Hosted by University of Johannesburg and University of Thomas SANKARA

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Please use the link below to download the French version of the call

• Download [French Version]

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The AfricaLics network is an academic research and capacity building network that focuses on how innovation occurs, this is the process through which new or improved products, processes, organizational forms, ways of working and acting are introduced into new environments, and the relationship this has with economic and social development in African countries.  As it sits at the intersection of innovation studies and development studies, such research is becoming known in the network as ‘innovation and development studies.’

The 10^th AfricaLics PhD Academy offers a unique chance for PhD students (and a small number of Masters students) currently pursuing their studies at African universities and focusing on innovation and development studies. This opportunity allows them to enhance their understanding of this growing field, engage with prominent academics in the discipline, and obtain valuable feedback on their continuing research journey.

In collaboration with the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and FasoLics (a national chapter of AfricaLics) through the University of Thomas SANKARA, the 10th AfricaLics PhD Academy is set to take place as a virtual event. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with experts and peers in the field of innovation and development studies, through the online format.

This is a call for students enrolled in a PhD at an African university who work in the field of innovation and development studies to apply to participate in this one-week event. The Call is also relevant for master students and/or those who already hold a master’s degree and are considering enrolling as a PhD student in the field of Innovation and Development studies. Preference will be given to PhD students applicants.

Innovation and development studies

The AfricaLics network was established in 2012 in response to a growing recognition of the need for more support for academic ’research on innovation’ that was relevant to African countries’ contextual environments. This expanding body of work by African scholars is critical to ensuring that ‘research in innovation’ (i.e., the research and development of specific inventions that can help solve practical problems), on which most innovation policy and funding attention is focused, can be effectively supported. The concept of ‘research on innovation’ focuses on innovation processes, what fosters innovation, and what may aid in the acceptance and adoption of new solutions. It is particularly interested in determining the impact of innovation on African countries’ social and economic development. It addresses these issues at the firm, network, and collaboration levels, as well as the national, continental, and global levels. As a result, the work of scholars in the AfricaLics network is multidisciplinary, straddling the established academic fields of innovation studies and development studies.

This multidisciplinary field includes researchers from various disciplines who frequently study innovation studies, the economics of innovation, innovation management, technology management, science and technology studies, and so on. However, members of the network come from a variety of disciplines, including economics, political science and engineering.

Who is eligible to apply?

This online academy is primarily aimed at PhD students, in their second and third years, working in innovation and development studies and who are principally interested in how innovation relates to economic and social development in Africa.

The Academy will host around 20-25 students from Africa and a handful of students from the rest of the world who study innovation and development issues facing the African countries.

PhD students

PhD students who wish to participate will need to fulfill the following requirements:

• be at least in the beginning of his/her second year at the time of the academy
• work explicitly on issues related to policy-oriented analysis of science, technology and innovation
• be able to present an original paper reflecting his/her research and/or thesis work that fits within the thematic areas of the AfricaLics network. The thematic areas of AfricaLics are available here – https://africalics.org/thematic-areas/

Master’s students

Master’s degree students who wish to participate will need to fulfil the following requirements:

• be a registered student in an African university on a Master’s degree programme in the area of innovation and development studies, economics, business or management studies, sociology or development studies or similar
• have a Masters project that focuses on an aspect of innovation studies (i.e. innovation management, innovation systems, science, technology and innovation policy)

Those with master’s degrees considering a PhD

For students with a Master’s degree in a relevant field and in the process of developing a PhD related to innovation and development studies, you will need:

• A letter of support from the university you have been discussing with on the possibility of a PhD related to innovation and development studies or a confirmed letter of acceptance or pre-registration on a relevant PhD programme.
• An outline of your PhD ideas

To improve diversity in the emerging academic community on innovation and development studies research in Africa, we encourage female scholars and those from low-income countries to apply.

This online academy will be held with simultaneous interpretation (should funding allow) and we strongly encourage French speaking students to apply.

If you are in doubt as to whether you can apply, please contact us through the email address at the bottom of the call.

Design of the Academy

The Academy will take place online using Zoom every day from Monday 10^th to Friday 14^th June inclusive. The Academy format takes the form of three sessions split across each day with breaks in between. Participants are expected to be active throughout and to keep their cameras on if bandwidth allows.

