Dear UCT PhD and Masters Students,

UCT, in partnership with the University of Montpellier, is offering access to a database of international PhD funding opportunities via the YEBO! Project.  The YEBO! Project is a capacity-building project on the internationalisation of doctoral studies in South Africa.  It was launched in 2017 and will end in November 2020, with the aim to:

• achieve the improvement of the skills of South-African universities concerning the internationalization of PhD Studies;
• facilitate access to information concerning funding, mobility, and administrative procedures of PhD programs;
• increase PhD students and staff trained in the internationalization of the PhD studies;
• promote the internationalization of PhD studies in South Africa and Europe.

UCT has 1,000 licences available to the YEBO! Project platform called Open4Research.  These will be assigned on a first come, first served basis, so if you are interested, we encourage you to register as soon as possible.  To do so, click on OPEN4YEBO and complete the required fields to secure your licence and access the database of funding opportunities.  Please note – you must use your “myuct” or “uct” email address domain to register.  Should you have any questions regarding the registration process, you are welcome to contact Amanda Bessick at amanda.bessick@uct.ac.za.

NB: Enquiries regarding individual funding opportunities available on the Open4Research platform must be directed to the appropriate contact person/people listed under that specific opportunity.

HARRY OPPENHEIMER FELLOWSHIP AWARD 2019

Proposals may be submitted directly to the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (deadline: 25 October 2019, see contact details in the enclosed PDF call)

OR

should advice and editorial support in preparing nominations be preferred, via the UCT Research Office (revised internal deadline: 1 October 2019), send all documentation except for referee reports to Mbasa.Mguye@uct.ac.za

This Award focuses unambiguously on excellence and exceptional scholarship. It is granted to candidates of the highest calibre to enable them to undertake a programme of cutting edge, internationally significant work. The Award carries a monetary value of R1.5 million.

THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• The Award seeks to attract world-class candidates with visionary ideas based on an exceptionally well-developed grasp of a field or topic;
• It is intended to enable scholars based in South Africa to undertake a programme of work that will ‘build the academy’ and contribute richly to intellectual life;
• It aims to strengthen relationships and partnerships between local and international institutions and the Trust.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The Trust will consider candidates who meet the following criteria:

• UCT researchers who are South African residents;
• Outstanding achievers who are very well established in their field;
• Leading international scholars with many years of advanced research and a track record of sustained intellectual effort;
• Present a submission that describes a clearly focused and specific project that offers a ‘visionary idea’ that represents a paradigm shift in current thinking, seeks to make important discoveries and contribute significantly to new knowledge;
• Demonstrate a commitment to transferring skills and building capacity in South Africa.

Previous applicants or short-listed candidates are eligible to apply.

Special consideration will also be given to the following points:

·       The value of the proposed work: its particular application to teaching, research and development in South Africa; its potential to push the frontiers of knowledge in the given field or area of interest; its contribution to the advancement or application of knowledge in the service of society;

·       The coherence and practicability of the proposed programme and its feasibility within the limit set for the Award and the given timeframe of approximately one year;

·       The candidate’s proven achievement and the ability to profit from the use of the Award.

• By proven achievement the Trust would be looking for candidates who have inter alia: attracted research funding on a competitive basis; published peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals or scholarly books through high-profile publishers; successfully supervised graduate students to completion; and secured invitations to, and seats on, international bodies and institutions

REQUIRED SUBMISSIONS

Written submissions must be supported by the following information:

·     An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (not exceeding 6 pages);

·     A complete list of publications (by way of an annexure);

·     A brief synopsis in lay terms (2 to 3 A4 pages) of the work to be undertaken, with a  written motivation explaining the reasons for the work;

·     Details of the proposed work programme, including estimated timeframes and budgetary costs (specifying the major components of the budget and associated expenses within the limit set and based on realistic needs) and commentary on the envisaged outputs and outcomes;

• Referee reports from at least four highly-placed referees of international standing who are familiar with the candidate's work. Referees should be properly briefed about the nature of the Award and its significance so that their remarks are directed appropriately. The reports must be submitted under separate and confidential cover directly to the Trust at CDigby@omt.org.za. 

NOMINATIONS & SELECTION PROCESS

• Incomplete submissions will not be considered by the Trust.
• Only the complete and eligible applications will receive the required institutional endorsement for submission to the Trust.
• The Trust will engage in a formal selection process and no correspondence on its decision will be entered into.
• Short-listed candidates or finalists should be available for interviews late January / early February 2020.

PAYMENT AND REPORTING

Funds will be disbursed in two instalments – an initial payment in advance and the second at the half-way stage, on submission of a progress report to the Trust. The Fellow will be required to submit a reflective report (including commentary on the impact of the work) to the Trust within six months of completion of the programme and undertake to deliver a public lecture on the work.