The Department of Science and Technology, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, is supporting a collaboration between the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Academy of Finland (AF), a government funding body for scientific research in Finland.
The collaboration between NRF and AF will primarily focus on the Human and Social Dynamics in Development area, which is a priority area for both South Africa and Finland and the following collaboration activities were identified:
Joint workshops aimed at identifying key fields of research that would benefit both countries.
Joined call for joint research projects aimed at bringing together relevant and competitive researchers and research teams from SA and Finland to promote long-term and systematic research collaboration between the countries.
Mobility of researchers aimed at supporting researcher mobility within the joint research projects.
The first workshop, which will be hosted by the University of Limpopo, Turfloop campus will be held at the Ranch Hotel in Polokwane from 23 to 24 April 2012.
The objectives of the workshop are:
- Enhancement of the bilateral collaboration between the NRF and AF;
- Discussion, formulation and prioritisation of thematic areas to be included in the intended call for proposals
- Enable communication and networking of the researchers for potential collaboration; and
- Presentations by participants on topics of their areas of research needed to be shared with potential collaborators.
Topics to be covered, which are within the various areas of ‘children and youth’ included:
- New technologies, in particular ICT;
- Civil engagement;
- Environmental change;
- Economic transformation;
- Migration;
- Social problems (inequality, poverty, unemployment, HIV and AIDS and other causes of ill-health)
- Educational processes and performance; and
- Policy and legislative reforms related to social security and welfare.
Enquiries:
Boitumelo Khutsoane (DST)
Tel: 012 843 6352
E-mail: Boitumelo.Khutsoane@dst.gov.za
Siyabonga Kohli (NRF):
Tel: 012 481 4356
E-mail: Siyabonga.Kohli@nrf.ac.za
