University of Pretoria
Project Title
For a project on transforming peacekeeping and peacebuilding knowledge through direct engagement with multiple African publics
Date
Dec. 11, 2025
Duration
36 months
Description
This three-year collaboration between the University of Pretoria and Cambridge University will examine the past, present, and future of African peacekeeping and peacebuilding, synthesizing 35 years of lessons into a 30-chapter edited volume, two monographs, and policy briefs. Alongside these publications, the project will mentor African postdoctoral fellows, convene policymakers and civil society in Pretoria, and engage communities in Sierra Leone and Burundi to ensure findings are grounded in lived experience and inform more effective conflict prevention and peacebuilding strategies.
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Project Title
As a final grant for Future Africa’s early-career leadership fellowship program to build transdisciplinary research skills
Date
Sep. 12, 2024
Duration
24 months
Description
Transdisciplinary research has the potential to offer solutions to some of the world’s pressing challenges. The University of Pretoria in South Africa has adopted transdisciplinary research by creating a purpose-built campus, Future Africa (FA). With Corporation support, FA’s Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LEAF) program enables early-career scholars and scientists from a range of disciplines to focus on specific themes through a transdisciplinary approach. With renewed support, FAR-LEAF will offer competitive fellowships on the politics of sustainability. The grant will support research, training, networking, and publications.
Website
Project Title
For Future Africa’s early-career leadership fellowship program to build transdisciplinary research skills
Date
Sep. 02, 2021
Duration
31 months
Description
“African solutions for Africa’s problems” is a commonly heard refrain that has animated African researchers. However, most research is still highly disciplinary in focus while critical problems facing the continent–youth unemployment, conflict, food security, climate change adaptation, and others–require new ways of conceptualizing and conducting research. The University of Pretoria’s Future Africainstitute is designed to bring together researchers across fields and stages of professional development to tackle complex problems. With Corporation support, Future Africa will award twenty-five fellowships to early-career African researchers on the theme of interaction of human well-being and the environment, enabling fellows to engage with senior researchers and postgraduate students, receive training in transdisciplinary skills, get a seed grant to jumpstart their research, and take advantage of virtual knowledge platforms.
Website
Project Title
As a one-time only grant for a convening of Corporation-supported postdoctoral fellows
Date
Sep. 12, 2019
Duration
51 months
Description
Research communities are growing gradually across Africa. However, early-career researchers often experience isolation as these small communities are geographically dispersed and academic disciplines operate in silos, making it difficult for researchers to collaborate. Since 2016, the Corporation has supported nine postdoctoral programs, serving fellows based in African higher education institutions. In April 2019, South Africa’s National Research Foundation convened a small group of fellows from these programs. Recognizing the value of such meetings, the fellows requested support to organize a larger postdoctoral convening. This grant will support a convening at University of Pretoria Future Africa Institute, bringing together an estimated 120 postdoctoral fellows–seventy funded by the Corporation–for peer-learning, networking, and professional training workshops.
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Project Title
For a study and policy dialogue on governance of African science granting councils
Date
Sep. 12, 2019
Duration
48 months
Description
Sub-Saharan African governments have been slow to recognize the link between investment in research and national development. As custodians of government funds allocated to research, Africa’s Science Granting Councils (SGCs) are critical to national development and advocacy. The future and sustainability of Africa’s emerging research universities depends on the SGCs’ support for knowledge production and the next generation of scholars. Yet the majority of SGCs are newly established and structurally weak. Their role in advocacy depends on effective governance and efficient operations. Corporation support will fund a research study and policy dialogue on the governance and operations of SGCs, with the aim of strengthening their organizational capacities and advocacy for research.
Website
Project Title
For research and a convening on educational delivery during campus crises
Date
Sep. 07, 2017
Duration
30 months
Description
During the “feesmustfall” crisis in South Africa, universities implemented new forms of
educational delivery. Several vice chancellors announced that academic staff would provide materials and lectures online during closures. Universities negotiated with telecom companies to provide free data access to learning management platforms. Centers for teaching and learning were inundated with requests to assist faculty with blended learning, and the prospect of virtual laboratories became more attractive as laboratories closed.The educational delivery mechanisms deployed provide opportunity for ongoing improvement in the cost and quality of higher education. This proposal will support a planning workshop, four case studies, and a convening to document best practices of educational technology delivery during the crisis from perspectives of students, faculty and institutions.
Website
Project Title
As a one-time grant for a competitive postdoctoral research support program
Date
Dec. 07, 2017
Duration
49 months
Description
The period immediately following completion of the doctoral degree is a critical time for an African academic. Little postdoctoral research support is available, while the pressures of teaching and university administration often distract the scholar from conducting and publishing additional research. In addition, early-career African researchers face the challenge of advancing their careers while also demonstrating their relevance to society. The University of Pretoria’s Future Africa program is designed to bring together researchers across fields and stages of professional development to tackle “wicked problems” facing the African continent. This grant will enable Future Africa to award postdoctoral fellowships to early-career African researchers on the theme of the bio-economy. While in residence, fellows will engage with senior researchers and postgraduate students, receive training in transdisciplinary research approaches, and get a seed grant to jumpstart their research project. Mentors from the University of Pretoria will also engage with the fellows’ home university departments to explore future collaboration.
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Project Title
As a final grant for a master’s program in information technology within the school of information technology at the university
Date
Sep. 11, 2014
Duration
64 months
Website
Project Title
As a one-time grant for a library leadership information and communication technology skills training program
Date
Sep. 13, 2012
Duration
90 months
Website
Project Title
For piloting of a virtual research environment for the Southern African Biochemistry and Informatics for Natural Products network
Date
Sep. 22, 2011
Duration
12 months
Website
Project Title
For building a local collection of books
Date
Dec. 15, 2011
Duration
12 months
Website
Project Title
For the establishment of a master's program in information technology within the school of information technology at the university
Date
Jun. 03, 2010
Duration
78 months
Website
Project Title
For promoting leadership skills for model libraries in Africa
Date
Jun. 12, 2008
Duration
60 months
Website
Project Title
As a final grant toward the establishment of advanced training programs in international trade and investment, in cooperation with the University of the Western Cape
Date
Sep. 29, 2005
Duration
54 months