Below is a reminder to submit nominations for the 2018 SAMRC Merit Awards. Enquiries can also be directed to Dr Maitin: thabi.maitin@mrc.ac.za

NRF Call for Applications
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME 2019
UCT’s internal closing date: 09h00 on Monday 21 May 2018

Please direct all queries to Robyn Udemans (Robyn.Udemans@uct.ac.za).

The Community Engagement Programme is a competitive funding instrument, which provides the space for research that contributes both to knowledge production within the ambit of community engagement (here community is defined in its broadest sense); as well as research on the processes and dynamics of engagement from the perspective of the higher education sector. To further elaborate, the funding instrument is aimed at supporting and providing the enabling conditions for higher education and research institutions to come to grips with some of the philosophical and conceptual challenges associated with the dynamics of community engagement and social responsiveness, as a field of research enquiry.

Key features of the programme:

• Research which contributes to deeper theoretical, philosophical and conceptual orientations of community engagement from a higher education perspective;
• Research which interrogates the complex interplay and processes of engagement; that is, the various ways in which knowledge is produced, assimilated and utilized through interactions and relationships with communities; 
• Case studies, typologies, appreciative inquiry about community engagement and community assessments. 

Key assumptions underpinning the programme:

• The conception, definition or meaning ascribed to the notion of “community” is not universal or pre-determined in the programme; it may be the focus of the project; and will depend on how each project defines it.
• An exploration of community engagement implies that communities (however defined) have roles and agency in a reciprocal set of relations.

ELIGIBILITY

UCT researchers are eligible to apply as the principal investigator, provided that they are:

• Permanent (full-time and part-time) UCT employees

OR

• On contract at UCT, but on condition that their appointment at UCT is for (at least) the duration of the project applied for in the submission.  If the applicant’s contract is not valid for the required period of time then a letter from the Head of Department confirming that the contract will be extended, should the funding be awarded, must be submitted to the Research Office. This letter must be received before the application can be endorsed and submitted to the NRF.

OR

• Retired academics / researchers provided that they meet all set criteria below:
  • Are resident in South Africa;
  • Are formally affiliated to UCT (e.g. appointed as an Emeritus Professor, Honorary Research Associate / Professor)
  • Are active researchers with a distinguished track record in research and postgraduate student supervision;
  • Are actively mentoring / training postgraduate students / young research staff; and
  • A minimum of six months is spent at UCT for the purpose of research and research capacity development.

Applicants must be active researchers or community engagement practitioners.

FUNDING

The Community Engagement grants will be awarded for a period of 3 years (2019 – 2021).

Successful applications will receive funding that accommodates the following budget items:

• Grant holder-linked student support;
• Staff development grants; and
• Research-related operating costs, including:
  • Sabbaticals;
  • Materials and supplies;
  • Travel and subsistence;
  • Research / Technical / Ad hoc assistants; and
  • Research equipment.

It is of the utmost importance that you consult the attached CE framework document for more detailed information about the call. Applications will be scored according to a scorecard (see Annexure 1 on page 16 of the attached framework document).

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION PROCESS

Applications must be submitted through an online application process, via https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za.

• Register / Login using your ID /passport number and password;
• Go to the menu on top left of the screen and hover over ‘My applications’ to click on ‘Create application’
• Click on the plus (+) sign next to ‘Community Engagement Programme 2019’
• Please ensure that you update your student supervision record, research outputs, and other details, as required. This is very important step as the Curriculum Vitae are used in the assessment processes, and incomplete or outdated inputs will disadvantage the application
• Complete the application (compulsory fields and sections are indicated by a red asterisk *)
• Click on the final submit button

Please be advised that the UCT Research Office will not review and provide feedback for any applications which are not submitted by UCT’s internal closing date i.e. Monday 21 May, 2018 at 09h00.

SOUTH AFRICAN SLEEP HEALTH SYMPOSIUM 2018

10 – 11 SEPTEMBER   l   CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Bringing together sleep researchers to improve the sleep of South Africans
Connect ⋅ Communicate ⋅ Collaborate

The South African Sleep Health Symposium 2018 will be hosted by the University of Cape Town and the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Newlands, Cape Town, Monday 10 – Tuesday 11 September 2018. The purpose of the Symposium is to bring together researchers and practitioners with a common interest in sleep and its association with mental and physical health. Specifically, the Symposium will provide a platform for delegates to share their research, identify opportunities for collaboration and strengthen the sleep-research network within South Africa.

CALL FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS:

The 2018 Sleep Health Symposium Programme Committee welcomes your abstract submissions for oral papers, panel presentations, and scientific posters. The submission period is from 1 April 2018 to 15 June 2018. All abstract submissions should use the SA Sleep Health Symposium Abstract template format that can be found at symposium webpage.

We encourage you to forward this correspondence on to your network should you know of anyone with an interest in this research field.

For more information email ssisaevents@ssisa.com or visit www.ssisa.com

SAVE THE DATE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS OPENING 1 MAY 2018 | DEADLINE 16 JULY