 Dr Mark Orkin |
Since I joined the HSRC as CEO five years ago, the organisation has tripled its researcher complement, its research earnings, and its publications output per head, while becoming a majority-black organisation for the first time. We now handle two hundred and fifty projects per year, in South Africa and the rest of the continent, many in collaboration with other institutions. In my previous editorials I have described the various developments that have enabled this organisational transformation. Its purpose, of course, has been to provide broader and better applied social research for our users, especially in the public sector. So, for my last editorial, instead of talking again about organisational change, I asked the formidable Executive Directors who lead our ten research programmes each to recall a specially notable project, whether small or large, among the many achievements of their teams in the last few years. Here is their list, arranged by research programme in alphabetical order and starting, for once, at the end: The murder of 5 petrol station attendants in the Western Cape sparked a collaborative study of industry conditions led by Social Cohesion and Identity. The ensuing debate in the sector, in the media and in Cabinet led to improved safety standards and procedures for attendants and customers at 5000 petrol stations countrywide. The nationally-representative master sample developed by Surveys, Analysis, Models and Mapping enables repeat-visit surveys to 10 000 households. The sample is used, for example, in the HSRC's surveys of social attitudes, and longitudinal tracking of service delivery for several government departments. Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health also used the master sample, in conducting the first nationally representative survey of HIV prevalence. This helped the design and planning of programmes by the South African government. A follow-up is being conducted, as well as replications in 4 other SADC countries Knowledge Management undertakes annual national surveys of research and development (R&D), covering universities, science councils, government research institutes, and a sample of businesses. The surveys provide official indicators for science planning and monitoring by the Department of Science and Technology and others. The 28-chapter three-yearly review by Human Resources Development covers employment, education and skills development. It found that skills problems are experienced at intermediate and entry levels as well as the top end. The online version and data-warehouse attracts 10 000 hits per month. Integrated Rural and Regional Development led the development of a national mapping and information system regarding food vulnerability for the Department of Agriculture, bringing together natural, life and social scientists from 3 science councils and 3 universities. The results informed the current National Budget. In an action-research intervention that uses the social concept of fatherhood, Child, Youth and Family Development promotes nonviolent male behaviour and men's support for children and families. The project has been taken up by NGOs as well as the Departments of Social Development, Justice, Constitutional Development, and others. The project on leveraging the services sector by Employment and Economic Policy Research is being undertaken for the Economic and Social Clusters of Directors General. The research shows how to launch South Africa's well-established services into global markets better, and enhance growth and employment in the domestic economy. The project on overcoming discrimination by Democracy and Governance has informed deliberations on nationhood in the Presidency. It noted that while significant strides had been made in addressing racial discrimination, success on gender and disability is more limited. Transformation successes were mainly recorded in institutions under state control. Resource banks to help teachers with assessment were developed in 8 languages by Assessment Technology and Educational Evaluation. This helps the improvement of literacy and numeracy teaching in 500 rural junior primary schools. Following evaluation as a "best practice", the study has been extended into the senior primary years.
This is a tiny but vivid selection of our social-scientific work since 2000, worth some R750m, half funded by parliament and half independently. The HSRC is now implementing its mandate magnificently: social research that makes a difference, by informing policy and implementation aimed at improving the lives of ordinary women and men. Our Chair and Council, Minister, Parliament, DG, users, funders and stakeholders, my forbearing family, and above all, my 300 energetic HSRC colleagues, made it all possible. It is in good cheer that I can thank them all, hand the reins to my energetic successor Dr Olive Shisana, and say farewell.
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