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HSRC Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology. 18 March 2003. Context: National R&D Strategy. Doubling government investment in Science and Technology over the next 3 to 6 years HSRC – a science council both reporting to and funded by DST
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HSRC Presentation to Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology 18 March 2003
Context: National R&D Strategy • Doubling government investment in Science and Technology over the next 3 to 6 years • HSRC – a science council both reporting to and funded by DST • Ten science councils covered in Vote 18… • … articulated by the new R&D strategy, especially the five technology missions
400000 350000 300000 250000 2002/03 200000 R '000 2003/04 150000 100000 50000 0 NRF MRC CGS CSIR ARC FEST AISA HSRC SABS MINTEK Average Summary of allocation toScience Councils2002/03 to 2003/04
The HSRC… • Amongst the group of small parliamentary grantees • At average level in recent growth of core Parliamentary grant • Above average performance in terms of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)? • Other DST funding for projects, e.g. HRD, R&D survey, possibly technology for poverty reduction
Financial overview: current situation and 2003/04 plan, in Rm R48m of the targeted R95m research earnings (R90m + R5m ring-fenced)for 2003/04 are already signed up
COUPE strategy Contracts Outreach Users Performance Excellence
Selected Key Performance Indicators End-2002/03 target % End-2001/02 performance % Jan. 2003 performance % End-2000/01 performance % Contracts & grants:research earnings as a proportion of total research income 21 31 53 42 Outreach:proportion of projects with external researcher participation 22 61 52 60 User-orientation:proportion of successful competitive submissions 24 32 32 34 Performance (equity):proportion of black researchers 40 45 47 54 Performance (efficiency):proportion of researchers in total staff 30 52 56 60 Excellence:proportion of researchers publishing a refereed journal article 23 25 50 50
WK Kellogg Foundation Ford Foundation Nelson Mandela Children’s fund DFID JET Wellcome Trust USAID, via RTI Swiss Development Co-operation Ford Foundation DST Largest 10 projects:contracted external income 2002/03, Rm
Selected research impacts - 1 • ATEE:Increased and better targeted support to Maths and Science education in schools, following the release and dissemination of findings from the TIMSS project • CYFD:Policy uptake of empirical and indicator research into Social Development policy, e.g. on the extension of child care grants, family policy, disability • D&G:Election Task Team recommendations of viable election models drawing on HSRC-coordinated surveys and comparative studies • EEPR:Analysis of employment-related databases informing planning and priority-setting in several sector education and training authorities (SETAs)
Selected research impacts - 2 • EPR: Policy-relevant recommendations and advice to improve the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework and new curriculum in schools • KM:Internationally prescribed survey of human and material resources available and required for research and development in South Africa • SAMM:The introduction of a geo-referenced master sample allowing repeat-visit surveys for monitoring and tracking policy impact, commencing with HIV/AIDS survey • SCI:Pioneering consideration of the import of the international Human Genome initiative for Africa, embracing ethical, legal and educational dimensions
Selected research impacts - 3 • SAHA:Path-breaking findings from the Nelson Mandela/HSRC study on HIV/AIDS presented to Cabinet Ministers, Departments, portfolio committees and the media • HRD:Study of factors affecting choices of Grade 12 learners regarding tertiary education signalled perceptions relevant to the national plan for higher education • IRRD:Research with key players in the cotton industry enabled the DoA to address this industry as first sub-sector under the new strategic plan for SA agriculture
Outreach and Collaboration • Science Councils • CSIR: R&D survey work, SATPOR, local governance capacity-building • MRC: HIV/AIDS surveys, health promotion • MINTEK: Resource-based technology clusters • ARC: Land and food security • International and EU • SAHARA, UNESCO, WHO, Paris21 etc. partnerships • US networks to support NIH, NIDA-funded research • NEPAD • Regional projects, e.g. HIV/AIDS, assessment • Research for African peer-review process • COHORT integrated Development Strategy • Tertiary collaborations on majority of SA projects
Portfolio Committee query What strategically important projects would the HSRC undertake if more Parliamentary grant were available?
Areas for additional financial support • Three examples • Research support for national HRD strategy • Poverty reduction mission in R&D strategy • Social aspects of HIV/AIDS research • Common features: • Responsive to national development priorities and DST R&D strategy • Extensive collaboration and interaction with peers, stakeholders and users • Additional funds and capacity leveraged on basis of parliamentary funding
Areas for additional financial support 1. Research support for national HRD strategy • Three-year ring-fenced allocation from DST with potential long-term benefits (ends March 2004?) • Biennial analysis of HRD developments • twenty chapters spanning issues in education, labour, technology, industry • will be launched mid-2003 to serve as baseline for future monitoring at 2-yearly intervals • Cross-sectoral data warehouse • adds value to management information systems of Depts. of Education and Labour and StatsSA • a wide array of information made accessible in the public domain • Continued R5 m p.a. will ensure sustainability
Areas for additional financial support 2. Support for the poverty reduction mission • SATPOR (Science and Technology for Poverty Reduction) responds to poverty reduction mission in R&D strategy • Collaboration between DST, Science Councils and Higher Ed. Representatives • Main planning areas: Develop knowledge, Knowledge management and innovation, Extract knowledge, Process excellence • R 2 m envisaged from earmarked DST funding for the one HSRC planning area
Areas for additional financial support 3. Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS research • Pioneering national sample survey of HIV prevalence, risky behaviours and campaign awareness • Repeat visits to households in eighteen months using master sample • Findings presented to Cabinet Ministers, government departments a portfolio committee and the media. Government committed to using the results to improve planning: “The results of the survey by the HSRC and Nelson Mandela Foundation give cause for hope as well as reason to intensify action to combat HIV/AIDS through implementation of our comprehensive programme... Government media release, 5 December 2002
Areas for additional financial support 3. Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS research • Dedicated research programme with cross-cutting issues addressed in other HSRC programmes • Prevention of mother-to-child transmission • Discourse patterns on HIV/AIDS and death • Risky adolescent behaviour and appropriate community interventions • Employment sector studies and forecasting • HIV/AIDS and land utilisation, food production and consumption • Child indicator system to monitor children’s health development and well-being as well as relevant policies
Areas for additional financial support 3. Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS research • SAHARA ( Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance) acknowledged as network of excellence in national R&D strategy • Leveraging funding: Kellogg grant to support researched-based interventions benefiting orphans and vulnerable children in three countries • Soon after startup, impact of pioneering studies already evident • Additional funding will ensure scale, integration, collaboration and dissemination of research as demanded by the epidemic
And now, the future… • Structured research-support relationships with strategic users e.g. Presidency, Treasury, Umsobomvu, Social Development • Further linkage of projects into programmes for enhanced impact, on pattern of SAHARA, HRD • Make research findings more accessible – different languages, modes and media • Expanding support for collaboration in Africa on NEPAD projects, e.g. GARDS project in COHORT • Innovative Professional development, e.g. 10% of each researcher’s time earmarked for publications
And now, the future… • Expansion of internship programmes, staff growth linked to equity targets • Enterprise-wide information management system • Roll-out new uniform terms and conditions of employment, programme for HIV/AIDS in the workplace • Forthcoming institutional review, appointment of new Council and possible new legislation