HSRC Integrated Annual Report 2018/2019

Research Impact ESD’s work over the 2018/19 year has had a variety of positive impacts on public policy, policy discourse, and ultimately on the life of ordinary South Africans. A specific, direct policy impact can be seen in the way the survey findings of the ‘Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)’ undertaken as part of the renowned International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement global study, continue to influence DBE policy on funding allocation to mathematics and science in schools. To this end, the Basic Education Budget Vote 14 for 2018 observes that, “South African learners continue to perform poorly in international assessments, particularly in mathematics, science and technology. In response to this, over the medium-term, the department aims to increase learner participation and success rates in these subjects by providing ICT equipment, laboratories and related apparatus, workshops and equipment, teacher development, and learner and teacher support materials to 1 000 schools.” TIMSS-related studies also have a wider impact in public discourse on a variety of matters such as the importance of reading and play in the home in learner achievement. ESD’s longstanding work in support of the DST’s Youth into Science Strategy has shown the importance of science promotion interventions such as Mathematics and Science Olympiads and Science Week in schools. An ESD-conducted evaluation of the impact of the DST’s Science Week in Mpumalanga provided evidence to show how participation in Science Week positively influences learners’ interest in mathematics and science and their confidence in their mathematics and science ability. This is of real importance, since these learners are frequently from under-resourced schools. These findings thus provide the justification for continued DST support of such events. As part of an ongoing project on the South Africa Student Movement, funded by the AndrewMellon Foundation and the NRF, the programme entered into a partnership with South African History Online (SAHO), the largest website in Africa, to promote public engagement, research, teaching and learning of history on the continent. Together, ESD and SAHO are curating a collection of digital ‘memories’ on the historic South African student movement #FeesMustFall and related hashtag campaigns. Researchers are already reporting its usefulness in their own work, and those involved as activists in the student movement have spoken of the importance of being recognised for their contributions in bringing about reform in South African higher educational institutions. A further impact on public dialogue occurred in August 2018 when, in partnership with 11 other PART B: PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW Figure 9: Outputs in numbers from the LMIP project 53 research reports and learning guides Repository of literature on skills development with over 800 entries 35 concept notes 9 research roundtables 12 journal articles 7 learning sessions 2 peer reviewed books 19 high-level policy engagements 19 HSRC-LIMP seminar series presentations 21 research policy briefs 22 honours and master’s bursaries in the fields of labour market studies/skills development 28 / HSRC INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19