National Research Foundation (NRF) Vice President, Dr. Gansen Pillay, and SANTRUST CEO, Dr Anshu Padayachee concluded a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations. The MoU is aimed at fostering closer relations in human capacity development for the higher education and research system.
The San people created an ancient African knowledge system. With the ravages of time, slavery and conquest, its place among the great traditions of learning was steadily eroded. Millennia later, the San contribution to disciplines as diverse as astronomy, psychology and nutrition is again creatingintellectual excitement.
Africa's resurgence depends on developing and marshalling the finest human capital and taking the African contribution to the rest of the world.
Inspired by the wisdom of the San, that is the challenge the SANTRUST is ready to meet this new challenge.
Respond to challenges in research and leadership development in Africa especially within the contextof higher education capacity enhancement
Develop and marshal the fi nest human capital on the continent though the preparation and development of a critical mass of high quality doctoral graduates and post-doctoral researchers in the shortest period of time.
Enhance and improve Africa’s global competitiveness and research outputs though its leadership and research development programmes and take the African contribution to scholarship to the wider world
Promote international partnerships through multinational facilitation teams selected from the leaders in relevant fi elds of scholarship.
Contribute to Africa’s higher education system as a “force for change”.
When I was invited to attend the Advanced RCI SANPAD Programme, I had already been at a stage where I had submitted the final draft of my thesis to my supervisor. It too k me several months to decide whether to attend or not, until I did the right thing, consult with Charmaine. She convinced me to attend.
“The collegial nature of the programme provided a platform for an open discussion of our research areas. The comments from other participants helped me to revisit my thesis for further refinement .For example, my own thesis was more psychologically inclined. The advanced RCI workshop helped me to include the sociological aspects of human behaviour, which I had not reflected on previously. This added value to my work to the extent that even my supervisor was impressed. The reflective aspect of the workshop was also very helpful. It provided me with an opportunity to effect immediate changes to my work and to note down areas I needed to go and find information for. The emphasis on individual needs for each one of us was inspiring . When I left the Advanced RCI workshop, I was different. I was confident that what I had changed in my work was of great value. I knew I had made it”.
