Science and Technology Science and Technology Policy ForumPolicy Forum

Priorities in Higher EducationPriorities in Higher EducationJapan Japan -- June 2005June 2005

Anati CancaAnati CancaDepartment of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Science and Technology

South AfricaSouth Africa

S&T Human CapitalS&T Human Capital

KnowledgeKnowledge--based economies become based economies become successful through the availability of successful through the availability of human resourceshuman resources

highhigh--level human capital more important than level human capital more important than material resourcesmaterial resourcesdetermines both economic and social determines both economic and social developmentdevelopmentkey in developing countrieskey in developing countries

S&T Human CapitalS&T Human Capitalchallenges faced by South Africa with regard to challenges faced by South Africa with regard to human capital development include human capital development include development, retention and maximizing valuedevelopment, retention and maximizing valuechallenge of matching skills availability with challenge of matching skills availability with economic requirements has been highlighted by economic requirements has been highlighted by the government of South Africa in its review of the government of South Africa in its review of the first ten years of democracythe first ten years of democracycomes at a time when the need to anticipate comes at a time when the need to anticipate future technological needs of the economy is future technological needs of the economy is heightenedheightened

S&T Human CapitalS&T Human CapitalSouth Africa has relied very heavily on its South Africa has relied very heavily on its abundant natural resources abundant natural resources –– little beneficiationlittle beneficiationunskilled or semiunskilled or semi--skilled skilled labourlabourGlobalisationGlobalisation has led to pressure to be has led to pressure to be innovativeinnovativeownership of new knowledge & the availability of ownership of new knowledge & the availability of highly skilled human resourceshighly skilled human resourcesability to innovate around the natural resources ability to innovate around the natural resources in South Africa will lead to improved economic in South Africa will lead to improved economic and social outcomesand social outcomes

S&T Human CapitalS&T Human CapitalNeed enabling environment for innovationNeed enabling environment for innovationarticulated in the 1996 White Paper on Science and articulated in the 1996 White Paper on Science and TechnologyTechnology

innovation is crucial for a nation that pursues wellinnovation is crucial for a nation that pursues well--being and being and prosperity for its citizens and innovation cannot be treated as prosperity for its citizens and innovation cannot be treated as an an optionoption

Outlines the NSI Outlines the NSI –– HE key set of HE key set of organisationsorganisations in the in the systemsystem

NRDS emphasizes the outcomes of wealth creation and NRDS emphasizes the outcomes of wealth creation and improved quality of life for South Africaimproved quality of life for South Africa’’s citizens through s citizens through investments and deployment of technological innovationinvestments and deployment of technological innovation

South African National System of Innovation

National System

ofInnovation

HEIs

Govern-ment

Private Sector

NGOs

Science Councils

S&T System

Human Capital DevelopmentHuman Capital DevelopmentInvestment in South AfricaInvestment in South Africa’’s SET human s SET human

resources and science resources and science

Future R&D capacity

Technical progress(Improvement and

Innovation)SET Human Capital

Business performance

Current R&D Capacity

Wealth Creation

Imported know-how

Quality of life

Higher Education in SAHigher Education in SA

HRD core missionHRD core missionRecent restructuring led to consolidation in Recent restructuring led to consolidation in number of institutionsnumber of institutionsKey question: does HE have the capacity Key question: does HE have the capacity to provide high level skilled individuals in to provide high level skilled individuals in support of a knowledge economy and the support of a knowledge economy and the South Africa democracy? South Africa democracy?

S&T Human Capital PipelineS&T Human Capital Pipeline

Understanding of the pipeline from school Understanding of the pipeline from school level to professional levelslevel to professional levelsVarious challenges and responses Various challenges and responses throughoutthroughoutDual role for HEDual role for HE

Next generationNext generationProfessional development scientists and Professional development scientists and researchersresearchers

InterdependentInterdependent

Ratio of Headcount Enrolments by Field of Study, 1993–2002, compared to National Plan Targets

57% 58% 54% 49% 44% 44% 40%

24% 22%23% 26% 31% 30%

30%

19% 20% 23% 25% 26% 26% 30%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

100%

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2002 NPHE target

Humanities & Soc Sc Business, Commerce SET

Source: SAPSE; CHE (1999/00); HEMIS, 2001, 2002.

Changes in the Overall Higher Education Workforce by ‘Race’, 1995–2001

0

2 000

4 000

6 000

8 000

10 000

12 000

14 000

16 000

18 000

20 000

1995 2002 1995 2002

University Technikon

AfricanColouredIndianWhite

Source: SAPSE, 1995; HEMIS, 2002. No 1995 data were available for the University of the North West, Border Technikon and Eastern Cape Technikon. Data from 1996 were used for these institutions instead.

Changes in the Proportion of Women Academics by Rank, 1995–2002

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

1995 13% 28% 46% 53%

2002 19% 38% 53% 55%

Professoriate Senior Lecturer Lecturer Junior and other

Source: SAPSE, 1995; HEMIS, 2002.

