Tài liệu flight of the flamingos a study on the mobility of r d workers docx

National policies and regulations on immigration are complex and have not yet developed the stage that they are in harmony with the Human Resource Development Sritegy for South Ati the N

Michael Kahn, Wiliam Blankley, Rasigan Maharajn,

“Thomas E Pogue, Viay Reddy, Gatriel Cels, Marissø du Toit

ŠZÊ KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

(a; RESEARCH PROGRAMME aS Me) 5)

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

‘A PROJECT BY THE HUMAN SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP

WITH THE CSIR FOR THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INNOVATION

Michael Kaho, William Blankley, Rasigan Maharajh,

‘Thomas € Pogue, Vijay Reddy, Gabriel Cle, Marissa du Toit

RESEARER PROGRAMME N4 £4csIR

iui ‘SKZD-WHP-6

‘Prepared fr the Nasonal Counc on innovation (NACI)

by the Knowledge Management Group ofthe Human Sciences Research

‘Counel in pamership with CSIR Policy

‘Cover by FUEL Design

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32 _South Airis human resources in science and technology 29

33 Soul affcre R&D wo

3A Kerisues 68

CHaprEn 4: MoBiLITY Rom THE PERSPECTIVE OF

ORGANISATIONS 69

Inunducion 60 1.2 Issues conceming dhe mobility of South Afican RSD workers _ 62

73 Isuer conceming- mobil in peiorty fields of technology 77

G3 Recommendations for the medium tem 9

{64 Recommendations forthe longterm — 105

65 Rerssue 104

ApeEwnicrs 109

‘Appendix Temsofeference 102

‘Appendix 2 Another look at migaton sastes 113

‘Appendix Us of onanistions interviewed 120

Figure 35 ional sectors of SANSA members 32

Figure 36 Field of expertise of SANSA members 32

Figure 37 South Arian population changes 1995-2002 _3

Figure 38 Dynamics of South affc's population components _34

Figure 39 The relative size ofthe foreign suident population ia

Sou africa 35 Figure 310 Highest levels of education achieved by gender in 1996 _37 Figwe St! © Genderof HIST by aualifiaion 1997-2002 3m

Figure 312 Highest level of education achieved by race in 1996 39 Figure 313 Age of HRST in 199639

Figure 314 Age of disaggregated HRST in 1996 40

Figure 315 Foreign students envolled in South Afcan HES by region d0 Figure 316 Comparative regional nationalities of foreign students

la200 4 Figure 317 —- Toglpopobdlon 20yexsandolder by dilsieelin 96 42 Figure 318 Employed HEST by field of formal qualification l2

Figure 319 Employed HRST by level of qualifications 4‡

Figure 320 Employed HRST by quliicatons and gender 43

Figure 321 Hlass-of Sau Afscan BEST di

Figure 330 Master's (or equivalent) degrees 1987-2000 52

Figue 331 Doctoral (or equivalen degrees 1987-2000_53

Figure 332 Outflows from emigrating South African HRST 1987-2001 sỉ Figure LAI HEST emigans by gender 1997 and 2000 5

(Comparative age sutures of the highly skilled 64 SCARAD personnel in 2002 by nationality 64

‘Non-South African SCRSD personnel by region of origin 65 Reported destinations of departing SCRED personnel

es Annual peemanent nlgntion of South Alice's HRST 1997-2001 1E

Regional emigrition to immigration etios 119

South Afbca’s human resourees in science and technolowy (Comparative percentages of HRT in the adult population $4 Comparative intemational satstis on foreign student

‘composition forthe year 2000 36

‘Unemployment Gexpanded) of economically active population

in 1097, 2000 and 2002 34 Employment status by rage in 1997 and 2002 34

‘Comparison of fourwveary inflows —

‘Asgual HST outflows from moraliy 1997-2002 _$3

‘Under seporing ip Soult Mican emigration satis forthe

‘Quows fom the scence councils “6 Sills development inthe SC-R&D workforce 77 Migation stititics from various sources 11 Migration over four veur periods 1

‘Aggregate annual permanent migration lows for the lst ive

‘yeas and cumulative toa fr the lst 15 years 117

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

———

Sách có ban quyền

FOREWORD

Human capital, human knowledge, people ~ while we live in an electronic age, people

are the mest catalytic ingredient of the maelstrom of change, fanovation and development

that isthe global knowledge economy We live in a word in which specialist knowledge

isin great demand and is therefore highly mobile The major cites around which,

scienlfic and economic innovation is nurtured are increasingly muluculunl and

aecomavodating ofthe diversity of peoples on the plane, and this encourages mobility

‘ven further,

Much of the knowledge in the scence, engineering and technology disciplines is tacit

knowledge, embedded within people who are not easy 10 replace South Africa has, over

the past four decades, experienced a significant outflow of research and development

(RSD) workers, bu is ako experiencing inflows from other parts of the world, i

particular from the African continent, Are the overall results of these movements and

"mlgntions generally beneficial to South Afi, or are they retarding the countey’s ability

to become more competitive and improve its global postioning with respect to key

economic sector’ What strategies should we adopt to benefit from global Gnclading

South African) RED mobiliy?

In onder to prepare response to these questions, a collection of data and perspectives

"hay een gathered and is presented here for consideration The National Advisory Council

‘on Innovation (NACH intially conceived of this study daring the course of visits by NACI

‘council members to the South Aftican science councils in AUgUSU/Seplember 2001, One of

the recuring temes they encountered during discussion was the loss of R&D

professionals and the inability to retain both experienced and recent entrants into the

Institution I was agrced that R&D mobility was not necessanlly 4 negative facto, but

NACI couneil members were uneasy that they Were unable to answer the question of

‘whether ths mobility was indeed proving beneficial or not During the same period, there

‘was significant dehate on whether South Africa should open ts doors and welcome non

ceatizens into the RED workforce

“The § the frst study’ om RD mobili to be conducted in South Africa, We have

attempted 10 ly bare some of the fats and figures that offer early insights and build our

Understanding of how to address the challenges The recommendations in Chapter Sex

offer practical responses that are immediately clear from the study

Inthe context of the national RED strategy, providing effective measures forthe ong-

term health of the national R&D workforce isa key policy consideration

uc Abrahams

Reference Group Convenor, NACL

South Afica’s re-emergence from isolation has placed it under intense pressure in areas suchas interational trade and the mobility of human resources These are areas in which _most other competitor countries have been developing polices and taking advantage of

ew opportunites inthis ime of intensifying globalisation Ir & not easy to play “cate

up in the fast-paced world economy, where developing economies have 1 compete with industrialised counties with far greater economies of 5

‘economy sie and influence on the global

‘The mobility of highly sled workers, paniculaly the RAD workforce, was the cen concem ofthis project In media reports and public addresses, concer is often raised about the loss of highly skilled human resources from South Afi

Mobily ofthis nature i a world-wide trend, however, ad many indus sch as the United Kingsom (UK), face simular problems Many of thee top re

‘migrate to the United Sates (US), where prospects for research are viewed! 2s better and brighter

Emerging economies such as India (andl now China), with a lange pool of highly skilled

‘griduates, see many oftheir most talented young knowledge workers leaving for highly paid jobs abroad and prospects of upward mobllty that are scarce in their own country South Afica also experiences the problem of a decline in skilled immigeation 1 the

‘country since the 980s At the same time, there has been 4 surge ia the number of Jmmigrans fom other pans of Africa, both legal and iega National policies and regulations on immigration are complex and have not yet developed the stage that they are in harmony with the Human Resource Development Sritegy for South Ati the National Research and Development Strategy and the National Pan for Higher Education, These three strategies drive the development of highly sled human resources in South Africa, and the R&D workforce in panicular, and must operate harmoniously with other policy instruments of government

Since 1994, South African policy makers have been involved in prolife period of

“developing new policies and legsation, Over the next few years, i il be smporant for these policies to be more closely iteyrated, paricularly as eegards the development of highly skilled human resources Even more importanty, the National Research and Development Strategy and the Human Resource Development Strategy are both strongly indicator based and need accurate and timeous data to monitor the progtess and success ofthe strategies

Mobility does not refer only to the movement of people between countries but also the

‘movement of people within systems, Questions sich as why trained researches leave their esearch Fields for management postons, and where the next generation of science and technology workers i going fo come From, need to be asked and answered South

‘Arca currently has problems in providing the kinds of data and information eequite, paiculaty in the imponant areas of informal and small business skills and gender and ace demographics The dita gathering system is improving, but the present projet shows hows eral iis 1 have clea information if we are to make informed decisions on {sues related to the mobility ofthe R&D workforce

Forte afiek, the Buropean Union (EU) has heen paying close attention to prometing the

‘mobility offs RED and other skilled workess within the EU, since the fows of these

people promote understanding between countries, help form enduring and productive

hetworks between counties and institutions and are an important driver of innovation

“The OECD has similar interest, and works closely with the EU inthis regard The EU

is nevenheless concemed about ourward migration of high level human resources,

‘especialy to the US, and the EU 6th Framework Programme includes financial ad to

sa the return of scientists and researchers and to promote their cinclation,

“The message is that mobility needs to be understood, spd thats should be managed by

raking the home envionment as attractive as possible and maintaining contact with the

tlaspora, South Acs, asa leader in RRD and science al technology’ (SST) in Ara

reeds to understand the forces and pressures tha drive mobility in South Afeca and in

‘ther African Union counties, Co-operative agreements snd good intentions between

