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HSRC releases its annual report On 21 October the HSRC presented its annual report to the Minister of Science and Technology. This piece briefly summarises the achievements. The full report is available at: http://www.hsrc.ac.za/Annual_Report-78.phtml. The HSRC is a statutory research council which encourages researchers to independently research, analyse and inform public policy with a view to addressing social development challenges facing our country and the African region. Our staff rose to the challenge, conducting more than 200 research projects into poverty reduction strategies, growing the economy, job creation, education quality improvement, service delivery acceleration, crime reduction, youth development, HIV and AIDS control, and improving the understanding of our system of innovation. Our scientists addressed these priorities while at the same time producing high level research studies that respond directly to government's request for evidence, as well of research methods, including longitudinal research and randomised control trials to test new interventions which, when successful, can inform the development of new interventions or programmes. Such research was done in the areas of HIV prevention and quality of education. The scientists worked collaboratively with partners in government, academic of stakeholders who are likely to either implement the recommendations arising from work in silos, they also shared and learned with their peers inside and outside of distinguished research fellowship programme and the vibrant seminar series became vehicles through which learning and sharing occurred over and above the regular research projects being done with many colleagues. The HSRC was able to do much of this work while continuing to change its country. Over the past year we have managed to reach our target for black senior topics that are relevant to the needs of the country. The majority of our staff has been trained in gender sensitivity, to ensure mutual understanding between men and women and to enable them to begin using a gender lens in data analysis. The HSRC continues to be a training ground for new social science researchers. This is a tall order for our senior researchers who must not only generate income to fund research and the hiring of trainees, but must also conduct the research and produce new research professionals. Last year, 20% of our staff studied towards master's degrees and doctorates at various universities while learning by doing at the HSRC. On completion of their studies, some interns were appointed to the HSRC, while others were absorbed into government, universities, NGOs and the business sector.  | | | The HSRC Annual Report 2007/08 was launched in Pretoria on 21 October. From left are Professor Edward Webster, a member of the HSRC Council, Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena, and Dr Olive Shisana. | |
As part of this training, our senior researchers have spent an inordinate amount researcher.to African social science and humanities scholarship through publishing. In a recent study by the Stellenbosch Centre for Research on Science and Technology (CREST), the HSRC Press consistently in this area. Currently it is only behind Ashgate and Routledge. Of equal importance is the role the HSRC Press has played in raising scholarly book publishers were estimated to have a citation factor of 12, with their local counterparts averaging 6. The HSRC Press was estimated to have a citation factor of 11.49. The HSRC is a going concern, having raised R264 million through a parliamentary grant, contracts and other grants won through both domestically and internationally competitive processes. The money received was well spent and the HSRC again received an parliamentary sources of funding have made it possible to carry out the more than 200 research projects and publish 97 books and and 153 research reports to clients. on all fronts. This year we will continue to work harder to meet students and designing a good programme for their further training, as well as increasing the number of publications by senior level pressure of developing the research trainees. The HSRC's success was possible because of the continuing support of the Minister of Science and Technology and his department, the Council of the HSRC, the funding agencies, and the dedicated staff of the HSRC.
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