Deadline: 1st December 2023

Applications are now open for the AfricaLics PhD Visiting Fellowships Programme 2024 . AfricaLics - the African Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation and Skill Building Systems - is looking for suitable PhD students from universities in African countries to participate in the AfricaLics Visiting PhD Scholarship Programme, (2024 cohort) focused on Innovation and Development.

The activities of the 2024 VFP cohort will start with a series of online activities from February 2024 and the activities are expected to be completed by the end of November/beginning of December 2024. The activities will include a brief introduction to R&D studies as the AfricaLics network identifies it. area, a course on writing skills and a course on 'How to write an academic journal article, as well as 3 to 5 paper presentation seminars. The activities will be online, but if funds allow, a 3-month study visit to UJ will also be incorporated. After involvement in the programme, students have the opportunity to continue interacting with the AfricaLics community, for example through participation in AfricaLics alumni activities, AfricaLics research conferences and our webinar series. In this way, students and young academics help each other stay involved and have the opportunity to help develop the field of African innovation and development studies.

Cost

• The cost of the return flight from the nearest international airport (economy class) to Johannesburg can be covered by AfricaLics if the collective fundraising efforts for the study visit are successful. The costs can also be covered by the students themselves if they manage to raise the funds.
• Students must take out their own health insurance for the duration of their studies. Costs can be reimbursed by the AfricaLics secretariat if funding allows.
• If the collective fundraising efforts are successful, the visiting scholars will receive an application grant. $ 600 per month. This amount should cover all costs while in Johannesburg relating to living expenses and travelling around Johannesburg, including to and from the UJ campus. Students are encouraged to try to raise funds for living costs while in Johannesburg, as AfricaLics cannot guarantee that collective fundraising activities will be successful.
• The joint courses and online mentoring activities will be covered by AfricaLics through the limited Sida support they will receive in 2024. The visit of national supervisors and mentors to Johannesburg for a VFP PhD workshop will only take place if additional fundraising is successful.
• If AfricaLics agrees to fund the three-month study visit to Johannesburg, the grant will only cover the costs related to the student's own visit. Unfortunately, costs related to spouses, children or other accompanying persons cannot be covered by the programme. The scholarship does not cover the costs of any additional travel in South Africa that the student wishes to undertake, unless as part of selected and approved VFP activities.

Eligibility

Applicants for the AfricaLics PhD scholarship programme must:

• Be enrolled as a doctoral student at a university in Africa.
• Have completed their first year of studies by December 2023
• Have a background (bachelor's degree, master's degree, etc.) in Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Science and Technology Policy, Geography, History or Development Studies. Candidates can also work in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering or maths) or even in manufacturing, but from a social science perspective.
• Have adequate English skills (documentation may be requested).
• Be actively working on a subject relevant to the field of innovation and development, as defined above.
• Submit a brief one-page/500-word application explaining your own background, motivation for applying and expected results of participating in the AfricaLics Visiting Doctorate Scholarship Programme.

Application

The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

• Brief summary of your current doctoral project, including doctoral training plans (max. 5 pages)
• Curriculum Vitae - CV (including doctoral courses attended to date)
• Letter of support from the main doctoral supervisor confirming that the doctoral student will have completed their update/internship by the end of December 2023
• Letter of support from the University Administration of the university where the doctoral student is enrolled
• Copies of academic certificates (copies of bachelor's and master's degree certificates at least)
• A writing sample (article or chapter) from the current PhD programme

You are NOT expected to send a copy of your passport when applying for the PhD scholarship programme. If you are offered the scholarship and your study stay at UJ materialises, you will be asked to resolve any visa issues that may be relevant. The collection of personal data will be kept to a minimum, stored securely and not used for any other purposes.

Applications with all relevant attachments should be sent to visitphd@africalics.org until 23:00 East African time on 1 December 2023.

Click here to download the application form

For more information, visit AfricaLics PhD Visiting Fellowship .