Societal and Knowledge Impact, Importance and Continued Relevance of the CoE-HUMAN

We are guided by the NRF’s definition of impact as:

A beneficial change in society or knowledge advancement, brought about as a direct or indirect result of the NRF’s research support interventions, whether planned or unintended, immediate or longer-term.

We achieve this impact through facilitating the funding of our students, and through our work as highlighted below.

 Within South African communities – we conduct nationally representative surveys (South African Human Development Pulse Survey 2021 and 2022), and our national and international online Fast Facts Surveys 2021 and 2022

 Through our Grantees, we investigate issues of national importance and challenge including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Climate Change and Rural Development

 We develop online quantitative and qualitative learning resources for students, the research community, clients, key stakeholders, and interested parties

 Championed by our Postdoctoral Fellows, we investigate:

– Youth Unemployment in South Africa and highlight the drivers of unemployment and perceptions of youth employment initiatives

COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy

– Food insecurity and quality of life in South Africa

 We reach out to solidify relationships and partner with HDIs across South Africa on collaborative research projects led by PIs within these institutions.

 We promote our projects, spearheaded by our black researchers related to Food Ecology, Adolescent Mental Health, Digital Solutions to Tackle Mental Health, Climate Change and Youth Advocacy, Future Proof Youth Skills for Productivity and employment, Soweto Men’s Cohort and the Future of Society.

 We showcase relevant case studies of community impact, intergenerational research and impact, and early childhood development in South Africa.

We continue to make an impact within the research enterprise (knowledge impact), as well as within society (societal impact). Since inception and more so in 2022, we have enabled, facilitated, and performed excellent research which sought to extend knowledge frontiers, advance innovation, and address national challenges.

To further this vision and enhance our national footprint, the CoE-HUMAN continues to form part of the body of Anchor Institutions of the National Policy Data Observatory

This knowledge and societal impact research results in various outputs based on the research activities, processes, and collaborations. These include, among others, new knowledge, publications, conference papers, policy briefs and increased engagement and collaboration leading to new research networks. Moreover, we promote CoE-HUMAN science engagements through events with the community (such as the launch of the BT30 book, and community engagement events with the Wits Health Hubb in Soweto); and via media reports on science and research (our research nuggets which gain extra exposure in the broader media, and institutional communications).

Research undertaken by the CoE-HUMAN and the generated outputs are guided by the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), scientific rigour and interdisciplinary research, processes, methods and collaborations.

We are confident that our newly formulated thematic area: socio-ecological and transformational develop-

An NSI that serves all

 1996 WP on S&T

 NACI established 1997

 NRF consolidation 1999

 Biotechnology Strategy 2001

 National Research Development Strategy 2002

 Separate department for S&T (DST), 2004

2006-2018 ment will enhance the reach and impact of the CoEHUMAN within societal, economic, environmental and knowledge domains as elucidated by the NRF and the field of climate change and environmental sustainability, education for the future and the future of society as detailed within the DSI Decadal Plan. Through our newly-articulated theme we will endeavour to enhance the research focus and outputs on socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, and a capable state – as espoused within the Plan.

NSI responds to post1994 demands

 SA Research Chairs Initiative 2006

 Hydrogen SA 2007

 Ten-Year Innovation Plan 2008-2018

 IP rights from R&D Act 2008

 SANSA enacted 2008

 TIA 2008

 Ministerial Review of the NSI 2012

 Bio-economy Strategy 2014

2019

NSI increases focus on STI for socioeconomic development, environmental sustainability and a capable state in a rapidly changing world

 WP on STI 2019

 DST becomes DSI 2019

 Review of NRDS & TYIP 2020

 Ministerial Review of higher education, STI institutional landscape 2021

The CoE-HUMAN also subscribes to the philosophy of the Decadal Plan to “continue building the national system of innovation (NSI) towards greater impact on addressing South Africa’s national priorities.” Furthermore, we appreciate the critical role the CoE-HUMAN is expected to play in the management of societal grand challenges (SGCs).

As contained in the Decadal Plan:

 Due to their interdisciplinary nature, addressing the SGCs requires that all NSI actors be involved. Dynamic partnerships will be critical to achieving the outcomes and impact envisaged. Knowledge produced by all the sciences – including the humanities and social sciences – must be mobilised in the development of appropriate STI interventions included under each of the SGCs.

 The humanities and social sciences, in line with their role of understanding the context-specific nature of national development challenges, are necessary participants in the conceptualisation, planning, and execution of innovation initiatives in the framing of the Decadal Plan. The humanities and social sciences are critical for the continued redefinition and remaking of South Africa over the next decade.

The Decadal Plan further highlights the importance of the humanities and social sciences (HSS) and therein, the CoE-HUMAN:

 The contribution and value of HSS to our understanding of the social and cultural aspects of the world is self-evident.

 Discipline-specific knowledge further complemented by interdisciplinary studies addressing SGCs.

 Support for research, data collection and education and training in the HSS is especially important if we are to secure the benefits of innovation and productivity growth.

 HSS are critical in highlighting the social acceptance and integration of new technologies.

 There are implications, of research on and development of new technologies, for international competitiveness and long-term employment growth. Each of these issues transgresses the individual priority areas considered in the Decadal Plan, and each involves insights from a wide variety of HSS knowledge fields.

CoE-HUMAN Performance Report: Status of Service Level Agreement and Business Plan Targets 2022/2023

When combined, the CoE-HUMAN had a total of 80 Service Level Agreement (SLA) and Business Plan (BP) target for 2022 (Appendix 2). To this end, the CoEHUMAN:

 Achieved 72 targets (or 90%)

 4 targets in process (or 5%)

 4 targets are unmet (or 5%)

The table below details targets not achieved, the reasons and the plan to address going forward to ensure the target is achieved.

Several applicants put forward were not approved. Plans will be put in place to undertake discussions with the NRF to ensure alignment of student criteria to be addressed through the screening and nomination phase(s).

While not met, there has been an improvement from 2021 by 5%.

Strategic opportunities will be put in place to meet this target.

Several applicants put forward were not approved. Plans will be put in place to undertake discussions with the NRF to ensure alignment of student criteria to be addressed through the screening and nomination phase(s).

Strategic plan will be implemented to engage DVCs within the CoE-HUMAN network to get more applications from disabled students.

Of the 80 combined SLA and BP targets for 2022:

 64 (or 80%) are official CoE-HUMAN targets (as per the SLA and reflected in the BP); with

 16 targets (or 20%) set by the CoE-HUMAN over-and-above the expected SLA targets required by the DSI and NRF.

Not only has the CoE-HUMAN met 90% of official DSI-NRF targets, we have gone above and beyond official requirements – as presented in the table below.