‘ouitres ane only as sang a the people that etsy implement ther, and mobili 6

an smporant factor ta promoting co-operation and understanding,

Lastly, « deeper understanding of the links between investment in RAD and the

innovation process in ims is required Globalisation is driving 4 decentralisation of

innovation away from the old company laboratory operating slongside corporate

headquarter Value chains for both production and knovsledge production are now

_lobal, with ionovation occurring at many disoint ses RED outputs ae therelone

sourced globally in ways that both depend upon ancl are restricted by mobility Mobility

's therefore a much wider concept than the Train drain, and that is what this study seeks

tớ explone

Michael Kaha

Executive Director, Knowledge Management Group, HSRC

11s therefore pleasing to acknowledge how the various working relationships have developed, both within the HSRC and in conetion with the CSIR Adeonal funding from NACI also permitted a research inten from the University of the Westen Cape to be Included inthe project

In particular, appreciation must be extended to the team responsible for designing and

‘conducting the national R&D Survey on which questions on mobility have been ‘pigay backed This kind of synergy between surveys is somewhat unusual I offer a possible

‘methodology for the fate that s boh cos-effecive and less demanding of respondents

Many individuals made time within thee busy schedules t0 panicipate in interviews, and

\we thank them for sharing thei experiences and insights with us to enrich the project

“The project was overseen by a reference group consisting of the following NACL subcommitee: Ms L Abrahams (Convenor), Pro M Ramashala and Mr T Seiloaoe Mr Deena Naidoo was seconded from the NACI Secretariat to suppont the reference group,

“The project team sould ike to thank the Reference Group and other members of NACL for their help and guidance in undertaking the project and also the NACI Secretariat for suppor and encouragement

“Those thit attended the NACI workshop on mobility in September 2002 are thanked! for their time and for ensiching the debates around mobi

Simon Netshicthe ofthe National Research Foundation (NRF) is thanked for asisting

‘with higher education data, Yolanda du Plessis ofthe CSIR is gratefully acknowledge for Constructing the estuary figures for Chapter Three, Makdimets Mamashela i thanked for fssnting withthe SANSA (South Afscan Network of Skills Aboud) data Inputs by Mercy Brown are acknowledged The anonymous reviewer is thanked for the many wsefall

‘comments and insights provided, The Souxhern African Migration Projet is thanked for thee assistance and discussions on the projet Simone Esau is thanked for assistance in compiling the mobiity data on the science councils The salf of Statistics South Africt's User Information Services and Marketing Section aze thanked for providing valuable assistance in data collection The many others that provided information and data forthe sudy are also gratefully acknowledged

‘Thanks must also be extended to the adminisrative staff ofthe HSRC and €SIR, and in pariculae to Ms Vala West of Knowledge Management

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Fears about the impact of a brain drain ofthe highly skied from South Affi have had

significant media and political attention over the las two Years Against this background,

the National Advisory Council on Innowation (NACD commissioned the Human Sciences

Research Counei (HSRC) to conduct a study on the broader question of the mobility of

personnel inthe research and development sector That mobilty has become an anes of|

‘concern i hae suapesingy South Alia i now open for business and is part of the

world community, a community that itself s subject the benefits and vagaries of

globalistion

‘Speculative capital socks out the best return So too do knowledge workers whose tools

of trace travel in total intimacy with them, Hence we offer the parody: "Knowledge

‘workers have nothing to Tose but their brains, They have a World to win

‘This project has approached the issues of brain drain, brain gan, brain circulation, and

brain development not as dissiers, Dut as component ceaiies of mobili’ dhat must he

‘managed for what they are, both good and bad

The mobdliy of skied workers, paniculaly research and development (RED) workers,

an imponant aspect of South Aica's national system of ianovation, but i has had limited

Scrutiny The present analysis should therefore be viewed as an initial investigation into

an area that is Fundamental to ational competitiveness and has important sector

reglonal, continental and international dimensions, Some of the major themes that

‘emenged from the project, 38 wells ancis that warant farther policy and research

tention, are highlighted in this overview

Definitional issues

1, Skis are essential 0 the development ofthe South African economy tis Uherefore

‘essen that all stakeholders work to formulate consensus around definitions of

skills levels that are appropriate to the South African experience but that retin

‘ntermatonal comparability The proxect made distinctions among four levels of skill

but its choices were often even by the availabilty of data rather than the

‘underlying analytical menis of the definitions, To co-ordinate research elforts and

advance our understanding of mobity in South Alia, definitions need to be

+ What cferentates the highly skilled workers/population from the skilled?

+ Which further qualficationsoccupations distinguish individ a hum

resources in science and technology (RST?

+ Finally, what is meant by a South Affican RAD worker?

Data quality

Dats qualiy requires particular attention, Data from different sources are often

incomparable because difering methodologies and definitions have been use

Longitudinal data are therefore very limited Data that ae avalible ate often

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

conflated, which makes it itually impossible to distinguish highly skiled

‘ndiiduals The dificutes ate compounded by the inherent incentive for people to

‘misrepresent their intentions tothe South Afecan authonties when they are emigrating or immigrating Finally, even general data on the intemal mobility of the South African population are extremely limited Our study confirms the earlier Findings of Brown, Kaplan and Meyer (2001) regarding the underreporting of

‘migration to major destination countries such asthe United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, This Now i up to four times 3 lange asthe figures declare by Statsties South Africa

Respondent fatigue

3 Although itis leary imponant to gather beter and more consistent data on

‘mobility, it must be remembered that the resource demands on onginisations for assembling thí information are far from trv There is ned to work across the priaury information sources curren being gathered 10 determine how they can be Used 19 inerease the coverage on mobility and to ensure that any addtional data

‘demands on organisations take this burden into accoxnt, While fem ll mani their own personnel data and must comply with the equifements of employment

‘equity and skills development legislation, very inited data re kept om the reasons for employees’ departure Exit inceriews are as inaccurate 36 emigration data

Addressing the base

4 A-citical and central issue, which forms bottleneck in the system, isthe supply of

‘mathematics and physical science graduates from the school system, The number of| [Afrcan school leavers with higher grade passes in mathematics and physical science remains at about one fith of all schoo! levers with these qualifications tenia

to address ths in the medium and long tem f South Adc i610 grow ts SST hase South Alfa already spends the equivalent of about 48 per cent of GDP on

college/school education, compared with 0.7 per cent of GDP on higher education,

0 finding affordable says to deal withthe problem, one of the most damaging

‘consequences of apaneid policies, are paramount Building HRST

5 Wis necessary to examine the percentage of the adult South Afican population tt comprises the country's stock of human resources for science and technology relative to other countries In Table 32 on p 39, comparison with other nations

‘shows thatthe percentage of South Africa's adult population who are qualified HRST

© percent) is higher than in Brual 7 percent), Indonesia (5 per cent) ancl Turkey (8 per cen, but lower than in Zimbabwe (10 per cent), Mexico (13 per cent) and South Korea (23 per cen) In reflecting on the implications ofthis tts ts

‘mportint to consider the extent to which South Afi i aculy working according

to covordinated strategy 1 advance its skils levels and enhance its technological competitiveness Il is also necessity 10 recognise the time lg between the inception fof strategy’ and the sustained production of sil

Executive SUMMARY

a

6, The stark imfalances in gender and racial repesentativeness in the science and

technology system generally, and in research in particular, require urgent tention,

‘Unfortunately the inflows from the higher education system, which in tun are

dependent on the feedthrough from the schooling system will ake considerable

time to change, This 6 particulary tre i the Feds of S&T The profile of the highly

skilled workforce thus changing only slowly overtime, although there appear 0

have heen significant improvements (albeit from a low base) in the science council

subssystem since 1991

There are gaps in elution policy, specially regarding suppor, financial and

‘herve, for postgractate snd doctoral silent nd for penidoctral research For

‘example, South Afsca preduced only 274 PRD graduates in the natural sciences and

temineering in 2000, South Africa needs fo review is polices and suppor measutes

for posigriduate stidents to ensure that we have a competitive and viable S&T and

RSD workforce forthe future The shortage of S&T and RAD workers needs to be

addressed by more comprehensive funding for postgraduate reseatch students and

particulary by the seppen of posidoctoral fellows, Again, these iiatves ould be

ned to centes of excellence programmes to build new capacity in the S&T

system The NEPAD S&T Intatve icles the development of continent-wide

centres of excellence (NEPAD 2003)

Brain gain

This study has found that foreign students and in panicular African students

represent an increasingly important component of the research capacity of South

-Atdcan higher education instiutons Figure 3.3 on p 31 lustrates this ese, with

froth from around 10 000 sudent ia the lực 1980s and early 1990s to over 30.000,

by the early 20008 In common sith muiny Universities and programmes in other

‘unties, such as the US and France the vidbilty of posigraduate programmes at

some university departments acualy hinges upon the presence of foreign students

fl the government subsiies associated with them As seh, this dependency s

ako sjmptomatc ofthe dificuljes South Aliean rationals face in pursuit of higher:

level qualifications

9, South African higher education institutions (HEIS) have become a continental fu

for postsecondary taining In Table 3 on p 40, the relative uniqueness of ths

position in an international contexts shown As a percentage of otal HED

feolmens, foreign students in South Africa comprise 5.3 per cent, This sition is

‘moe simile 0 more economically developed nations sueh as Australia (where 12.5

[er cent of students re from foreign coins), the UK (11 per cent) and the US

(5.2 per cent than other economically developing nations like Argentina (0.2 per

‘ent South Korea (0.1 per cent) and Malaysia (07 per cent) This woe as a

continental hub for African higher education ruil for fostering intatves like the

