1. PhD as Driver
9 February 2005

2. Strategic Context
To transform South Africa into a knowledge society that competes effectively in a global system
Requirements: Highly skilled people in sufficient numbers capable of creating new knowledge and to translate existing knowledge in an innovative way

3. “Health” Indicators of Science, Technology and Innovation Systems
Present
Target
Intervention
HE enrolment in SET
RSA %
Korea %
Australia %
30% by 2012
Create demand pull through significant increase in bursary values
PhD graduates per million of population
RSA
Korea
Australia
45 by 2012
Treble value of doctoral bursaries
Higher Education R&D expenditure as % of GDP
RSA ,07%
OECD Avg. 0.38%
Australia %
0.21 % by 2007
Creation and investment in Centres of Excellence

4. “Health” Indicators of Science, Technology and Innovation Systems
Present
Target
Intervention
R&D staff per million of population
RSA
Korea
Australia
2000 by 2012
Significant increase in Post-docs and research support staff
Patents abroad per million of population
RSA
Korea
Australia
25 by 2012
Develop NRF policy regarding IPR of pub-licly funded research
ISI indexed articles per million of population
RSA
Korea
Australia
220 by 2008
Change in DoE strategy on research output subsidy

5. Quality of life – wealth creation
The Bottom Line
Mandate
Human resource development
Knowledge generation
Focus on
Key driver of change
PhD’s
Knowledge society
Quality of life – wealth creation
Confirm mandate
Focus on key driver of change:
To address needs of nation

6. PhD as Driver Outcome: Where do we wish to get to?
Central thrust to allow us to achieve our goal
Generic statement that captures all facets of the thrust

7. The Key Driver of Change
The key driver for the NRF is the production of large numbers of high quality PhD’s that are required to provide the bedrock for an innovative and entrepreneurial knowledge society.

8. PhD as Driver
PhD not an end in itself – but processes and interventions around the unifying aspect
Independent research skills
to create new knowledge and
ability to innovate
Academic skills level required
to train of next generation
for delivery of post-docs
Critical mass of highly skilled research staff
Throughput in the innovation chain
Quality may not be compromised

9. Doctorates as % of Population
Annual D graduates as % of population
Total pool of doctorates as % of population
South Africa %
0.03%
India %
UK/USA %
2 – 6%
528 undergraduate enrolments produce only 1 PhD!

10. Different scenarios to achieve a pool PhD’s equivalent to 0
Different scenarios to achieve a pool PhD’s equivalent to 0.5% of population by 2024
Incremental intervention: Throughput 1:150, 12% of pop. in HE
Radical intervention: Throughput 1:80, 6% of pop. in HE

11. Radical Intervention Present Required by 2024
R&D Workforce per 1000 of population.
0.5 5
HE Enrolment
PhD throughput / undergraduate enrolment
1/528
1/80
PhD graduates / annum
800
>5 800

12. RISA Requirements to face challenges
Qualitative Targets
Quantitative Targets
Additional Funding
School Pass Rates
Increase Educ FA activity
Role models
3x output of Sc Education Res.
5% of budget for Science Awareness
Rk 6000 Rk
HE Enrollments
Competitive bursary values
Resources from NSF of DoL
Massify M training,
2x value, 3x number
Double budget from DoL Rk Rk
Too few PhDs
Increase value
‘Industry’ PhDs
Intl opportunities
3x value, 2x number
100 p/t bursaries
150 ‘Sandwich’ PhDs Rk
Rk 2 500
Rk 5 000

13. Radical Intervention
6 New Centres of Excellence per R5 million each
20 Chairs per R 3 million each
60% increase in values and substantive increase in numbers of PhD’s and Young S&T Professionals (Post-docs).
Support infrastructure
Requiring additional resources of
Year 1: R310 million
Year 2: R500 million
Year 3: R750 million etc.

14. PhD as Driver Performance Targets as per
2004/05 RISA MTEF Business Plan
Objective
Measure/
output
Target
2004/05
Loner term
target
SUPPORT FOR M & D STUDENTS
NO.& VALUE OF BURSARIES
SAME NO
M: R 20000
D: R 30000
INCREASE VALUES AND NOS BY 10% per annum
IN-SERVICE DOCTORATES
NO ENROLLED
PARTNERSHIPS
ASSESS POTENTIAL
INTERVENTION
EMBEDDING STUDETS
NO OF F/T STUDENTS
HE STAFF ENROLLED FOR M&D
NO OF STAFF-
DEV. GRANTS
INCREASE BY 10%
INSTITUTIONAL MENTORING
NO WHO
BENEFIT
LAUNCH PILOT
ROLL-OUT

15. MTEF Budget Allocation (status quo)
Actual
Projected
R million

16. Student Support provided by RISA (status quo)
Actual
Projected
Number of students
Total amount provided for Student support in 2003/04 = R73 million
Academic Year

17. Student support by race and gender (status quo)
Actual
Projected
Academic Year

18. Present impediments
Inherited system failed to attract new crop of young researchers (esp. black and female) into system, and failing to retain those who enter the system
Present approaches of developing high level research capacity in undirected way is failing to generate right levels and spectrum of capacity
Present NRF’s efforts to stimulate demand through targeted interventions have borne fruit, but not been able to impact meaningfully on number, quality and composition of researchers both in demographic and discipline terms

19. Knowledge Fields Development
To promote new knowledge and research capacity through the stimulation and development of the spectrum of knowledge fields by engaging researchers, as individuals and in their professional and research organizations, with the national research and development challenges.

20. Knowledge Fields Development
Facilitating the advancement of the frontiers of knowledge and expertise
Developing new fields of knowledge
Promoting interaction between researchers
Strengthening scientific and professional organisations
Encouraging networking within and beyond the South African research community
Investigating and analysing research interests, trends and strengths across disciplines
Refining and redefining research calls in the light of the above development incentives

21. Institutional Capacity Development
To significantly enhance the capacity of higher education and other research institutions in South Africa to deliver in numbers and quality the skills required by the national science and innovation system to meet the research and development challenges of an enterprising, innovative and democratic knowledge society.

22. Institutional Capacity Development
Translating the knowledge requirements into institutional capacity for delivery
Investigating and analysing institutional imperatives that impact on capacity to deliver
Facilitating institutional partnerships within and beyond South Africa’s borders
Promotion of staff development initiatives
Facilitating improved throughput rates of students
Addressing equipment needs to meet knowledge and delivery requirements
Refining and redefining research calls in light of the above development incentives

23. GMSA within RISA

24. New Business Development
The purpose of this function will be to lead, facilitate and support the NRF, through its various operations, to secure new business. As such, the directorate will be active in scanning the terrain, creating the environment, exploring opportunities and preparing proposals for the establishment and resourcing of new initiatives as well as improved support and resourcing of existing initiatives

25. New Business Development
• Communication;
• Marketing;
• International relations;
• Industry relations; and
• Government relations.