Dear researcher

Please take note of the new policy of the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET) regarding the subsidisation of creative outputs and innovation.Pplease see the link for further details. http://www.sun.ac.za/english/research-innovation/Research-Development/Pages/creative-outputs.aspx?TermStoreId=d4aca01e-c7ae-4dc1-b7b2-54492a41081c&TermSetId=b87eb19e-e69f-4c6f-8c57-6ef2cdfbfed7&TermId=75e5b5f9-c884-44bc-8b82-8d1adaa5eb45  DHET is in the process of refining the requirements regarding submissions in the innovation category (specifically patents and plant breeders' rights) and therefore the rest of this communication will focus only on creative outputs. We will provide further information regarding the outputs in the innovation category as soon as DHET has circulated it to all institutions.

SU has honoured creative outputs internally for a while already but from 2019 onwards the process will be handled as set out in the DHET policy. The following categories qualify accordingly:

• Fine Arts & Visual Arts
• Music
• Theatre, Performance and Dance
• Design
• Film & Television
• Literary Arts

When submitting creative outputs the following criteria has to be adhered to:

• Each submission must be accompanied by 2-3 peer reviewers' reports from experts in the discipline, highlighting certain concepts such as originality, relevance and newness
• Written commentary of 500-700 words by the artist to contextualise and elucidate the work. The commentary should set out a brief overview of the outut, locate the output within the discipline and demonstrate the contribution towards new knowedge; the conceptual and scholarly framework in which it should be heard/viewed as well as any information re awards receive, year of publication, venue etc
• Proof of applicant's affiliation to the claiming institution
• The first submission round will be applicable to outputs of the last 3 years ie creative outputs for the period 2016-2018 (n-3). Subsequent submissions will only be applicable for creative outputs for the previous year (n-1)
• The internal closing date for submissions for the period 2016-2018 is 15 May 2019

An information session where more information will be provided on this process will be held on Friday, 1 February in the Jannasch hall, Conservatorium, Neethling avenue. More information about the time will be provided at a later stage.

Should you have any related enquiry, please contact Daléne Pieterse at mver@sun.ac.za.