Alrican Union (AU) under the New Parnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)

platform (ako represents potent fe a win-win stwation, i that foreign sil

help develop a domestic research system with absorptive capacity for South Afican

employment

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

10, R&D workers that come to South Arca do 50 for a varity of reasons, For many Africans, South Aftica provides better research opportunites and envionments However itis not always easy for them, as they Keep having to prove themselves and w find acceptance among both white and black colleagues Some RED workers have been brought into the country on contrat fora specitied period because they Ihave special ski

11, Cerain academies have come fo South Africa from leading insittions in Europe

‘Their stores illustrate that while there are RED workers that are leaving South [Arca there are others that consider South Afia to be an exciting place o conchict thee esearch

Brain circulation

12, Inn increasingly networked world, From sich South Africa was langely exchaded

in the pas, ts impomant for South Afica to provide mechanisms that promote the

‘exchange and transfer of skills withthe rest of the world Tis is particley true in specialist areas where South Africa Licks capacity to proside a stimulating and cabling envionment

13, A shorterm focus on mechanisms to encourage skis transfer for people that come Into the South African R&D system for shon periods is recommended There isa need t formulate a human mobllty ttegy to manage the realy of South African and foreign mobility, paniculrty regarding the highly skilled ina globalised and

‘competitive environment South Arca must decide on the best mix betveen

Importing sls and growing local skis, Time will he needed to realise the benefits

‘of this mix Foreign skills need to be harnessed to create more regional absorptive

‘capacity In the shor term there should be a focus on exogenous skills, and

‘endogenous capacity should be allowed to develop in the medium to long teem At the same time, itis important to keep the development and equity agenda alive by importing skills that wil assist in the growth and development of relevant expertise inthe county

14, common trend, both nationally and internationally, and in many fields, 6 for researchers, technicians and specs 10 mave inlo management careers These ate fften the brightest and more ambitious specialists While there are benefits of having Senior managers with direct experience i research there are problems in small R&D workforce such asin South Africa where the loss of handful of top

researchers can have drastic effects on capacity in a panicular field Certain firms hhave responded to this trend by sting up parallel tracks for career pathing in beth

‘management and specialist areas Such dual mechanisms ate also needed in the public sector

15, Reggeding dhe importation of foreign researchers, improved processes for suing temponiry residence and work permits and a better ongnised system of hosting insifuions cạn have a positive impact on the mobility of researchers Ths should be something thatthe Deparment of Science and Technology atends to in partnership

‘with other ministries, departments (notably Home Affairs) and relevant instutions,

Executive SUMMARY

ee Mobily needs to be considered as an insie that affects all government departments,

Clarity in leisation is sential, and speedy processes are needed to deal with

applications for entry’ and residence oe work permits The impostion of ting

levies in fields such as RSD is likely (0 act as.a disincentive and a funher

slsadvanuage to South Affca relative 1 highly advanced economies

Brain drain

16 Recent wends inthe origins and destinations of migrating South Aficans show the

Deginning ofa change in migration patterns, This seen in Figure 5.25 0n p 49

and Figure 3.35 on p 56, Immigrants are increasingly rom other economically

‘developing nations Other African nations are increasingly the destinations of

emigrating South Afficans

17 RAD workers that leave the country may do s0 fora variety of reasons Some leave

for personal reasons and indicate thatthe erime problems lave made ther fee

unsafe The mobil of RED workers especially Young RKD woekers, fs 4 global

Phenomenon Many young researchers would lke to Workin larger, mose intense

research environments that offer greater challenges, and now that South Aftca is

‘par of the global world, there ate more avenues open for them t explore

18 A point of unexpected interest fom the initial 2001/2002 RSD Survey data on

science council RSD (SC-RAD) workers the Very’ small percentage of Foreigners

‘employed as SC-RAD personnel Tere appears to be very litle Foreign employment

at science councils, since only 2 per cent of employees are reported to be non-South

‘rican citizens Whether ths isa reporting bias Irom personnel department, wil

foreign nationals being undercounted, is not cleat and will be an aspect for further

investigation once the complete RAD Survey data become available However, the

crent tight regulations regarding the employment of foreigners could inhibit

{employers from employing nof‹ctizens, People from other counties, who ate i

possession of work or residence permis, may als simply be regarded 6 South

Alvcans from the employer's perspective and for official records,

Age shall not weary them

19 The age profile of scence council RAD workers fom the RED Survey is compared

in Figure 341 on p 64 to the analysis of Mouton, Boshoff & Bailey (2002) The 2002

R&D Survey shows a more normal disnbuion of young and oll workers than

expected Studies hy the Cente for Interdiseptinary Shdies atthe University of

Stellenbosch indicated that only 15 per cent of esearch cutputs (publications) were

produced by researchers under the age of 0, and almost 50 per cent vere

produced by reseurchers over the age of 50 (Mouton eta, 2002), While academic

researchers need 0 be included fora clearer picture, appear tha there may be

mone young researchers in the system than previously believed, If young researchers

‘are not publishing their research findings this could bean indication of lack of

loterest in a longeienn career in research

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

20, ‘There has been significant collaboration between the mobility sudy reported on here andthe ongoing 2001/2002 RAD Survey Many of the issues ientifed in this projet wil be more fully developed once the complete results ofthe RSD Survey become avalible

Policy and research issues

21, This study has shown some ofthe difficulties that are encountered when working With data and information on the mobility of R&D workers, Only when sustained institutional capacity to perform and integpret surveys and data sources i in place

‘will we more clearly understand the mobibty flows inthe country The present sty

‘yas able to draw on various sources of information, but there were problems #9

‘obxaining adequate, lable time series and appropriate sectoral data This is also an international problem, however, and very few courses (cl as Canada and some

‘of the Nordic countries) have comprehensive mobility surveys an data in place:

22, Perhaps there i too great a focus in South Africa on RD an! innovation within the fim, and we are aot looking closely enough at the human resources nd technology transfer Hnks withio the Gncreasingly global value chain Policy makers need t0

‘guard against judging RAD and innovation potential on the basis of infirm activities alone

23 South Affi is often deserbed as an early adopter of imponed technologies and perhaps the country has meni inthis regard, The skills of techology tsnsfer and adaptation need to be supported and encouriged

24, The history of isolation fo business, academia and research, and ts effects on South Africa's reintegation into the global economy, have been more profound than i fenerally believed Serious challenges face the country a8 it develops and bulls a

‘ew, Viable, internationally competitive, innovative and equitable esearch systema par of a more comprehensive economic and social approach to addressing global ows and forces A deeper understanding of the social dynamics ofthe science system isan important element in creating stronger links between home snd

daspora scence communities

25 A.government department such as Home Affairs, which does not have a science, technology and innovation or economic mission, has 1o deal with an impenant aspect of SAT worker mobility through the Znmigration Act ts important that government deparmnents that are orientated towards science, technology and

education, as well as other players, communicate and negodate with Home Affairs Alternatively, the department could be given a speciie mission and mandate

reganding SAT and be held accountable for tis

26, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAS) appear to be poorly understood, paiculary by smaller irs, higher education institusons and even public bodies

‘Their imporance and relevance needs to be explained and demonsied, The ccurent focus of SETAS is base skills development, but they provide a model and

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

””———————ễễễ

‘mechanism for sis development at higher level, which is potentially appropriate

to the S&T and R&D workforces,

Finally, the research findings and recommendations of this project must be

lsseminated to as broad an audience as possible and must fad wide application,

\Wahout this, the usefulness of the project will be limited Through dissemination

and discussion, this project can advance interest in and understanding of this

‘important, but relatively neglected, dimension of South Arica’ national system of

Research infrastructure

> The sưengening of South Africa's SST and RSD infastucture, including the

establishment of centres of excellence, is part of the National RAD Strategy The

‘evelopment of centres of excellence wil be critical ithe country i to retain its

best researchers and, moreover, become a populie destination for visiting scientists

Centres of excellence area sound hasis on which to build capacity, but they should

be imenactiv, and thei purposes and viability within the global valve chain must be

cleat Industry and international involvement in their establishment will be vital for

their long-term sustainability

Concluding remarks

»

30

Discussions with variety of onganisations showed that #8 important for business,

government, higher education institutions and science councils to realise that South

‘fica faced with a strong resource constraint surounding highly skilled

individuals and that these sectors and institutions will have to address this fsue in

their policy formolation and planning initiatives Actions in one sector will affect

other sector, and developing networks and an understanding of sectoral dynannis

tnd inkatives are therefore imponant steps in developing a co-ordinated and

televant mobility sintegy'

‘The study has not found evidence of a ‘hain drain’ crisis, although it didnot

Investigate specific sectors such as public healthcare, where problems may be more

acute, The ‘bain drain’ may be overestimated, in thatthe rate of reurn to South

Aliie isnot clear South Africans have only really been welcome to travel and work

freely in other counties since 1994, and many of those currently abroad may return

fn due course, Even sf they do nos, they may sil retain box formal and informal

links withthe county, and mechanisms suchas the South African Network of Skills

[Abroad (SANSA) and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business

(UCT-GSB) World Bank Daspora network attempt to suppon and develop these

links forthe purposes of development in South Alrica, One thing i clear, however:

if South Africa’ public research system is perceived to be weak or eroding, in that

there are few job opportunities or resources available, this will encourage national

researchers, especially the young, to seek positions i other countries Likewise,

‘weak S&T system will not atract the Rows of skilled Foreigners required to stimulate

the system

A sTupy ON THE MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

ye

at An HSRC study in 1998 suggested that there appeared to be a pariculaely crippling ‘shorage of up 1 1 500 software engineers, but others appeat to have a different View One notes with pleasure, therefore, an announcement that 3 major software development house has relocated from Oriando, Florida to Cape Town Arguably {this relocation is not based on climatic preference, and probably has much to do

