Some exciting new developments at the Africa Centre for Scholarship (ACS) include new staff joining the Centre, the Emerging Scholars Initiative within the Joint Schools Programme, and the African Doctoral Academy's first fully face-to-face Summer School post COVID-19.
New staff were appointed at the Africa Centre for Scholarship (ACS) to enhance and contribute to scholarship development on the African continent. Dr Mmampho Gogela-Smith was appointed as the new Senior Programme Manager for Scholarship Development Initiatives, while Dr Natalie Kowalik was assigned to the position of Programme Manager of the African Doctoral Academy. The new Short Course and Finance Administrator, Mr Edgar Rinquest, will be responsible for the African Doctoral Academy and the Emerging Scholars Initiative.
Further developments at the Centre include the recent hosting of online training and the first leg of a two-part joint school hosted by the Emerging Scholars Initiative, in collaboration with the Makerere University in Uganda. The Emerging Scholars Initiative is aimed at forging ties with partner institutions and developing research capacity for doctoral candidates and emerging scholars in Africa. The first part of the online school took place from 26 to 30 September 2022, while the second part of the school will be held in person at Makerere University in 2023. Over 100 applications were received for the first part of the school, 40 delegates of which were nominated and registered to attend. The large number of applicants indicates both a need and an appetite for research training. The event proved to be a significant step towards building research capacity and contributing to the development of emerging African scholars.
Lastly, aiming to strengthen excellence in doctoral education across Africa, the African Doctoral Academy will be hosting its first full face-to-face Summer School post COVID‑19 from 18 January to 3 February 2023. Now managed by Dr Natalie Kowalik, the School will be held at the Stellenbosch University main campus. The 2023 Summer School will be offering 16 courses that focus on high-impact research and methodology training for prospective and current doctoral candidates, their supervisors, and researchers from different fields and across various phases of the PhD journey. Three new courses will also be offered at the 2023 Summer School including 'Understanding the ethical decision-making process in planning and execution of research', 'Conducting a literature review: The key to a successful thesis' and 'Good practice in postgraduate research supervision on and off campus'. The School will be welcoming both national and international presenters who are experts in their fields of research.
Please visit the website, https://www.sun.ac.za/english/SUInternational/ADA/home for more information on the 2023 Summer School or for submitting applications, which close on 15 December 2022.
With these developments, the Africa Centre for Scholarship aims to contribute to the growth of the African continent and its people by investing in new and emerging scholars in Africa.
New ACS staff from left: Mr Edgar Rinquest; Dr Mmampho Gogela-Smith; Dr Natalie Kowalik
