1. Building a postdoc system in South Africa National Research Foundation
Bridging the Gap!
Building a postdoc system in South Africa
Dr Thandi Mgwebi
National Research Foundation

2. Outline Definition of a postdoc
Transition into and out of the postdoc period
Global trends and issues
Development of the postdoc system in South Africa
Challenges and opportunities

3. What is a postdoc?
"a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path."
NPA, USA

4. The PhD as a “prelude”
Providing technical skills
Learning to ask and answer important questions
Credentialling

5. A period of transition Moving into research leadership
Building a record
Work exposure opportunities
Establishing relationships
Communication skills development
Building networks
Learning to lead

6. Developing communication skills
In area of specialty
Beyond one’s area of specialty
In adjacent and related areas
All forms of communications

7. Having a mentor/role model
Assuming responsibility for own personal development
Learning to ask for assistance
Discovering own strengths and weaknesses

8. Emerging trends Increase in inter- / multi-disciplinary work
Increased interest in real world problems
Cross-sectoral partnerships (university, college, industry, government, research institutes, entrepreneurship)
Beyond the borders
Teamwork

9. Challenges to the global system: the need for interdisciplinarity
Financial
Stability
Political
Food
Security
Food Crisis
Economical
Stability
Financial Crisis
Global System
Energy crisis
Natural resources
Climate change

10. Global trends and issues
Science, AAAS Publishing, 2012

11. Global trends and issues
Science, AAAS Publishing, 2010

12. Postdoc challenges Funding Career pathing Professional development
Status
Alternatives

13. On the development of a postdoc culture in South Africa

14. The SA postgraduate system: challenges
High attrition rates
Funding
Lack of supervisory capacity
Training capacity for doctoral graduates
Pile-up effects at postgraduate level
Insufficient capacity to lead research
Unattractive incentives for local and international postdocs
Employment and career opportunities for PhD graduates
Shortage of expertise in areas of national importance

15. Postdocs at South African institutions

16. Postdoc support: NRF data

17. Challenges Career pathing Programmes for support women with children
Professional development
Definition of a postdoc
Funding
Contracts with institutions
Visas and work permits

18. Approach to developing the system
Case of China
Preliminary establishment stage (1985 – 1987)
The rapid development stage (1988 – 1997)
The steady development stage (1998 – 2005)
The quality improvement stage ( )

19. Approach to developing the system

21. Opportunities Government support Dedicated ministries
Growing postgrad system
Diaspora communities