Vol 1 - Support Services Ufs Ac Za - University of the Free State

PostgraduateStudent SupportPhD: A Key Driver was recently underlined by theNRFs SA PhD Project, a major campaign aimed atincreasing the number of South African PhDsfive-fold by 2025.With these national and institutional aims inmind, the DRD initiated the process to establish thePostgraduate Student Support Office in 2005. TheUniversity approved this initiative in 2007 andrecommendations aimed at the improvement ofpostgraduate training at the University are currentlybeing developed.The primary purpose of the Postgraduate StudentSupport Office will be to provide coordinationand support services to post graduate students andpostdoctoral fellows, as well as academic staffacross the University. The Office will foster anenabling, inclusive and supportive environment forall spheres of postgraduate study – teaching, learning,research and scholarship – and will strive toengage students in the vibrant worklife of aresearch-oriented University. Some of its main aimswill be to increase Masters and Doctoral studentthroughput, to increase the scholarly publication ofpostgraduate research, and to ensure the productionof high-quality post graduates.The establishment of the Office as part of theDRD provides it with the necessary linkages to otherresearch-related structures, including the InternationalisationOffice and the Strategic AcademicClusters. It also ensures open access to the vitalresearch administration functions of the Directorate.This is particularly relevant in terms of the identificationof sources of funding for postgraduateDr Annelize Venter, interim Coordinator of the PostgraduateStudent Support Office.students. The Office will take a leading role in thisregard by making funding information readilyavailable, assisting students in obtaining funding,and facilitating and leading fund raising initiativesfor postgraduate bursaries and scholarships. It willalso provide other targeted information services,including a single database of post graduate61