During the Academy frontier researchers in the field of innovation and development from around the world provide lectures and mentor students.  The Academy also provides opportunities for PhD students to share their work and learn new skills. As such, the Academy is made up of the following activities:

• Lectures by senior researchers on areas ranging from research methodologies to the latest theories and empirical research in the fields of innovation, innovation management and science policy.
• Presentations by doctoral students of their work with feedback from the senior scholars facilitating at the event and peer feedback from one participating PhD student.
• Sessions focused on enabling interaction between students, practitioners and policy makers on innovation and development issues and consideration of how to make research more policy relevant.
• Sessions that focus on key skills that students need to complete their PhD and become successful academic researchers such as publishing or project management skills.
• A focus on research methods core to the field of innovation and development studies. For example, the last academy had a mini-workshop focused on systematic literature review while earlier academies focused on the latest data extraction and analysis techniques.

How to apply

Please send the following documents to the AfricaLics Secretariat (phd-academy@africalics.org) on or before 23:00 hours East Africa time on Monday 15^th April 2024.

For those who are studying in French, the application documents can be submitted in French.

Registered PhD students	Registered Master’s students	Those with Master’s degrees considering a PhD
An extended abstract of their PhD thesis of not more than 5 pages	1.     An extended abstract of their Masters project of not more than 2 pages	1.     No more than 2-page description of your proposed PhD project
2. A recommendation letter from your PhD supervisor	2. A recommendation letter from your Master’s supervisor	2. A recommendation letter from the university you are currently discussing your PhD
3.     A cover letter including motivation for inclusion in the Academy 4.     A copy of the applicant’s CV

Format of abstracts and project descriptions

Abstracts and project descriptions should be typed double-spaced in French or in English with font size 12. The abstract must include the following sections:

1. Background and literature review
2. The research objectives or research questions
3. Methodology including the data collection and analysis techniques to be used
4. Expected contribution to academia and policy discussions
5. References.

Please also make it clear in your application if you are preparing a thesis by publication or manuscript/ monograph thesis.

Please note that if you submit an abstract longer than the indicated page length, the reviewers are under no obligation to review more than the first 5 pages (of a PhD abstract) and 2 pages (of a Masters abstract).

Selection

All extended abstracts will be reviewed by at least two senior scholars from a review panel made up of members of the AfricaLics Scientific Board, AfricaLics Secretariat, FasoLics and University of Johannesburg.

Selection will be made based on academic quality of extended abstracts as well as on the basis of criteria aimed at promoting diversity (by location, gender etc).

Final paper upload and confirmation of attendance

All successful applicants will be expected to have confirmed their participation by 23:00 hours East Africa time on Friday 17^th May 2024 or their place will be given to someone else.

We recommend that all applicants pencil in the dates of the event in their diaries as soon as they apply as there is very little time between notification of acceptance and the first week of the event.

All selected participants who confirm attendance will also be expected to upload a final full paper (details of this will be given in your acceptance letter) by 23:00 hours East Africa time on Friday 31^st May 2024.  The full paper should be a full project proposal (for Masters students) or a chapter of your thesis that you would like to present and get feedback on during the Academy (for PhD students).

Organisation and support

The 10^th AfricaLics Ph.D. Academy is jointly organized by the University of Johannesburg and FasoLics with support from the AfricaLics Secretariat hosted at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Kenya. The event is supported by the University of Johannesburg and the AfricaLics network. The Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) is supporting the AfricaLics secretariat to manage the PhD planning and execution process.

The PhD organising planning committee for the 2024 AfricaLics PhD Academy is led by: Prof. Rebecca Hanlin, Professor of Innovation and Sustainable Development, University of Johannesburg and Prof. SAWADOGO Natéwindé, the Coordinator of the Burkina Faso NationaLics, the FasoLics. The Organisation of the 2024 Academy at the AfricaLics Secretariat level is being managed by Dr. Margrethe Holm Andersen and Ms Mourine Chepkemoi.

More information

If you require more information or have questions, please email the AfricaLics Secretariat on phd-academy@africalics.org