‘withthe common language and, as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the

‘company involved notes, good skills base of people in Cape Town! This latest development gives impetus to those that would lke to see the development of

‘Slicon Cape’ and points to the need for a much deeper study of the components of South Africa's regional system of innovation,

Economically active population European Commission

Educational Opportunites Gounel Environmental Technologies tndusry [Education and Training Quality Assurer European Union

Foreign direct investment Further Education and Training, Fulltime equivalent

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Growth, Employment and Redistribution policy Historically disadvantaged insitusion

Higher education insttions Higher Education Management Information Sytem Human resource development

Human resources in science and technology Human Selences Research Council

Historically white instition Imperial Chemical Industries Information and Communication Technology Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Indigenous Knowledge Systems Labour Force Survey

Master's in Business Administration Motor todusty Development Programe National Advisory Counei on Innovation New Partnership for Areas Development 7" 1111

tonal Qualifications Framework

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS 7—n-= r-. - =

[National Research Foundation National Research and Technology Foresight [National Skills Authority

[National Standards Bodies

‘National Sills Fund [National Stadent Financial Aid Scheme [National System of Innovation

Science and Technology South Africa / South African Southern African Development Community Southesn African Large Telescope Project Southern African Migration Project, South African Network of Skis Abeoad South African Post-Secondary Education South African Qualileaions Authority Science Councils

Science, Engineering and Technology Sector Education and Training Authority

‘Science, Engineering and Technology Institution Standards Generating Bodies

Safety in Mine Research Advisory Commitee

‘Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme:

University College London University of Cape Town,

UCFGSB University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

we University of Pretoria uwe University of the Western Cape wits University of the Witwatersrand

CHAPTER |: INTRODUCTION

‘The flamingos migrate only to return when the brackish water are replenished

‘This chapter briefly introduces the general framework within which the study was

conducted, the project terms of reference and objectives and the approsch and layout of

the report

1A The context of the study

‘There has heen significant comment on the ‘brain dein’ from South Afiea by poliexl

and business leaders and the media, The situation & described in alarmist terms as

‘ential, but there as been limited analysis ofthe ternational trends i this regard, oF of

the more subtle issues underlying the phenomena of brain drain’ and brain gain

There hs also heen litle consideration of the henefts that can be drawn from the flows

of skills herween economies, a flow that many countries, both developed and developing,

fare taking advantage of There is some confusion as to whether South Africa isin brain,

drain enss, oF jus affected by natural market flows, for which appropriate remedies are

required As a sepon in Business Day (20 February 2008) notes,» UK information

technology (TT) company is relocating a facility from Ortando, Florida to South Afiea

Dpecuse there i a good skils base of people hete that will give us the opportunity to

develop one of out core products further and faster than we would be able to do ia

‘Orlando where it has been based This move will ceate 250 local jobs This study aims

tor uncover these and other factors,

A worldwide problem isthe dlificuly of distinguishing the science and technology

(SAT) workforce from the rational workforce, and the research and development (RSD)

workforce within the SST workforee, Countnes that manage to overcome these difiules

Ihave had to develop and conduct specific surveys hased on the Organization for

conomic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Canberra Manual approach Given

the paucity of relevant data on S&T and R&D human resources in South Afi, ii

therefore difficult 1 obtain a clear picture of the mobility of RAD workers, Tis study

essentlly draws on, and makes the best use of, avaiable data on the S&T and R&D

‘workforce and the mobility of RED workers both within the South African SAT systems

and internationally

‘Thete ae concer that, before and since 1994, South Afi has experienced a loss of

key human resources from the country through emigration, Over the sime period, the

SAT system hus been undergoing major transformation, which includes increasing

pressures on research jstitutions to generate thei own incomes as they seek to adress

new, broader and more equitable mandates,

A claim, perhaps based on anecdotal evidence, i thatthe outcome of these and other

pressures has been that the more internationally mobile researchers have left insiutions

to seck more stimulating research environments elsewhere in the world Other

researchers have apparently been lured from seseatch nto management and other non:

R&D environments, where salaries and other conditions of employment are more

atwactve Atthe same time, here are concerns that South Afca’s immigration policy has

become very restrictive since 1994, and that this is exacerbating the skils shonage i the

country

A stupy ON THE MOBLtry OF R&D WORKERS

EY South Afica clearly has a problem with the influx of iegal immigrants throogh

‘neighbouring sates, The flow of these illegal immigrants increases at ines of econo and socal criss in other counties, as people come to South Anca in search of

‘opportunities The onus rests on immigration legislation both to deal with potentil

immigrants and skilled workers from other developing and developed countries, and to

‘manage the problem of ‘legals and the legitimate concerns of the unemployed This

‘demands a fine balance in regulations, The current regulations are cumbersome While in theory they allow very high quotas of skilled workers to enter, they may in Fact serve asa barrier beeause ofthe complex process of seratiny and the high Fees stuctue For perms

‘The stark imbalances in gender and rail representativeness in the SAT system generally, and in esearch in panicular, require urgent attention, Unfortunately, the istows from the higher education system, which in tum are dependent on the feedhrough from the schooling system, will take considerable time to change, This i panicularly tre in the

ST fick The profile ofthe highly skilled workforce is therefore only changing slowly

‘over time, although there have been significant guns in the seience councl subsystem,

‘World-wide, the choice of careers has grown as economies become more complex and global The emerging reality is that of lifelong leaning, with frequent carcer changes The atuacton of a career in research thus appears not to be as strong a i used to be, Many other carers are fir mone lucrative and aractive,

Mobility studies are concerned with the relationships among all the forces ian econonyy that tend to atract or epel people and influence thelr carcer choiees Any studies ofthe mobility of KRD workers investigate a very small sector ofthe population, on whict there

re 4 paucfy of reliable historical data on which to base a study of flows ito and out the system,

‘More data are available on the natonal human resources in science and technology

GHRSD, broadly defined as comprising people with a minimam of a fis diploma or degree The type of data avaiable on HRST ate quite Varied, however, and conclusions fare difficult 1 draw

“The approach of this project was therefore to use as mach avaiable data and information

as possible and also to draw on literature, international data and policy information, Data from primary sources were obtained Unough interviews with representatives of

‘onganisations and by constructing personal case studies to elicit ew and useful

Information for understanding the Factors diving migration in the S&T and RSD

‘workforce, Moreover, the National Advisory Council on Innovation’s (NACL) RED Worker [Mobility seudy was able to benefit from the parale! national RAD Survey, which was

‘conducted by the same HSRC unit, This situation made st possible, at no cost 1 the NACL

‘study, to include questions on mobility inthe Frasca’ questionnaife, and meant thatthe NACI study hdl the potential to reach a much larger sample of respondents In prctce however, only the science council data were avaiable within the ime period of the NACI

‘study, IU is hoped thatthe Frasca mobilay data on the other sectors will yet be available for processing during the course of 2003

“The conclusions drawn on domestic mobility need to be tempered with the realisation that globalisation isan overarching phenomenon over which developing counties have

INrRobUcriow

———————=—————ni— line control As is the ease withthe factors promoting investment, if South Afica

positions its SAT and immigration systems unfavourably with respect to the rest of the

‘World, twill Jose ground Is an inescapable Fat of global ife that counties such 3

‘Taiwan and Canada are able 1o create thousands of new, well-funded university chai

‘The other side of this coin (so to speak) isthe role of our country in the Southern African

Development Community (AD©) region and, through the New Partnership for Aftica’s

Development (NEPAD), for Africa as 2 whole,

(Over the last 40 yeas, the industrialised countries have seen dramatic shifts in the

‘composition oftheir economies as the mines and smokestack industries have given way

to service industies, By 1995, 8 per cent of the Canadian population aged 25-64 had a

post-secondary education (a proxy for knowledge workers), compared with an OECD

sverige of 23 per cent In most OECD countries, knowledge-based industries account for

40-50 per cent of business sector value added and 30-40 per cent of employment This

Sth n che nature of production i itimatey associated with the unfolding information

fd communication technology (ICT) revolution, In aldion, the changing nature of work

fn new relationships between capital and labour have given rise to what i reirded 2s

s new techno-econoanie paradign (Mansell & Web 1098)

“This post-Fordist mode of production, though far from uniformly in place, cals forth

Aexbity of labour and manifests across many spheres of value addition, The flexibility of

labour is offen narowly understood to entail capital determining how, when and where

human capital isto be deployed The broader view would include that knowledge

workers are frequently themselves able 19 decide on where, when and how to work, and

hhow much to work for Knowledge capital may indeed march to a different drum This

caerch is what RSD worker mobility & about, One might parody the Communist

Manifesto thus: “Knowledge workers have nothing o lose but theit brains They have a

‘world 1 win’ In practice, of course, there are many intermediating factors that determine

