NRF Annual Report 2018

PART B: PERFORMANCE
9.2.2 Support multidisciplinary research and
innovation – knowledge development
To facilitate the advancement of existing knowledge and
develop new fields of knowledge, RISA continuously
surveys the research landscape, tracks and analyses
research trends globally, and reviews needs within the
national system. Most of the knowledge-generating funding
instruments within the NRF serve a dual function:
• To generate new knowledge and/or grow the knowledge
base; and
• To train and develop a transformed research cohort.
During the period under review, vulnerable disciplines
received continued support from the NRF, including
FUNDISA (Forum of Nursing Deans in South Africa) to
further academic nursing. A total of R5.8m was awarded for
17 doctoral students and related activities.
Support for mathematics and statistics as a vulnerable
discipline continued through a special R6m NRF grant
for strengthening academic statistics. Working with the
mathematics and statistics community, the NRF established
a mathematical and statistical steering committee to drive
the development of the national virtual Graduate Academy
for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. The R25m
DHET staff development grant has been awarded through
the Faculty of Science, University of Pretoria. The NRF
is also working with the steering committee to develop a
governance and management structure and the terms of
reference of the proposed graduate academy that will also
incorporate the centre for doctoral training.
Impact study: Student tracking and the alumni digital
platform
A tracking study has been initiated to determine the socioeconomic
impact of DST-NRF investments in postgraduate
training. The first iteration of the alumni digital platform has
been developed and is currently undergoing testing and
reconfiguration protocol.
SANTRUST –NRF project produces doctoral
capacity in Nursing
“To address sustainability and capacity in nations
scaling up nurse education and healthcare insurance,
it was recommended that top-up degrees for diploma
educated nurses be developed along with, the
implementation of a national nursing strategy for
PhD and post-doctoral training encompassing clinical
practice implementation and collaboration” Scaling
up nurse education : an evaluation of a national PhD
capacity development programme in South Africa,
in the context of the global shortage of nursing
graduates – Prof Judith Bruce
In response to the need for scaling up nurse education,
specifically to create national PhD capacity in the field,
the Santrust PhD Proposal Development Programmes
were created and funded by Irish Aid, and the NRF.
The programmes consisted of top-up degrees for
diploma educated nurses and post-doctoral training
encompassing clinical practice implementation and
collaboration. The project was launched in 2015, and
provided funding for 52 doctoral students in the field
of nursing, with one candidate leaving the project. To
date, 45 candidates graduated. The remaining seven
are expected to graduate in the next academic year.
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NRF Annual Report 2017/18