Page 104 - UniZulu Annual Report 2020

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
The Research Office has a standing calendar to offer capacity development workshops for postgraduate students and academics (researchers). The programme has, however, been interrupted by student protests early in the year, and subsequently also by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Table 31 provides an overview of training and development activities.
Table 31: Research Office Training and Development Programmes
DATE
NAME
AIM/PURPOSE OF TRAINING
FACILITATOR
TARGET AUDIENCE
13-17 Jan
Research writing retreat (workshop B)
The Research Writing Retreat Programme is designed
to provide support and assistance to novice researchers and aims to assist with presenting research results in a way that encourages swift and efficient publication in an accredited journal. The facilitators also assess critically the presentation of an article for publication from a reviewer’s perspective
Dr. Elisabeth Lickindorf & Dr. Graham Baker
• Novice academics
• Postgraduate students • Supervisors
• Emerging researchers
10-14 Feb
Postgraduate Summer School
This five-day-long workshop is through a partnership with the Human Science Research Council (HSRC). Topics covered range from research design (qualitative and quantitative), spatial analysis, GIS and writing up research work for publication
HSRC
Master’s & PhD students
25 Feb
Understanding and developing your research proposal
The workshop aims to introduce and familiarise postgraduate students to the process of drafting a research proposal and assist postgraduate students in understanding the research proposal process from faculty up to institutional level, higher degrees
Prof. I Kaseeram
All postgraduate students
26 Feb
NRF postgraduate grant application
The grant writing workshop introduces students to the grant application process and enhances their skills in drafting fundable NRF grant proposals. The workshop also teaches and give tips on how to improve grant writing skills and present a sound and fundable grant proposal for the masters and PhD candidates. The workshop also introduces the importance of career planning
Mr Ferdie van der Walt
Postgraduate students intending to register for a master’s or PhD in 2021
27 Feb
NRF rating application
This initiative aims to:
• Increase number NRF rated researchers in the
institution
• Guide and provide support to first-time applicants
and increase the chances of the application being
successful
• Assist researcher who wishes to apply in the near
future to start developing and strengthening research profile
Mr Ferdie van der Walt
• Senior researchers
• Emerging researchers
27 Feb
Thuthuka Grant funding
The workshop targets emerging researchers who wish
to apply for Thuthuka Grant. This programme introduces academics to NRF requirements and assists academics with the application process. Academics also receive a critical review of their applications before final submission
Mr Ferdie van der Walt
Emerging researchers
6 Jul
NRF postgraduate grant application
The workshop aims to:
Give postgraduate students skills on drafting fundable NRF grant proposals. The workshop also teaches and give tips on how to improve grant writing skills and present
a sound and fundable grant proposal for the master’s
and PhD candidates. The workshop also introduces the importance of career planning
NRF
All postgraduate students
15 Jul
NRF policy changes session
The workshop was aimed at introducing academics and supervisors on the NRF- enacted changes regarding the postgraduate grant funding requirements
NRF
• Academics • Supervisors
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