‘where nl when one can Work ~ our parody jus that ~ a parody = since there is

market for knowledge workers, as for other skills

‘What then of South Aiea? The sence sector of the economy, including financial

Services, was the most dynamic through the 1990s and now accounts for the majority of

the formally employed 1 might be argued therefore thatthe country is moving towards

thar vague concept of the ‘knowledge economy.” Maybe Unlike many other developing

counties, South Aca, with is fist world:hied world dichotomy, joined the compiter

age alongside the OECD states, has a functioning rational system of innovation, and

‘isplays many atabutes associated sth the advanced economies ts challenge les

precisely in addressing the dichotomy, lest be swamped by the burden of is past

Financial services, private medical care, insurance, minerals management, arms

production, automosive components, agnbusines, to name but a few, ae workdcass

Industries where knowledge is managed for shareholder benefit Extending sch practices

across society isthe tisk of development, a challenge that crtically ests upon the

ssa of igh level sil, This requires synergy across education, training, labour,

tnd instal and inxmigration policy This may sound ikea tall order, bu the tick

recor ofthe country suggests that it can be done As the national RAD Strategy nots,

the abandonment of mision-riven technology programmes, which guarded the

perceived security needs of the apanbedd state, now leaves the SAT system apparently

tirectionless, We suggest that this need not he the case Insead, decision-makers have a

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

choice to make Do they eave the production of knowledge capital to chance through laissez faire approach, oF the Fscus willing, is possible to engage more vigorously sith

2 ‘persoa-power’ planning system? This would imply puriculr (esearch and) technology missions across government, each linked to clear knowledge capital development

programmes and funded at suitable level Such a shift in thinking entails shift Fromm a

‘lind supply side approach to one linked to demand I is saightorwaed to adduce evidence ofthe disjuncture The recently published Coriculum Statement for Grades 10

12 (DoE 2002) includes the teling declaration: ‘The proposal ofthe Qualifications and Assesment Policy Framework Grades 10-12 (Schools) that mathematical lneraey and ức

‘orientation should be part of fundamental learning, poses serious challenges tothe system the taining of teachers to teach these subjects isa major challenge Given the realty of unreliable or non-existent data, the scale of the challenge can only be

‘extrapolated from current Senior Cerificate enrolment figures

“The need for reliable data and excellent information could not be more pressing

1.2 Terms of reference

‘One of the most frequently mentioned vulnerabilities that NACI encountered ding is Annual site visits to science, engineering and technology institutions (SETI) in 2000 eas the inadequate provision of appropriately skiled and experienced researchers and

technical suppor saff The problem took a range of forms, including

‘+ Significant numbers of experienced and productive professionals resigning, being retrenched, of lewving the organisation for various other reasons

‘+ The cost of capacity development among novice researchers

‘+The offen low quality of research taining offered by higher education institutions,

‘+ ‘The revolving door phenomenon among middle and top black management stall

Ie became clea tat the inadequate provision and suspect sustainability of a senior R&D workforce were already impacting negatively and threatening to upset the achievements ofthe SAT system,

[NACI then commissioned the HSRC 10 undertake a project that was to focus on the various dimensions of the mobiity of R&D workers i South Afica ia the domain of Science and technology In this investigation, R&D workers wil refer to "esearch, technicians, and equivalent saff, and ether supporting stall (Canberra Manual, 1995: 28)

“The construct ‘mobility’ will be used to refer 1 “a Now not only between sectors, regions, apd counites but also between occupations (Canberra Manual, 1995: 14), while the construct ‘bean drain’ shall refer to "the migration of highly qualiied personnel (bid)

‘While brain drain isa negative phenomenon that describes the permanent loss of skills from a country, mobility is a more positive concept deserbing the human resource flows between sectors, regions, countries and occupations and the consequent learning,

networking and transfer of knowledge and understanding that occurs Iti important for a country to manage the mobility of its highly skilled workers to best advantage for the sake of economy and society

IrRopucrIow

trHH====——————————————————————-

11 was recognised that knowledge of the extent, nature, dynamics, Functions and the

dlysfuncions of the mobility of RAD workers was still very elementary, and terms of

reference of the project included providing a beter understanding of the dynamics

surrounding mobility In particular the project ws to

Assess factors such as the extent, ranure, dynamics, functions and dysfunctions of

R&D worker mobility

+ Assess the implications of the mobi on the productivity of the national system of

Ingovation (NSD and programmes of research capacity development,

+ Develop appropriate strategies,

lả Objectives

‘The projet was commited to prodcing 4 repor covering selected aspects of the

bility of RRD workers ie South Aca

The main objectives of the projet, a8 outlined inthe tems of reference, sr to

‘Quantify as reliably as possible the scale and nature of R&D personnel turnover and

slows at a cross-section of higher education iasitations (HEIs) SETIs and industey

1+ Assess the extent to which the R&D flows are productive or dysfunctional

+ Provide seminal lutative case studies of such mobility over a five-year period

# Conducta workshop forthe assessment ofthe Findings an the drafting of an

integrated sepor

+ Formulate rng of appropri poly pions including appropri

implementation sates

+ Provide guidelines for measuring the impact of such statege interventions

+ Destareate areas for unr research

1.4 Components of the report

“The report consis of six chapters, including this introductory chapter Chapter 2 provides

2 framework for understanding the mobil’ of R&D workers through an overview ofthe

theoretical issues involved in a study of mobil’ and provides an overview of South

‘African policies and legisation concerning mobility, Ke conchides with an inteduction to

the various methodologies used in the project

‘Chapter 3 uses vanous data sources andl surveys 10 quantify the mobiliy of South Africas

R&D workers and human resources in SST IC attempts to map the flows inthe system

and integrate International movements of the highly skilled workforce

Chapter 4 address mobility from the experiences of omganisatons 1 deals with

‘organisational issues and summarises sues arising from interviews with key people

involved in priority fells of technology

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

Chapter 5 deals with mobility on the bass of the experiences of individuals and describes the subtler and more personal issues involved in mobility 2s gleaned Irom a series of

‘Chapter 6 concludes the repo, discusses policy implications and liss recommendations arising from the projet, aranging them in terms of shor, medium and long.term

Frameworks,

An Appendix is provided, containing more detailed information on various aspects of the project

CHAPTER 2: A FRAMEWORK

FOR UNDERSTANDING MOBILITY

AMONG R&D WORKERS

21 Introduction

A contextual and methodological oversiew of the projects presented in this chapter

Altera brief overview of some primary ksues surtounding mobility among South Areas

RAD worker, thrce sections review specific aspects of the projec, The fist provides

bye theoretical review and places the South Afpican experience in a lobal Context The

second is a crtical review of relevant policies in South Africa Finally the third presents

deals of the methodologies used in the empirical components of the project

Mobily among South Africa's RED sworkers fs not just about people erssng borders, but

Includes intemal motity Looking at this project from 2 slighly diferent perspective, one

‘cn say that we are analysing the role mobil plays inthe national sytem of innovation

fo the modem global economy, there is increased recgnition that innoxstion does not

Follow a lineae path from the laboratory’ to the matket place, Innovation by Tims and

advances in science both depend more and more on interactions heoween business,

ravional research onganisations and higher eduction institutions, fase way in which

these interactions occur i though the mobility of individuals

Fyestnent in human capital important as investment in capital goods In South

Africa, sills are 2 srong resource constraint and are cri determinants of innovadin,

productivity and economic growth, The mobility of human capital isan important path

for technology teinsfers between sector, between fiems and internationally History

‘many of South Africa's economic booms have been accompanied by inflows of foreigners

to develop and trnsfer foreign technologies

Ina recent ancl, Harvard academic Jlftey Sachs (2002) identifies the gap between S&T

fn the North and South ax being fundamental to the growing divide herween the worlds

rich and poor The mobili’ of individuals ix one of the dimensions in bridging that gap

and facilitating economic development While innovation and knowledge ransers occ

between individuals with diverse formal and informal quahficaions, ou project focwses

‘on formal R&D workers, The imponance of RED worker mobility in other regions is

feflected i quotation from a recent European Union (EL) seminae on the subject:

1s essential, indeed, for Europe to beable 0 resin ss oon researchers and

become ae altictive poe for research talent from other parts ofthe wood I ks

necessary therefore ta offer them gorx! conditions that make it interesting for tire

‘country researchers to come to Europe, starting from the conditions of ery

(eral 2002,

In addition, while some of the OECD states fear a brain dain, others Fear the

consequences for their knowledge prediction capsily’ of insulcien temporary

‘mobility One does not want to lose one’s hes, bu the Best must gavel to say a He top

Of thee fells, Ideas and technology travel best when packed between {0 eas

2.2 Theoretical orientation

“This section deseribes the brs theoretical orientation of the project, which ws

developed through a review of local and international hteature on mobility: Relationships

Derween South Afncan and interational Iterative on mobility were investigated

A stupy oN THE MoBiLITY OF RED WORKERS,

‘hroughout the review Three overarching themes emerged from this process, which ate labelled: globalisation, political and economic integration, and problematsaion of

mobility

Globalisation s «ubiquitous theme inthe modern literature on mobility With free trade

in goods, then services, ree trade in human resources would appear the nex! logical sep? However, the movement of people involves far more socio-economic interaction and disruption than the movement of goods or services, Following relatively closed

‘economic polices between the World Wars: international markets became increasingly slobal afer the Second World War, Today, therefore, most nations have 50 years of global

‘tagsformation behind them During the 40 yeurs between the end ofthe Second Wold

‘War and the early 1990s, enforced isolation severely limited South African participation in the global economy, Thus, South Afica in jst 10 years, has Faced the reality of highly accelerated globalisation, while simultaneously trying 10 coreec ts legacy of domestic inequity South Afican RAD capacity has had to be realigned within a global production ssructure and international competitiveness, The mobility of the South Affican R&D

