Harvard Mandela fellowships

The Harvard-UCT Mandela Fellowships have been established through generous support from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation of New York. These awards are intended to strengthen connections between the WEB Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research and UCT, and to support the professional advancement of academics working particularly, but not only, in the humanities and social sciences.

The institute has annually appointed scholars who conduct individual research for a period of one to two semesters in a variety of fields within African and African American studies. Application is through the Centre for Higher Education Development (Office of the Dean). As part of their research proposal, applicants must specify what the outcome of the research will be and how it will impact on teaching and learning in South African higher education.

Two five-month semesters are currently available: 1 February-30 June 2008 and 1 September-31 January 2009. Your application should clearly state for which period you are applying. The award includes a stipend, and subventions for housing, medical coverage, air travel between South Africa and the US, childcare and an allowance for attendance at an academic conference in the US during tenure of the award. Details of the package will be negotiated with candidates individually.

To be eligible, applicants must have been awarded the PhD degree at the time of application, and have permanent or T3 posts at UCT. In line with UCT’s equity objectives, preference will be given to applicants from the designated groups, with particular emphasis on black South African applicants.

Applications should:

• outline the intended study and research while at the WEB Du Bois Institute,
• demonstrate the relationship of this work to the development of teaching and learning in higher education in South Africa, and
• include a curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees.

Successful applicants will be expected to submit a substantial report on their research at Harvard on their return to Cape Town, and give a seminar on how the Fellowship has contributed towards teaching and learning.

The completed application package should be sent to Kathy Erasmus, Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED), Hlanganani Building; phone 021 650 4237 or email kathy.erasmus@uct.ac.za. The closing date for applications is 28 September.