the requested budget.
– The research aim(s) and objective(s) should relate directly to the research
project and not to capacity or human resource development aim(s).
Thank you!
UP Grants Office
Contact person: Ninette Mouton
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 012 420 3528