‘workforce has obviously been influenced by this transformation, which will continue 10 bbe a major influence over the future employment structure of South Africa's RED system

‘There is another view, namely, that South Afi’ relative isolation is relevant ifthe

‘country is compared with Europe, but not when compare with many countries in Latin

“America and the developing world in general, which generally followed impor

substitution macro-economic policies until the early 1990s South Africa is no that

‘exceptional in this sense, but what is diferent isthe socio-polical context and the enforced nature of ts isolation, as well as its status of having been @ pariah in the word turd from participation in most world bods

‘One ofthe lubricators of the rapid pace of globalisation is undoubkedl the dissemination

‘of the ICT technologies that have permited the dispersal of value chains across the globe Since physical resources can equaly well be processed close to their point of production

‘or shipped to where enemy is cheap, the key factor in these decentralised chains i the ably t0 organise, control and monitor the production process This is one aspect ofthe knowledge economy Another isthe mobiliy of mind power, wth research being

conducted where the people at, rather than the people necessary having © relocate to the multinational headquarters This new breed of knowledge workers might be termed

‘sommes’, characterised by thet cell phone, omnipresence and mobility

‘economic integration under the Asean Union (AU) South Aa’ relatively advanced

‘economic development gives ita unique pesiton on the continent to advance its own and the continent's RED capacity through co-ordinated management of highly skilled [Arcans across the AU To these endl, the experience of the EU, with is heterogeneous

‘ations and mobility of citizenry, can be highly informative

‘The mobility of South Africa's RED workers plays several roles in the context of increased poltiel and economic integration

2 Therap be oe nora itis akon ora Was add a ma Bee wey ‘shaing eon a onc pe oe me eek 8,

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

——m——————— +The mobily of researchers allows them 10 develop thee individual potentials as

esearchers This occurs through a varety ef mechanisms, but the provision of a

slobal reference and networking of researchers with similar interests i crcl

‘+ With increased integration, mobility also serves to develop a research scale that is

crucial to attracting thers and building a vinuous circle of research development,

‘+The integration ane! mobility of RED workers fosters an understanding of key reional problems and establishes research networks that feat a more African

focused research agenda

In both the South Afican and international Meraute, one is challenge by the complexity

‘of mobiliy, which &s made even more so ina study such as this, which inter-relates with

‘our understanding of the national (and international) system of innovation, Data and

analyses that presumably investigate the same phenomenon can become incomparable

because of nuances in definition, The lterture therefore highlights the importance of

early defining the object of one's analysis Is an area of research in which no single

‘model clearly captures all ofthe major dimensions Asking the right questions depends

fm the context and focus of analysis, This project has therefore ted to be as explit as

Possible in defining the object of ts analysis and placing that analysis in relation to the

local and international lerture on mobility

2.3 Policy

“The min South African policy documents, legislation and government interventions with

regard to skilled human tesource development (HRD) and mobliy are examined in terms

‘of theic orginal intended outcomes as envisaged by policy makers Where possible, these

‘docmiens tnd interventions are also biel assessed in terms oftheir cent perceived

Sats and ienpacts, mations and benefits with respect © the stocks (development of

high level human resources), movements (ows within the national S&T and RSD

workforces) and international flows and forces (immigration and emigration)

It should he noted that since South Afica became a democracy in 194, Cabinet,

ministries, paiament, government departments and stakcholders have been highly active

in formulating andl contsbuting to new and amended legslation and policy document

For example, in 1998 and 1999, a tol of 196 Acts were passed by Parliament More than

465 draft Bills nd 226 Bills were also introduced in this pena, as were six Green Papers

and 21 White Papers Between 20 and 2002, the rate of new legislation and policy

Inyoduction slowed somewhat to 156 Acts, 215 Bis, 90 daft Bills, wo Green Papers and

rine White Papers With the production of legislation and policy documents atts current

rate (the period 1993-1997 was even busien, the environment Tor implementing policy

has been 4 complicated one, and much of the legislation and policy has still to be put in

place inthe spirit in which it was formated The integration ofthe numerous polices

And poliey instruments into coherent national strategies for equity, evelopment and

‘goth in complex national and international environment presents government ith

dificult challenges

23.1 The development of high level human resources (Stocks)

In view ofthe country’s past racial divisiveness, policy makers are well awage thatthe

‘equitable development ofa skilled workforce at al levels is one of the most pressing

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

problems facing South Africa Policies and interventions have been developed to tackle {these problems on three main fronts the transformation ofthe public schooling system, the upgrading of worker skills and the restructuring ofthe higher education system School system

‘The transformation of the public schooling system has the aim of providing 2 more equitable education sytem with access forall and the provision of appropriate education and improved sil for learners and schoo! leavers Catal problems persis in the

‘schooling system, including a lack of adequately trained and motivated teachers, poe Infrastructure in many areas, andthe impoverished communities and fickgrounds from which the majority of pupils come The issue of acess to schooling has heen addressed though the South african Schools Act (Aet 0 84 of 1996), while problems relating to Infrastructure ae tackled through the Register of Schoo! News and diferente school appropriations The slow proces of cumievlum reform is under way, snd Curiclum

‘Statements that comply with the policy of outcome-hased education (OBE) have been Published both forthe Compulsory Phase (Grades 1-9) and the Further Education and

‘Training (FET) Phase (Grades 10-12), Mathematics, seience and technology are par ofthe mandatory curiculum for the Compulsory Phase While a the FET Phase, al learners are required to take either mathematical literacy or mathematics itself as compulsory subjects

“The system appeats to be improving, as measured by the Senior Cenfcate pass rate [Government and numerous stikeholders have been involved in various interventions at rational and provincial level, sch asthe national learner performance smpeoverent strategy Tere have been significant improvements in the Senior Certificate pass rates from 2000 to 20ØI, and sgoin from 2001 to 2002 (a 68.9 per cent overall pass rte va achieved in 2002) However, the two gateway subjeets of mathematics and physical Science remain bortlenecks for future higher education careers, Indeed, the number of

‘Afrcan students attaining higher grade passes remains around 3000 for mathematics and

5 O00 for physical science (Kahn 2001), The National Strategy for Sclence, Mathematics and Technology Eslucation (DoE, 20012) seeks to adress these shortcomings by tangeting resources both a teacher education and at 102 so-alled ‘focus schools There are now

‘signs that the Seategy with its high-profile advocacy campaign, is yielding dividends

‘There sll appears to be insufficient opportunity for quality teaching of subjects taken on the standard grade, which limits higher education choices and opportunities for most school leavers

1m 2002, of the 440 000 learners that wrote the maculation examination, only 35 000 (40 per cent) wrote mathemases on the higher grade and only 20 000 (15 per cent of candidates) passed higher grade mathematics, While policies will be nese to addres this serious supply: problem, much action and commitment at community level wil be key to improving the quay of primary and secondary education Goverment, higher

‘education institutions, business and other stakeholders are keenly dware that uns this critical osteneck is addressed, the medium and long-term future and sustanabily of the South Alfican workforce, in comparison to other emerging economies sin jeopardy The broader intative of technology-enhanced learning is being addressed through the ICT in Education Strategy (DOE 2001), which seeks to provide framework to co-

‘ordinate the effons of provincial department to deploy ICT in schools

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

oot Upgrading worker sits

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) isa plan for edcation and tring, I

consists of strategies to develop an accessible, iotegrated approach to education and

tolning, relevant to South Arica at this time There are guidelines on how the different

education and training standards andor qualifications must be set and an explanation of

how courses will be accredited The aim is For everyone 0 be able to leaen throughout

thee lives, and accumulate qualification credits as they lean and work, including geting

crits For work experience

Workforce skills development previously relied on the appreniceship model, whieh

sradully collapsed in the 1980s, and which ia any case had tended to concentrate on

‘white workers In order to address the taining vacuum, and to meet ade union

cdemands for competency-based training a new approach was needed The Skis

Detelopmient Act (Aet no 97 of 1998) provides sn insutional Framework wo devise and

Jmplement national, sector and workplace stateges for developing and improving the

sult of the South African workforce and integrating these strategies within the Natio

(Qualifications Framework as contemplated in the South african Qualifications Autborty

‘at (Act 10.58 of 1995) The aim of the Skis Development Acts to make provision for

Tearnerships that lead 0 recognised occupational qualifications and to provide forthe

financing of skills development by means of a levy-grint scheme and a National Skills

Fund (NSP) The NOF is of cours, much wider than the training dimension an! includes

loth schooling and higher education,

Along with the Skills Development Levies Act (Act 90.9 of 199), the objectives ofthese

[Acs ae 1 ease the savestment of employers in workforce education and taining

promote education and training in the workplace and ftroduce occupation-based

Teaming for students andthe unemployed,

The Acs came into eect on | Apel 2000, and quaiving employers are currently

required to pay a ley, and to budget for the education and taining oftheir staf, at the

level of one per cent of thei total remuneration,

[A National Sklls Authority (NSA) has been established to advise the Minister on

‘= A rational skills development policy

‘national skills development strate

‘Guidlines on implementation ofthe strategy

Allocation of funds,

Regulations

“The Skills Development Act defines the following structures for implementing the NOF

South African Qualifications Authority SAQA)

