29 July 2024
By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement, edited by Francois van Schalkwyk
The New Guidelines for the Appointment, Retention and Development of Postdoctorates was launched at the 3rd National Postdoctoral Fellowship Forum on 3 July 2024, hosted by Unisa.
Introducing the new guidelines were Dr Palesa Mothapo, Director of Research Support and Management at the Nelson Mandela University, and Dr François van Schalkwyk, researcher at the DSI-NFR Centre for Excellence in Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciSTIP), hosted by the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), Stellenbosch University.
The Guidelines were based on a series of dialogues over a two-year period with postdocs, university administrators, research managers, academics hosts and funding agencies. The development of the Guidelines was funded by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT).
The Guidelines contain comprehensive details on functions of postdoctorates, eligibility criteria, remuneration and benefits, and a code of conduct, among others. It signifies a commitment to fostering a well-supported postdoctoral research environment by the various stakeholders that took part in its creation.
Front row, from left: Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor; Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Vice-Principal of Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation; Mandy Jampies, Senior Officer, Postdoctoral Fellow Co-ordinator, Research Development, University of the Free State
Back row, from left: Dr François van Schalkwyk, SciSTIP/CREST, Stellenbosch University; Prof Les Labuschagne, Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation; Harry Bopape, Director of Research Support; and Dr Melanie Cilliers, Chair: Postdoctoral Society, Stellenbosch University.
Image by Shooheima Champion, Multimedia Centre
