1. Impact of CIRCLE Fellowship on my Career Development
Amon Taruvinga (Ph.D)
Associate Professor Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Fort Hare, Faculty of Science & Agriculture, South Africa
Developing the Capacity of Early Career Researchers, USAf-ACU Joint Symposium,
University of Johannesburg, Monday 18th – Tuesday 19th March 2019

2. Presentation Overview
Background information
home and host institutions
Pre-departure workshops
Post fellowship workshops
Impact on my career development
Publications, conferences, student supervision
Research grants, research uptake (community engagement)
Collaborations, promotions
Concluding Remarks

3. Background Information
Home and Host Institutions
University of Fort Hare (UFH):
Home mentor: Dr Z. Zhou
PhD in Geography
University of Cape Town (UCT):
Host supervisor: Prof M. Visser
PhD in Economics
Social support
Technical support

4. Workshops Pre – departure workshop 1 x AAS Nairobi, Kenya
During following workshops
2 x UCT Cape Town, SA
Post fellowship workshops
1 x AAS Nairobi, Kenya

5. Impact on journal publications

6. Impact on international conference
China
Dubai
Turkey
USA
Japan
Singapore
Dubai
Singapore
USA
Brazil
Italy

7. Impact on post graduate supervision

8. Impact on research grants

9. Impact on research uptake

10. Impact on research collaborations
University of Fort Hare in collaboration with Community Technology Development Organisation – Zimbabwe
Joint research project:
Mobile veld fire detection and sharing system for Zimbabwe
Research funding history:
NRF - R30, 000 (period: 2015)
CIRCLE - R50, 000 (period: 2016)
Looking for funding to upscale the system

11. Joint research project:
University of Fort Hare in collaboration with Namibia University of Science and Technology
Joint research project:
Mobile veld fire detection and sharing system for southern Africa
Research funding history:
UFH (GMRDC) – R50,000 (period: 2016)
NRF & NCRST – R1,2 million (period: 2017 – 2019)

12. Joint research project:
University of Fort Hare in collaboration with EMU University College, Kenya
Joint research project:
Web and mobile early warning, malaria detection, monitoring and sharing platform
Research funding history:
NRF – R30, 000 (period: 2016)
Looking for funding to pilot test the prototype, and upscale the system

13. Joint research project:
University of Fort Hare in collaboration with Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR)
Joint research project:
Eastern Cape Agricultural baseline survey (online open access portal)
Research funding history:
DRDAR - R3.1 million (period: 2016 – 2018)
Looking for funding to develop Eastern Cape Agricultural Development Plan

14. Impact on academic promotions
As Prof
SNL
CVF
Lect
P Doc
PhD
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

15. Concluding Remarks CIRCLE Fellowship:
Changed my mind set
Enhanced my publication skills
Enhanced my career development
Enhanced my research & community approach
Funds permitting replication of a similar program targeting southern African researchers would be an inter-generational investment with multiple ripple effects

16. Thank You