‘This isthe body responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the

[National Qualifications Frimework (NQF), SAQA members are devwn from among

stakebiolders, and st accountable to the departments of Labour and Education, SAQA

cssablishes National Sundards Bodies, Standards Generating Bodies, and Education and

Training Quality Assure

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

‘National Standards Bodies (NSB)

‘These bodies set standards on what needs to be lent in any’ paniculae Fld of learning, SAQA has established 12 fields of learning, such as agriculture, communication and

‘manufacturing Each NSB organises is field of learning into sub-fels, approves standards and qualifications generated by Standards Generating Bodies, and sends them 10 SAQA for registration,

Standards Generating Bodies (GBS)

‘An SGB develops standards and qualifications in a particular sub-feld of learning The

‘standards are writen inthe form of unit standard, which descnbe what learners should

be able to do at the end of a ‘chunk’ of learning and stipulate how many credits will be awarded forataining that unit standard

dueuion and Training Quality Assurers

‘Apart from developing learning standards and qualifications, SAQA is responsible for

‘ensuring thatthe quali of education and taining provided is ofa suficienily igh Standard, and that learners are propery assessed to an agreed standaed This is done via bodies of Education and Training Qualiy Assurers Anyone wanting to provide education and training has fist to be approved by an Education and Training Quality Assurer, which will ssue qualification cenifcates to learners,

Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAS)

Each separate economie sector has one SETA There are 27 SETAs, which cover all work sectors in South Afica, including the government sector SETA members include trade

‘unions, government and bargaining councils from appropdate industries The South [African Revenue Service has details ofthe SETAs established Employers must choose

‘which SETA their busines falls under

‘of employment in iself, with atendaat bureaucratic problems, the longer tem view is that the emphasis on sling the workforce will provide an upward movement of skills tha wil enhance the base of the S&T and R&D Woekfore

Restructuring the bigher education sector

(One ofthe more controversial areas of wansformation in South Africa isthe restructuring

‘ofthe public higher education system, The 21 universes and 15 tecnikoas are the mest Importint institutions in the system with respect to maintaining and replenishing the SST

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

Ẩ——————————————————- apd R&D woskforee The Eilucation White Paper 3, 4 Programme forthe Transformation

fof Higher Education (DOE 1997) was generally welcomed by the researc community

pariculrly because of ts emphasis on the importance of research It outlined 3

comprehensive set of intatves forthe teinsformnation of bigher education, theough the

‘development of single co-ordinated system with new planning, governing and funding

arrangements

The Filucation White Paper 3 underlined the importance ofthe bigher education sector fa

supporting the development needs of society hs role in-a knowledge-deven and

Iknossledge-dependnt society i to provide the labour market with the ever changing

high level competencies and expertise necessiy for the growth and prosperity of a

‘cdem economy as Well asthe creation, sharing and evaluation of knowledge I also

noted the gross discrepancies inthe parieipation rates of women and students from

Lferent population groups and, importantly, the chronie mismatch between the ouipt of

higher education and the needs ofa modernising economy la this espect, the White

Paper noted that national growth apd competitiveness are dependent on continuous

technological improvement and innovation, driven by 4 wellonganised, sant R&D

system that integrates the researc and traning capac of higher education wih the

seeds of industy and social reconstruction, (Cause 1.12)

(One of the goals of higher education stipulated in the White Paper reads

At the national or system level, to secure and vance high level research capacity

Which can ensure both the continuation of selFinkiated, open-ended intellectual

inquiry, and the sustained application of research activities to technological

improvement and social development, (Clause 1.27)

‘The White Paper expresses some concern about the current capacity, distbution and

outcomes of esearch in the higher education system, in paniclar

There is insufficient atculation between the different elements of the research

system, and between the research system and national needs for social, economic

cultural and intellectual reconstuction,

‘+ There are stark race and gender imbalances in the demographic composition of

researchers in higher education, research councils and private sector research

cestablishments, (Clause 283)

‘The research system in South Afr Faces 60 matin challenges to redress past

‘equalities and strengthen and diversify esearch capacity, and to keep abreast of

emerging wobal tends, especially the development of parieipatory and applications

den ren addressing etic national needs Addresing these challenges requires

collaboration berween knowledge producers, knowledge interpreters and knowledge

‘managers and implementers (Clause 285,

‘The White Paper alo recommend thal in view of the national strategic importance of

research, and in order to ensute thatthe relatively scarce funds availble forthe

‘desclopment of research capability are well targeted, public funds for participation in

research, whether baste of applied, should not be spread across all facies oF schools in

all institutions, but should rather be concentrated in thove areas where there Is

A srupy ON HE MOBLtry oF R€D wOnKERe

demonstrable esearch capacity oF potential, both historically disadvantaged institutions (ADIs) and histoncaly white insstutions (HWA) To give practical effet to this view, the Ministy of Education will provide earmarked funds to-

+ Preserve and strengthen exising areas of research excellence

‘= Develop new areas and centres of research excellence,

= Develop research links with industry and facilitate industry-related collaborative research,

‘+ Faclitate iterinstinusional research collaboration,

+ Faciliate collaborative research and technology development with scence,

‘engineering and technology insitions, as defined inthe White Paper on Science

‘and Technology:

‘The White Paper stresses other key aims concerning the higher eduction sector, in panleularto:

+ Correct the discrepancies of the past,

+ Develop new polices and mechanisms for funding higher education instusions, + Develop a national research plan

‘The National Plan for Higher Education was published in February 2001 I provided the framework and mechanisms for the resricturing of the higher edication system to achieve the vision and goals forthe transformation of the system as outlined in the Education White Paper 3 The National Plan established targets for the size and shape of the higher education system, inching overall growth and participation mes, istittional and programme mixes, and equity and elfisency goals

“The most contraversal aspect of the National Plan was the introduction of specific

proposals for merging certain institutions, This gave nse to lengthy and heated process

‘which, by December 2002, led to a plan to reduce the county's higher education

Institutions from the curent 3616 23 (11 universities, sx teclnkons and six new hybrid Insitutions) in order to foster the growth and rejuvenation of higher education’

Preliminary arrangements forthe mergers and associated activities were announced eat

in 2003 About R3.1 billion has been budgeted to cover the cost of the mergers, and a

‘merger unit s to be established within the Department of Education to assist the

‘nsttutions with the changes that wil ake place during the period up © 2005,

“The outcome of these mergers and the impact on reearch intensity, skills develope and the production of new researchers will need to be carefully assessed over the comming years The pessimistic atitudes ofa lage number of academies concerning the mergers

‘may well be selling and hinder the process, Mergers are rarely easy processes, and there are bound to be perceptions of losers and "winners in dhe outcomes obtained The mergers will therefore need to be carefully managed ifthe morale of researchers isto be

‘maintained The signals that the mergers send to potential young researchers wil also be Important If the processes appear to create new oppomunies for young eesearchers to enter the academic system, without the los of key experienced researchers frm the system, this will have a postive effec

‘The targets set in the National Plan concerning the supply side forthe SAT and RSD workforce have imponant implications for the flows of students though the seco The

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

National Plan proposes that the pariipaon rats in higher education must be shifted

Frog 15 to 20 per cent i the long tem (ten 1 fifleen yen), n onder to addess the

Imperative for equity and the changing human resource and labour needs Insitutions are

also expected (o establish equity targets, with the emphisis on the programmes in which

Dlack and women students are underrepresented (such as commerce, scence,

‘engineering and technology and posigrlaate programmes io general, They are also

‘expected 10 develop stniteies to ensure the equity of outcomes, The National Plan

proposes 1 sift the balance in enrolments over the next five to ten years between the

humans business and commerce and science, engineering and technology from the

“item respective ratio of 49 2 25 per cent 19 0: 30 30 pet cent The National Plan

notes that further changes to the proposed ratios are not possible in the short to medium

term because of the low numberof students leaving the school system withthe requiste

proficiency in mathematics The Impotance of maintaining a balance of humanities

_galuates for key professions is aso emphasised

“The National Plan proposes increasing the foal numberof gradvates by’ minimum of

1 000 per year over the next five years This can be fterpreted to mean that teal

graduates (including those obtaining diplomas) from universities and techalkons shoul

Inerease from an annual level of some 88 249 in 2000 to about 138 249 by 2006

\What has not yer been addressed i the brouder area of student funding, While is rue

that the general public Is quite unaware of the full cost of a student place, students fees

‘even at current levels place a severe restriction on access the National Suident Financial

‘nd Scheme norwistanding The problem is even more ential for mature students with

Family commitments and for parttime posigradates, If government is serious about

increasing the number of posigraduates and broadening acces © higher ection,

more generous grant scheme is a necessity Langer ans that carry much Tower rates of

imterest ane a possible mechanism

“The National Plan also proposes that research will be funded dough a separate formula

based on research outpots ncliding, at minizmim, masters and doctoral graduates ancl

rescach publiations In a subsequent Ministry of Fdicaton discussion documenl,

Funding of Public Higher Education: A New Framework t's proposed thatthe

institutional rewards for master’s and cloctoalsradates be seta level of R40 000 and

Riớ) O00 respectively (by comparison, 2 publication output unit would receive RAN OM)

‘The Department i aware that higher education Financial incentives are open to possible

_minipulition by institutions and there will he a need to monitor the quay and

propriateness of maser's sid doctoral programmes, particularly with respect to the

research content

Since 1996, the National Student Fanci Aid Scheme (NSEAS) has allocated some R29

billion to academically able students that Jo not have the financial resources to purse

higher education studies In 2000, total of 81 69 students were funded though the

NSF

‘The Ministry of Education has, however, expressed reservations about the effectiveness of

a fund that does not cover the fll costs of study The motivation for ths approach is

