Application for NRF Rating

Please note that the closing date on the NRF Interim system for applicants is 28 February (the Edit detailed CV is permanently accessible via NRF Online).

Application Process and Forms
Copied below is the types of rating applications – previously this information was downloaded from the database – but this is not possible on the interim system. I am also copying the Eligibility criteria (the document as it currently stands is under review).

Types of rating applications:
There are four types of applications:
New application for evaluation – Researchers who have never applied for rating in the past or researchers who previously applied for rating, but the application was withdrawn, postponed or returned.
Re-evaluation by invitation – Researchers whose rating is current (valid) and who have been invited by the NRF to submit an application for rating.
Re-evaluation – Researchers whose ratings have lapsed after five years, or researchers whose application for rating was unsuccessful three or more years ago.
Special re-evaluation
An applicant may apply for special re-evaluation if, since a previous evaluation, he/she has shown such progress that, in the opinion of the relevant authority at the employing institution, the existing rating is quite inconsistent with the applicant’s present standing.

Eligibility
The eligibility criteria are currently under review but the eligibility criteria given below still applies.

The following persons are eligible to apply for evaluation and rating:

Researchers who are employed and remunerated on a full-time, part-time or contract basis at South African (SA) higher education institutions (HEIs) (including private HEIs in SA), museums or at NRF recognised research institutions. (For retired academics/researchers bullet 6 applies.)
Full-time temporary staff members at SA HEIs and SA museums who enjoy the conditions of service that normally also apply to their permanent full-time colleagues
Postdoctoral fellows who are conducting research in a full-time capacity at SA HEIs.
Persons who are being considered for full-time posts at SA HEIs and SA museums (i.e. applications from such persons can be submitted by the HEI considering their employment before they are actually employed).
Persons holding joint appointments between a SA institution and a foreign institution who are actively involved in research capacity building locally. Such persons should be employed by the SA institution in a full-time capacity for a period of at least six months per annum and should spend at least six months per annum in SA.
Persons holding joint appointments between two institutions within SA (of which at least one appointment should be a formal association with an NRF recognised research institution1) who are actively involved in research capacity building locally and who are still actively mentoring/training postgraduate students/young research staff. Such persons must indicate which institution is the primary institution, i.e. the institution to which the rating should be linked.
Retired academics/researchers must meet all criteria bulleted below

o    resident in SA, and
o    formally affiliated to a SA HEI (e.g. appointed as an emeritus professor, honorary research associate/professor, supernumerary/contract employee) and whose application for rating is formally supported and endorsed by a SA HEI to which he/she is or is anticipating to be affiliated, and
o    active researchers with a distinguished track record in research and postgraduate student supervision, and
o    still actively mentoring/training postgraduate students/young research staff.

Note:  An ‘NRF recognised research institution’ is one that meets all the following minimum requirements:
·       any South African institution that conducts basic research or applied research,
·       of a pre-competitive nature,
·       for the benefit of the long-term knowledge base of the country,
·       within the declared NRF focus areas,
·       containing a research training component leading to master’s degrees and doctorates, while being committed to equity and redress.

Kind regards
Diane Monteiro
Professional Officer: Monitoring & Evaluation
National Research Foundation
Pretoria
Tel: 012-481-4033
email: diane@nrf.ac.za

for more information;

http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Research/NewsAnnouncements/Announcements/researchannouncementsarchive/2010/February/Pages/2010-02-28-ApplicationforNRFRating.aspx