AfricaLics (African Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems) is looking for suitable PhD student candidates from universities in African countries to participate in the AfricaLics PhD Visiting Fellowship Programme (2023 cohort) focused on Innovation and Development.
The aim of the visiting fellowship program and the scholarships is to help African PhD students working in the field of Innovation and Development to strengthen their academic/research qualifications; improve the 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).
Under the AfricaLics Visiting Fellowship Programme, successful candidates will be provided with the opportunity to participate in a one-year fellowship program combining online pre- and post-activities with a study period of 3 months at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. Mentoring will be provided by a range of African and international scholars in Innovation and Development studies who are research active in AfricaLics and Globelics. The chair also includes the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Kenya and the University of Sussex in the UK.
Benefits
- Return flight costs from the nearest international airport (economy class) and health insurance will be covered on a reimbursement basis.
- Students must take out their own health insurance for the study period, but the costs will be reimbursed by the AfricaLics secretariat.
- The AfricaLics secretariat will secure and pay for accommodation during the study visit to Johannesburg.
- The visiting scholars will receive a stipend of 9500 South African rands (equivalent to approximately 600 USD per month as of the exchange rate at the end of June 2022.
- A fixed amount is available to cover student participation in selected course activities (over and above the stipend).
- Funding is available for organizing trilateral meetings between the PhD student, the main supervisor from the home institution, and the AfricaLics mentor(s) during the study period at UJ.
- The scholarship covers only costs related to the visit of the student him/herself.
Eligibility
Applicants for the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship program should:
- Be enrolled as a PhD student at a university in Africa.
- Have completed their first year of studies by December 2022
- Have a background (BSc, MSc, etc.) in Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Science, and Technology Policy, Business, Geography, History, or Development Studies.
- Applicants may also work in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) subjects, technology management, or even manufacturing but from a social science perspective.
- Be working actively on a subject relevant to the field of innovation and development as defined above.
- Submit a brief application 1 page/500 words explaining their background, motivation for applying, and expected outcomes of participation in the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship program. and
- Possess adequate skills in English.
- However, female PhD students and students from low-income countries are particularly welcome to apply as AfricaLics endeavors to contribute to increasing the currently low number of female scholars and low-income countries scholars in Innovation and Development research studies in Africa.
Application Process
Interested applicants are to provide the following documents:
The application must be accompanied by the following documents:
- A brief outline of their current PhD project including a training plan (max. 5 pages).
- Curriculum Vitae – CV (including PhD courses attended so far)
- Letter of support from the main PhD supervisor confirming that the PhD student will have completed her/his upgrade/probation/ proposal defense by end of December 2022
- Copies of academic certificates (copies of Bachelor and Master Certificates as a minimum)
- One writing sample (article or chapter) from the current PhD program
To apply, click here.
Deadline: September 15, 2022.
For more information, visit the official site.
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