Dr Michael Charles Cosser
Dr Michael Cosser is a chief research specialist in the Developmental, Capable & Ethical State research division. He holds two Honours degrees (English, and Applied Linguistics), an MA in English and a PhD in Education from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) (2015). He specialises in constitutional development, education (particularly higher education), and literary stylistics.
Experience and special projects: He was formerly Head of the Learning & Development unit at the HSRC (2013-2016) and a chief research specialist in the Education & Skills Development research programme in the same organisation, a position which he held from November 2000 until 31 December 2012. He was project leader of the HSRC leg of a consortium project on Teacher Education in South Africa (2005 to 2008) and of the FET college audit, which audited all 50 FET colleges on-site ahead of their incorporation into the Department of Higher Education & Training (2010).
Before joining the HSRC, Dr Cosser was Head of the Standards Setting division at the South African Qualifications Authority, in which capacity he guided the formative deliberations of all 12 National Standards Bodies (1998-2000), and before that he was a Lecturer in the Academic Staff Development Centre at Wits (1993-1997), a Junior Lecturer in the Department of English at Wits (1998-1992), and a high school teacher of English (1983-1985).
Most of his research at the HSRC has focused on student pathways from school into higher education (the subject of his PhD) and the labour market.
Publications: Dr Cosser has published 15 scientific articles in both local and international peer-reviewed academic journals, 6 monographs, 13 book chapters, and numerous research reports. He co-edited a book entitled Making the Road by Walking: The Evolution of the South African Constitution, which was published by the Pretoria University Law Press in 2018. He has also presented 20 papers at local and international conferences.
The Evaluation of the National Education Trust (NECT)
The purpose of the evaluation is to conduct an evaluation of the NECT on behalf of FREF (through Tshikululu Social Investments), a core funder of the ....
Regulatory Frameworks Requirements For the South Africal Civil Society Sector to Promote their Active Participation in a Developmental State
To conduct a study on regulatory frameworks for the civil society sector, the Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery (DGSD) Research Programme of ....
The Impact of Civic Engagement Programmes on Youth
The purpose of the project is for the development of a questionnaire to be used to survey a sample of 10 000 learners in a representative sample of So....
Technical Support for 25 year Review: Chapter on Constitutional Development
To critically review and analyse the chapter on Constitutional Development.....
Strengtheneing Women Economic Empowerment in the Blue Economy
To provide technical advice and support on women's economic empowerment issues in the Indian Oceans Blue Economy to the IORA secretariat and Academic ....
Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) project
a) Identify how transparency and accountability within the current systems for delivering and procuring infrastructure needs to be improved at a natio....
Review of Commission for Gender Equity's (CGE's) 20 years of Existence, Achievements and Challenges
The purpose of the Study is to review and assess the work of the since its inception, focusing on its key achievements, impact within the gender secto....