Pretoria: The National Research Foundation (NRF) has announced the renewal of its partnership with the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF), aimed at deepening transformation in the country’s academic cohort. The Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP) is designed to support the development of Black South African academics and academics with disabilities to attain PhDs and acquire post-PhD training by providing funding for up to three years.
According to South African Government News Agency, the BAAP was established in 2018 under an initial five-year contract and has since supported approximately 347 academics across 26 universities in completing their PhDs and acquiring postdoctoral training. The programme allocates funding to applicants or academics seeking financial support for periods of six months, one year, or up to three years, offering a maximum of R300,000 per year for PhD candidates and R400,000 for postdoctoral candidates.
The NRF highlighted that BAAP directly contributes to the National Development Plan 2030 goal of equipping 75% of university academic staff with PhD qualifications by 2030. A report by the Council on Higher Education indicated that in 2009, only one-third of full-time permanent academic staff held PhD degrees. Moreover, there was a net decline in the number of full-time university academic staff across all public universities during the same period, increasing the burden of supervision for postgraduate supervisors.
NRF’s Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gugu Moche, emphasized that the renewal of the funding agreement by the NRF and FREF is a significant step towards supporting Black academic researchers in South Africa. FREF Head of Social Investing, Konehali Gugushe, noted that this initiative contributes to the diversification of the research landscape and fosters innovation, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to addressing inequality through impactful Public Benefit Activities promoting B-BBEE.
Gugushe further elaborated that FREF’s Quality Education pillar is dedicated to enhancing access to higher education, improving skills and earning opportunities, and strengthening institutional capacity for sustainable growth in the education sector. FREF is committed to establishing strategic partnerships with organizations like the NRF to leverage research and innovation capabilities and ensure the continued delivery of high-impact societal interventions. The programme will extend until 2028 under the renewed agreement.