Research Output by Science Field, 1990-1999

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Medical & Health Sciences Natural Sciences Engineering

Social Sciences Arts & Humanities

Source: SA Knowledgebase, Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies, US

Research Output by ‘Race’, 1990-1998

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

White African Coloured Indian

Indian 2 3 4 3 4

Coloured 0.5 1 1 1 1

African 1 2 2 3 3

White 96.5 94 93 93 92

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998

Source: SA Knowledgebase, Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies, US

Research Output by Gender, 1990-1998

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Female Male

Source: SA Knowledgebase, Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies, US

ChallengesChallengesLack of transformationLack of transformation•• The racial and gender profile of the academic The racial and gender profile of the academic

workforce has not changed much in the last 10 years workforce has not changed much in the last 10 years

Productivity in academic subset of R&D Productivity in academic subset of R&D workforce vested in older generationworkforce vested in older generationSuggests young academics not productive in Suggests young academics not productive in publishing publishing Due toDue to

Inadequate research incentivesInadequate research incentivesHigh teaching workloadHigh teaching workload

High mobility out of systemHigh mobility out of system

Priorities for HEPriorities for HE

CREATE INTERST IN ACADEMIC CAREERSCREATE INTERST IN ACADEMIC CAREERSDEVELOP HC IN KEY AREAS AS PER NRDS DEVELOP HC IN KEY AREAS AS PER NRDS

Develop fulfilling career pathsDevelop fulfilling career pathsOffer opportunities for development as scientists Offer opportunities for development as scientists and researcherand researcher

Young researchersYoung researchersDesignated groupsDesignated groups

Create porous boundaries between NSI Create porous boundaries between NSI institutionsinstitutions

Human Capital Development Human Capital Development

DST Research Chairs DST Research Chairs ProgrammeProgrammerespond to new programs and research respond to new programs and research niches that could not be funded normally niches that could not be funded normally under the funding formulaunder the funding formulafacilitate in joint appointments between facilitate in joint appointments between University, Science Councils and Industry to University, Science Councils and Industry to ensure efficient and effective development of ensure efficient and effective development of human capitalhuman capitalStrong developmental role (mentoring, Strong developmental role (mentoring, building research culture building research culture

Human Capital Development Human Capital Development

Professional Development Professional Development programmeprogrammeaddresses challenges related to low addresses challenges related to low

productivityproductivityInadequate research incentivesInadequate research incentivesHigh teaching workloadHigh teaching workload

Individual development focusIndividual development focusOpportunities for joint appointments Opportunities for joint appointments

Human Capital Development Human Capital Development

Post Doctoral fellowship Post Doctoral fellowship programmeprogrammeEarlier in the HC pipelineEarlier in the HC pipelineRetention of new graduatesRetention of new graduatesBuilding a research culture Building a research culture -- productivityproductivityOpportunities for twoOpportunities for two--way mentoringway mentoring

Centres of Excellence programmeCentres of Excellence programmeConcentration of resources in conducive Concentration of resources in conducive environment with positive outcomes for post environment with positive outcomes for post graduate training in SETgraduate training in SET

Collaboration Opportunities Collaboration Opportunities

Knowledge and innovation missions Knowledge and innovation missions arising out of the NRDSarising out of the NRDS

African Origins (palaeontology)African Origins (palaeontology)Energy (PBMR, Hydrogen)Energy (PBMR, Hydrogen)Astronomy (SKA, Astronomy (SKA, Biosciences (Biosciences (CoelaecanthCoelaecanth))NanotechnologyNanotechnologyBiotechnologyBiotechnologyAntarctica and IslandsAntarctica and Islands

Collaboration Opportunities Collaboration Opportunities

Knowledge and innovation missions Knowledge and innovation missions arising out of the NRDSarising out of the NRDS

African Origins (palaeontology)African Origins (palaeontology)Energy (PBMR, Hydrogen)Energy (PBMR, Hydrogen)Astronomy (SKA, Astronomy (SKA, Biosciences (Biosciences (CoelaecanthCoelaecanth))NanotechnologyNanotechnologyBiotechnologyBiotechnologyAntarctica and IslandsAntarctica and Islands

AFRICAN ORIGINS PLATFORMAFRICAN ORIGINS PLATFORMCREATING LINKSCREATING LINKS

KNOWLEDGE CAPITALKNOWLEDGE CAPITAL

•• Research supportResearch support•• Facilitate networksFacilitate networks

HUMAN CAPITALHUMAN CAPITAL

•• Competitive est researchersCompetitive est researchers•• Feeder streams of young Feeder streams of young scientistsscientists

AFRICAN ORIGINS RESEARCH SUPPORTAFRICAN ORIGINS RESEARCH SUPPORT

InternationalPartnerships

Human Resource Development

Public Visibility

International Competitiveness

MultidisciplinaryResearch

Programme

Enterprise Development

AcademiaIndustry Links

OBJECTIVES

Knowledge Generation

In summaryIn summary

Capacity to produce high level S&T skills Capacity to produce high level S&T skills in HEin HEMeaningful career pathsMeaningful career pathsSuite of KP & HC instrumentsSuite of KP & HC instruments

ChairsChairsPost DocsPost DocsProfessional developmentProfessional developmentCoECoE

Articulation btw NSI institutionsArticulation btw NSI institutions

Thank youThank you