Application Deadline: 1st December 2023
LOCATION: South Africa
The African Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems – is looking for suitable PhD students from universities in African countries to participate in the AfricaLics PhD Visiting Fellowship Programme, (2024 cohort) focused on Innovation and Development. The aim of the visiting fellowship programme and the scholarships is to help African PhD students working in the field of Innovation and Development to strengthen their academic/research qualifications; improve quality of their dissertations and prepare for a career in innovation and development either within academia or outside (e.g. in the private sector or in government/policy making).
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants for the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship programme should:
Be enrolled as a PhD student at a university in Africa.
Have completed their first year of studies by December 2023
Have a background (BSc, MSc etc.) within Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Science and Technology Policy, Geography, History or Development Studies. Applicants may also work within the STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) subjects or even manufacturing but from a social science perspective.
Possess adequate skills in English (documentation may be requested).
Be working actively on a subject relevant to the field of innovation and development as defined above.
Submit a brief application of one page/500 words explaining their own background, motivation for applying and expected outcomes of participation in the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship programme
BENEFIT:
Return flight costs from your nearest international airport (economy class) to Johannesburg may be covered by AfricaLics if collective fund-raising efforts for the study visit there are successful. The costs may also be covered by the students themselves if they are able to raise funds.
Students must take out their own health insurance for the study period. Costs may be reimbursed by the AfricaLics secretariat if funding allows.
If collective fund-raising efforts are successful, the visiting scholars will receive a stipend of app. $600 per month. This amount should cover all costs while in Johannesburg related to living expenses and travel around Johannesburg including to and from UJ campus. Students are encouraged to try to fund-raise for living costs while in Johannesburg themselves as we cannot guarantee that collective fundraising activities are successful.
Joint courses and online mentoring activities will be covered by AfricaLics through the limited support from Sida that we will be receiving in 2024. Visit by home supervisors and mentors to Johannesburg for a PhD VFP workshop will only be realised if additional fundraising is successful.
If AfricaLics accepts to fund the three-month study visit to Johannesburg, the scholarship will only cover costs related to the visit of the student her- or himself. Costs related to accompanying spouses, children or others are unfortunately not possible for the programme to cover. The scholarship does not cover costs of any additional travel in South Africa that the student may wish to undertake unless as part of selected and approved VFP activities.
