Prior to the last decade development aid in Africa tended to be driven towards the issues on the ground, such as HIV, malnutrition, rural health services, while research models and evidence were brought in from overseas institutions. Aid and research going into addressing these challenges did, until recently, seem to by-pass existing sources of knowledge generation in Africa. With the launch in June 2012 of Development Research Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa (DRUSSA) this trend is being debunked.

DRUSSA aims to improve the uptake and accessibility of local, contextualised research in Africa by developing strategic partnerships between research institutes and policy-makers, industry and local communities. To enable better communication between its different audiences, DRUSSA has established platforms such as DRUSSA online, helping to shift the focus from knowledge transfer to knowledge sharing by facilitating a two way dialogue.

A collaboration between the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) at the University of Stellenbosch, Organisation Systems Design (OSD), and the UK-based Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the DRUSSA programme puts higher education institutes in Africa  at the heart of its development strategy. Working with 24 universities from east, west and southern Africa, DRUSSA is developing expertise on effective utilisation of knowledge generation among graduates and researchers.

As part of this, DRUSSA has recently announced the introduction of a postgraduate programme in research uptake management (RUM) offered by CREST at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

There are two programmes of study available, a series of short courses and an MPhil, PhD programme.

The short courses are anticipated to run throughout the year and are designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of the universities involved.

There are currently two courses scheduled for the coming academic year:

• Science Utilisation and Impact: 25^th-26^th September 2012 (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
• Science Communication: 27^th-28^th September 2012 (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)

The deadline for applications for these dates is the 20^th August. An application form can be found here.

The short courses are also scheduled to run in Ghana and Kenya later in the year but venues have yet to be confirmed. As well as offering invaluable training, these short courses can also be taken as a means of obtaining credits towards the MPhil/PhD programme.

The MPhil, PhD: Science & Technology Studies (Specialisation in Research Uptake & Utilisation), looks at science communication within a human complex; identifying and analysing its contextual dimensions- historical, ethical, cultural etc.  There is a strong focus on research management, developing students’ skills in evaluation and impact assessment.

The PhD is recommended for researchers and project managers from scientific institutions and universities across Africa as well as international scholars with an interest in science communication and utilisation in Africa.

Candidates for the MPhil programme have until the 31^st August to apply for next year’s intake. Students within South Africa have until the 30^th September. Further details on how to apply can be found here.

There are a limited number of bursaries available for PhD applicants associated with one of the 24 DRUSSA universities. For a bursary application form contact Marthie van Niekerk at CREST (application deadline- 31^st August).

Training scholars in developing research methodologies which incorporate research uptake strategies from the beginning, DRUSSA is helping RUM become an essential element of research conception and development in Africa.

By creating platforms for discussion between the media, researchers, local communities and government agencies DRUSSA is promoting responsive debate as a necessary tool in effective science communication and helping to institutionalise research models which listen to the questions being asked and have the tools to answer them clearly.

For more information on DRUSSA visit their website: DRUSSA

See last year’s article on the launch of DRUSSA’s inception: DRUSSA launched