‘apparently 10 allow the limited funds to be spread over a wider net of students

sia

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

‘The Ministry is reviewing the suitability and likely impact of the NSPAS, particularly regarding prod fields of study and academic programmes where black students are

“underrepresented The NSFAS i largely simed at supporting fis degrees

FRunds for postgraduate research students is provided by the National Research

Foundation (NRE), which suppons about 4 500 students per year (out of a total of some

31 000 master’s and doctoral students at universities and technikons), Dati grams make provision only for fees and limited additional expenses, so that students usually have 1 supplement their income Src rules regarding employment add to the student burden,

‘There is also very litle NRE support available for parttime posigraduate students

(particularly in the social sciences and humanities, where partiime engoiments are common)

Honours students are expecially poorly catered for in South Afica’s funding system, Honours students are unlikely to qualify for NSFAS suppor, while the NRF concentrates fon master’s and doctoral students,

Considering that about 30 000 honours students enrol at universities each year, this fa serous gap in the system, The honours yeat isthe crucial stepping stone from

“undergradiate training toa career in research, and this gip therefore needs (© be bridged,

‘There is also litle support for mature tudes re-entering the system This later funding

‘ap is serious, given the policy intent inthe National Plan for Higher education to

‘Increase panicipation rats, especially for manure students

2.3.2 Flows within the national S&T and R&D workforce

[National system of innovation

‘The concept of s national system of innovation (NSI) was the cental tenet of the 1996 White Puper on Science and Technology» Preparing forthe 2st Century The NSI Was envisaged according to the following descriptions in that White Paper

South Affica’s national system of innovation consists of al individuals and

Cnganistions involved in creating and using a knowledge base in order 10 build a better South Africa,

[A prime objective ofthe NSL isto enhance the rate and quality of technology transfer and difusion from the science, engineering and technology (SET) sector by the provision of quality human resources, effective hard technology transfer

‘mechanisms and the creation of more effective and efficient users of technology in the business and governmental sectors,

Understanding the process of research and innovation through the NSE model has Jong history and can be traced back wo the pioneering work of Nelson, Freeman and others

‘Gee Nelson, 1993 and Freeman, 1995 for reviews) The elements of an NSI have long, existed in the country, embedded in its firms, higher education insutions, seience

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

councils, goverment depanments infastrcture and is policy, cultua, legal and

regulatory environment What has been Licking is some kind of stering mechanism,

Arguably, tale aang prosided that stering mechanism in the apartheid year The

attainment of democracy cleady required a new plot (Kah 2002),

[National Research and Development Strategy South Aficas National Research and Development Strategy of August 2002 (Government

‘of South Africa 2002) is a more divected strategy aimed at enhancing RED and boosting

the NS

The srateyy deals with many concems regarding the NS, and in the chapter on Huma

Capital and Transformation in Science, Engineering and Technology, it deals with global

trends inthe migration of sient

The end ofthe Cold Was, along with globalisation and new value chain approaches, has

led to tremendous dispersal of R&D effor out of the previously centralised research

laboratories (Branscoml & Keller 1996), Multinationals of the US, Japan and Germany, for

‘example, have esublshed laboritories on foreign soil, A second phenomenon in the US

has been «lange increase in university-based research, which fas in turn created huge

skills demands

Seation 6.1 ofthe strategy states:

Science today is highly globalsed activity, Bven in advanced economies (such as

Germany and Canada), policy analysts express conceen that the best sciensss are

being drawn towards the highly dynamic United Stites system To counteract this

tuend the afected countries are attempting range of interventions, for example,

(Canada has set aside funds forthe creation of rwo thousand university chairs in

science and engineering ver the next fixe years, Hoth Prance and Germany age in

the process of radical overhauling ther legislation and prictces to promote

Science-industy linkages inline with the United States’ highly successful Bayh-Dole

‘Ac In South Alia, recent studies show attrition rates for researchers of

approximately 11 per cent per annum from universities OF those who leave

“employment, some five per cent ofthe government laboratory scientists and about

22 per cent of the academics emigre

“The recent offshore listings of several lage technology intensive South Afr

companies pose awkward questions regarding the retention of the strategic skills in

‘our county Allegedly there $6 tendency for these companies 1 source research

‘outside South Africa Clearly, they do ths for economic easons, but South Act

needs to develop an effective response 10 whit, ín many cises, may be the loss of

sirtegie control over companies orginally bult on South African knowledge capa

“The end game here revolves around being relegate to a sales outlet in

contrdistinction to developing 2s cente of innovation

Ar the same time it must be recognised that other “naonal systems of innovation have

!cquie! a more global dimension as the centlised research laboeatories neat to the

Fhome of the multinational have been and subsidiary research laboratories established on

A STUDY ON THE MOBILITY OF R&D WORKERS

foreign shores Motorola does R&D in Isriel, and Toshiba does itn the US Indeed Branscomb & Keller (1996) point out, with the global value chain 2 realty, “decentralised innovation’ may occur at any point on that chain and in any county

“The indicatorased RED Suategy rests on thee pias

= Innovation

‘+ Science, engineering and technology GET human resources and transformation Cheating an effective government S&T system

‘The human resources development approach i aimed at rdically increasing the pumber

‘of women and people from previously disadvantaged communities entering the sciences, aswell asa strategy 19 maximise the pursuit of excellence The sirstegy sees the human resource pillar as enically linked to the innovation pil in thal innovation creates

‘opportunities and incentives for human resources development The aim isto Fas basic research in areas of important natural (comparative) of knowledge advange sich

astronomy, human pulaeontology and indigenous knowledge The key institution

mentioned, in the context ofthis strategy, the NRF, which i inked tothe higher

‘education sector through the National Plan for Higher Education

[National Researeb Foundation

Acconding to the National Research Foundation Act (Act 90.23 of 198), “The object of the Foundation isto support and promote research through funding, human resource development and the provision ofthe necessary research facies in order to acta the creation of knowledge, innovation and development inal lds of science an

technology inciding indigenous knowledge, and thereby to contibute to the

Improvement ofthe quality of Me ofall the people of the Republic’ Some of is specific objectives are to:

+ 44) Faciitate and promote nationally al intemationaly Haison between

researchers and research stitutions;

+ 4.@a) Promote the development of appropriate human resources and research

‘capacity inthe areas of science and technology:

+ 4.6) Promote and suppor research by the awarding of contacts, grants,

scholarships or bursaries to persons or research institations

= 4.@ko Promote participation in international scentiie acts dhrough maining :memibership of appropriate intemational scence organisations

Qa) Make grants avaiable to penons or researel institutions For researc

research infrastructure and the development of human resources

“The object expressed in Clause 4X) (to advie the Minister and, if $0 required, the Minister of Education through the Minister, in regard to research relating t ts object) presents the NRF witha golden opportunity to fonge links withthe Deparment of

Education in co-ordinating research funding inthe higher eduction sector in the interests fof the national system of innovation This opportunity is eciprocated in some detain the Education White Paper 3 This clause has not really come into effet, however, and the level of funding provided by the Department of Education and the NRF have not sueceeded in addressing the tention of high-level human resources al researchers,

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING MOBILITY OF RED WORKERS

1

“The NRE alko manages che Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme

(THRIP) on behalf of the Deparment of Teade and Industy Ths isthe best example of a

succes triplesheli’ programme between government, industry and higher education in

South fsa, fo 2001/2002 THR provided funding oF R134 million for 296 project,

leveraging 2 R165 milion contnbution from industry Projects savolved 2 390 students,

220 grantholders and 767 other researchers THRIP isan important mechanism for

introducing postgraduate students to working directly with industry, and many students

‘migrate to os in industry directly asa result ofthe contacts made through THRIP-unded

projects that they undenook for their degrees I also provides firms with the opportunity

to get to know and work with postgraduate students before employing them

‘The NRF hus strong drive towards capacity development of previously disadvantaged

_oups and has several intiatives in this segue, including the Thuthuka Programme,

Thonhuka’s core mandate isto address equiy issues in knowledge production by

researchers fom the designated groups 2s per the national Employment Euiy ck

‘Human Resource Development Sinatey for Soutb Africa

“The Human Resource Development Siatexy for Sou Afi wis launched in 2001 and is

an integrative stategy,indicatorhased, with the aimed of achieving theee overarching

seals ‘= To achieve an improsement in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Human Development Index for South Afric, as a result of improvements 0 the

+ To improve the foundations for human developmest

+ To improve the supply of high quality sil, especially scarce sills, thất are mone

respoasive 1 Social and economic needs

+ To increase employer participation in lifelong learning

+ To suppor employmeat growth through industrial poliies, innovation, research and

development

+ Tocensure thatthe above four instives are linked

‘The SET RED and moblity-elated intaives include

+ Improving results in mathematics and science

+ Improving paricipation in fanher and higher education

+ Recruitment of foreign skills worker, where necessary, in the shor term,

+ Increasing the amount of scientific innovation occurring in further and higher

education institutions, in response to socil needs, and in collabortion with

industry

+ Increasing RSD through targeted suppon by’ science councils

+ Increasing the numberof ‘sclence-industy partnerships

[An important aspect of the strategy i ts integrative approach and recognition of the

Imporance of innovation as a deving force for economic growth and buman resources

SESS SRS nes oe mos main gs cay Theses pena