1. International collaboration and doctoral training opportunities: Graduate academy for mathematical and statistical sciences
Molapo Qhobela, PhD
&
Andrew Kaniki PhD
National Research Foundation
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

2. Emerging Academics/ Early Career Researchers
South African Graduate academy for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
(Admin and governance hub)
Established
Emerging Academics/ Early Career Researchers
Alternative pathways / entry points into the pipeline
Centre for Doct
oral Training
Hons
Masters
Alternative pathways/ entry points into the pipeline c
VARIOUS INTERVENTIONS AND INSTRUMENTS

3. Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation
The Academy
The aim of the academy is to enhance the production of a large number of high quality mathematical and statistical scientists by taking numbers of honours/undergraduate students into masters cohorts through the doctorate, into the emerging/early career researchers/academics and consequently, to established academics. The academy will:
complement the mandate of the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Mathematics and Statistics (CoE–MaSS) and will be associated with and closely linked to the centre;
be a collaborative virtual entity, voluntary membership of HEIs with an administrative hub preferably located at a neutral non-higher education institution;
not enrol students for qualification purposes; and
coordinate, organize, and in some cases run various interventions and programmes.
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

4. Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation
Mission
To pool existing expertise and take advantage of international networks and partnerships to produce the next generation of mathematicians and statisticians with the breadth and depth of knowledge of contemporary developments in mathematical and statistical sciences and with the advanced quantitative skills that will enable them to contribute to the advancement of new knowledge and make meaningful contributions in academia, public and private sectors and non-governmental organisations.
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

5. Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation
Vision
The Vision of the National Graduate Academy is diverse, locally and internationally connected South African mathematical and statistical sciences communities: diverse in terms of spectrum of sub-disciplines covered, diversity of ideas, advanced machinery and techniques deployed to solve problems and the range of research questions pursued, from fundamental questions and new theories to diversity of applications.
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

6. Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation
Objectives
Create a platform that would leverage new and additional resources to support mathematical and statistical sciences in South Africa;
Encourage collaboration and pool expertise to offer postgraduate programmes that individual institutions cannot (sustainably) offer on their own;
Provide a platform for graduate students and young academics to network with peers and experts outside their institutions;
Systematic identification and support for sub-disciplines that may be at risk or are strategically important; and
Promote the unity of the mathematical and statistical sciences.
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7. Possible Programmes/Interventions
Education and training: Ms and Ds
Staff Development: academics attainment of Ms and Ds
Research Training Networks;
Research Career Development;
New Trends and Future Directions;
Partnerships and networking; and
Mathematicians and Statisticians for the National System of Innovation.
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

8. Advancing Knowlege, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation
Form and types
SA/UK Collaboration:
Centre For Doctoral Training (CDT)
Establishing a South Africa CDT/collaboration
Identify a relevant/effective model
Bring together SA providers
Frame priorities for domestic collaboration
‘Training the trainers’
‘Soft’ mechanisms – building in support across the system
UUK offer: virtual advisory group
Advancing Knowlege, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

9. Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation
Form and types cont’d
UUK offered to articulate options with USAf and disseminate to UK sector
Reciprocity is key to building partnerships
Staff Exchange
Co-supervision/sandwich doctoral – SA students registered at their local institutions
Linkages and collaboration to be pursued with:
University of Warwick – primarily Mathematics
Lancaster University – primarily Statistics
University College London – Big Data
Alan Turing Institute – which includes five (5) University partners
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

10. Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation
Form and types cont’d
British Council – Newton fund: doctoral and postdoctoral support
Mobility grants between researchers and academics that may result in joint projects
Support for early career/emerging researchers/academics to network and collaborative work
Post-doctoral support for shorter and longer periods, taking cognizance that female researchers/ academics may not be able to stay away from family for long periods of time
Attract UK Postdoctoral fellows particularly in those areas that South Africa has a scientific geographic advantage like:
Biodiversity
Communicable Diseases
Food Security (we may want to bring the Agricultural Research Council on board)
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11. The Academy: structure and governance
Steering Committee
Statistics Academic/Programme Committee
Intervention 1
Academic Statistics in Crisis
Intevention 2
TDG
Intervension 3
????
Mathematics Academic/ Programme Committee
Project 1
Project 2
Administrative
Hub
TDG: Teaching Development Grant – Funding from DHET; Funding Managed by University of Pretoria
Academic Statistics: Funding from the NRF, Administered by University of Stellenbosch with collective decisions on activities by HODs of Statistics Departments
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

12. The Academy: structure and governance
Steering Committee = NRF representatives + SASA President +SAMS President+ representative from STA Academic Com + representative from MAM Academic Com + Administrative Director (at Hub)
The role of the Steering Committee is governance and oversight of all the activities of the Academy. As such, it will be responsible for ensuring that the Academy meets its objectives of serving the mathematical and statistical sciences communities and the South African university sector. It will draw up proposals for the short- and mid-term objectives of the academy.
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

13. The Academy: structure and governance
Academic/Programme Committees = HOD’s or representatives (one for STA and one for MAM)
Responsible for academic interventions, plus identification of problem areas and possible solutions to be presented to Steering Committee
Administrative Hub
Responsible for joint oversight, administrative task related to interventions, administration and disbursement of funds.
The Role of the NRF:
Provide support as per (NRF) mandate and as agreed.
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation

14. Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation
Enkosi, Thank you, Re a leboga, Siyabonga, Dankie
Dr Andrew Kaniki
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives, Inspiring a Nation