2015 Spirit of 68 Award for Postgraduate Studies at UCT in South Africa

Applications are ongoing for the Spirit of 68 Award for Postgraduate Studies at UCT in South Africa. Veterans and Friends of the August 1968 sit-in at University of Cape Town (UCT) have made an annual award available towards research costs of one or more UCT students. The award supports creative research initiatives by UCT students investigating innovations which could help to reduce poverty and social exclusion in South Africa. 

The title of the award celebrates the spirit of the sit-in, which defended the appointment of Archie Mafeje to UCT academic staff against the apartheid government’s demand to withdraw the job offer on grounds of his race. Raphie Kaplinsky, a leader of the sit-in, notes:

“The ability to resist discrimination and other forms of inequity rests in large part on independence of mind and the power of imagination. This award provides a fitting platform to build on Archie Mafeje’s memory and the spirit of the sit-in which sought to defend his rights and the rights of others”.

The award supports creative research initiatives by UCT students investigating innovations which could help to reduce poverty and social exclusion in South Africa. There is no restriction on nationality, race or gender of applicants. The value of the award is up to R10,000 towards research costs specified in the research proposal.

Scholarship Value

The value of the award is up to R10,000 towards research costs specified in the research proposal. Costs may include research assistance, travel, accommodation and subsistence during fieldwork, data processing, communications and essential materials. Cost of the researcher’s own time is excluded. Computer purchase is also excluded.

Selection Criteria: Criteria for the award will be the novelty and academic rigour of the research proposal and it’s relevance to reducing poverty and social exclusion. All disciplines are eligible. There is no restriction on the size, focus or scope of research projects.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be registered for a Masters or PhD degree at UCT. There is no restriction on nationality, race or gender of applicants – Students of all nationalities can apply for these research awards.

Application Procedure and Deadline

Applications should be submitted by post. Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

• A summary research proposal (no more than 1500 words) identifying the problem to be researched, the specific research question to be answered, how the results of the research might contribute to reducing the problem, the research method, the information to be gathered and how it will be analysed, the research risks and how they will be managed.
• A budget listing expected costs of the research.
• A supporting letter from the supervisor of the research.

The application deadline is 15 April, 2015.

Official Scholarship Website – http://www.uct.ac.za/usr/pgfo/notices/appstud/PG%20Spirit%20of%2068%20Award_Poster&Conditions2015.pdf