NRF and the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Renew Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP) Agreement

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is pleased to announce the renewal of its partnership with the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) aimed at deepening transformation in the country’s academic cohort.

The Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP), aimed at supporting the development of Black South African academics and South African academics with disabilities to attain PhDs and acquire Post-PhD training, will continue until 2028 under the renewed agreement.

Established in 2018 under an initial five-year contract, BAAP has supported approximately 347 academics at 26 universities in the completion of their PhDs and in acquiring postdoctoral training. The programme provides funding to applicants or academics seeking financial support for six months, one year and up to three years. The maximum funding per year is R300 000 and R400 000 for PhD and postdoctoral respectively.

BAAP also contributes directly to the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP Vision 2030) target of equipping 75% of university academic staff with a PhD qualification by 2030. A report by the Council on Higher Education revealed that in 2009 only one-third of full-time permanent academic staff held PhD degrees. Furthermore, there was a net decline in the number of full-time university academic staff across all public universities over the same period.

The impact of the low proportion of suitably qualified academic staff increases the burden of supervision for postgraduate supervisors. This burden of supervision, at both the Master’s and PhD levels, increased across all fields of science between 2000 and 2005. At the Masters’ level, the ratio increased from 3.8 to 5.2 students per supervisor; and at the PhD level from 1.3 to 2.2 students per supervisor, over the six-year period.

“The renewal of the funding agreement by the NRF and FREF is a significant step towards supporting black academic emerging researchers in South Africa,”saysDr Gugu Moche, NRF’s Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO): Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA). “This initiative contributes to the diversification of the research landscape and fosters innovation. It is wonderful to see such commitment to the empowerment of under-represented groups in academia.”

Ms Konehali Gugushe, FREF Head of Social Investing, says, “The partnership with the NRF demonstrates our organisation’s commitment to addressinginequality through impactful Public Benefit Activities that promote B-BBEE. Our Quality Education pillar is dedicated to the enhancement of access to higher education; improvement of skills and earning opportunities; and the strengthening of institutional capacity to foster sustainable growth in the education sector.”

“Furthermore, FREF is fully committed to the establishment of strategic partnerships with organisations like the NRF, which leverage their research and innovation capabilities to ensure the continued delivery of high-impact societal interventions. Our partners are essential to realising our shared vision for a better future,” add Ms Gugushe.