Trusts -tertiary education support programme -TESP

MISSION

To contribute to the building of human resource capacity at tertiary institutions through investment in Eskom related research.

VISION

• Tertiary education institutions (universities and technikons) have the capacity and commitment to develop future science engineering and technology skills to meet South African needs.
• Centre of excellence appropriate to South African needs in different areas of technology are supported to establish their viability and development.
• Research projects contribute to the attractiveness of technological careers thereby increasing the intake of science, engineering and technology students.
• Initiatives in the areas of growth and development as defined by the RDP/GEAR and which are in support of Eskom's business are actively encouraged.
• Research projects funded by TESP will be cost beneficial and aim to contribute to Eskom's business.
• Collaboration in research between academic institutions, the Foundation for Research and Development and other funding bodies and industry, lead to winning solutions for Eskom problems as well as sharing of information on technological development.
• The demand for and supply of science engineering and technology skills nationally and in Eskom is continually reviewed.

• Tertiary education initiatives are clearly aligned with Eskom's and industry's needs and therefore produce student more suitably skilled for employment.
  

STRATEGY

The TESP committee consists of representatives from all Eskom groups and the Foundation for Research and Development.

Each year the TESP committee, with input from specialists as necessary, formulates a high level plan outlining areas on which to encourage tertiary education institutions to focus.

Projects may be approved for up to a five year period subject to annual budget approval by Eskom and results achieved.

Interactive planning workshops are held to determine research and project priorities.

Proposals are evaluated by Eskom's technical staff in terms of:

• relevance to Eskom's business and customer requirements
• technological development and winning solutions
• need in terms of future skills requirements
• applicability with regard to existing centre of excellence(duplication of effort to be avoided)
• avoidance of double funding
• student numbers
• RDP/Gear relevance
• co-operation with other institutions

Recommendations are submitted to the TESP committee which decides on allocation of funds

Allocations are renewable subject to the recommendation of technical director appointed to ensure quality and progress of the project in terms of defined outputs.

Report back sessions with academic staff and interested parties will be arranged where appropriate.

An annual report will be made to Eskom's management board.

The process is co-ordinated and administered by the Technology and the Human Resource Groups.
 

The total length should not exceed 4 pages and should include:-                                                                                                         

1. Summary

2. Title:
   - A descriptive title of the project
   - Project leader (name, telephone number, fax, e-mail)
   - Proposed duration (specify starting and completion dates)

3. Objectives:
   The following aspects should be considered:
   
   - The objective should be to develop manpower rather than to solve specific technical problems.
   - Long term programmes to encourage the development of Centre of Excellence of Excellence will be favoured
   - The area of research should be aligned with Eskom's future engineering and scientific manpower needs.
   - RDP/GEAR relevance.
   - The programme should encourage collaboration between Universities and Technikons, and also between the academics and Eskom staff.
   - Requests can include monies for the support of postgraduate and postdiploma students, running expenses and national and international liaison to acquire knowledge and expertise.
   - Demonstration of industrial relevance and collaboration with other groups in the country, and awareness of global relevance will be a strong recommendation.

4. Local and international linkages (if any):
   

5. Financial requirements:
   - A detailed budget of funds for the year of grant and indications of requirements for remaining years.
   
   Note:
   - The foundation for Research development (FRD) through the Department of Trade and Industries, invest R1 for every R2 invested by industry in tertiary institutions through THRIP.  The FRD may also be approached with regard to other programmes.

6. Outputs
   - In terms of human resources.
   - In terms of technological and scientific results, and the exploitation thereof.

CONDITIONS OF GRANT

GRANTS WITHIN THE ESKOM TERTIARY EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAMME AND FRD TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN RESOURCES FOR INDUSTRY PROGRAMME ARE TARGETED TOWARDS PRODUCING EXPERTISE AND HIGHLY SKILLED HUMAN RESOURSES WITHIN SPECIFIC FIELDS.

Grantees are free to spend their allocated funds within the following categories:

The categories towards which the two programmes will jointly contribute are indicated in brackets.

1. Research studentships (TESP)
2. Salaries for support staff (associated with a project) (TESP, THRIP)
3. Running expenses (e.g. glassware, chemicals, consumables) (TESP, THRIP)
4. Local and overseas travel (TESP).  Overseas travel must be approved by Eskom's technical directors.  THRIP funds are only available for local travel
5. Research equipment (TESP, THRIP)
6. Student support and supplementation of bursaries (TESP)
7. Sponsorship of visits by overseas experts (TESP, THRIP)
8. Sufficient funds should be reserved to attend the applicable FRD/ESKOM forums within the programme discipline (TESP, THRIP)

The following additional items will currently not be considered for THRIP subvention of industries support:

• Establishment of chairs and/or salaries for the tertiary institution's staff
• Bridging facilities
• Promotion of enterpreneurship
• Bursaries
• Travels abroad

The grant is subject to the grantee holding a full-tine permanent or a full-time temporary position within a South African university or technikon which is funded entirely from that organisation's funds.

Grants are subject to a maximum handling fee of 2% if any.

Intellectual Property

Benefits of intellectual property shall remain with the tertiary institution.  Eskom must be consulted before joint ventures or commercialisation of intellectual property are established and can be granted the opportunity to participate in such joint ventures or commercialisation.

Coordination of research

ESKOM will appoint a technical director who will be responsible for liaison with each grantee.  The renewal of the grant will be subject to a recommendation by the technical director.

Each grantee must submit a short annual progress report (2-3 pages) through the university/technikon by 31 July and an extensive progress report (maximum  of 10 pages) after three years.

Period of Allocation:

Grants for tertiary education support programmes are given for a predetermined period subject to the availability of funds.  However ESKOM and FRD reserve the right to terminate a grant at any stage if performance is unsatisfactory.

Should the research leader leave the system, ESKOM must be informed within 30 days and funding will only proceed if ESKOM and the FRD are satisfied that the project would be continued to the same extent and at the same level by the alternate research leader.

Research ethics

ESKOM requires every grant holder to maintain the highest ethical and safety standards when conducting research, particularly when human and animal subjects are involved.  However, it remains the sole responsibility of the grant holder to comply with all relevant regulations in this respect, including those laid down by the institution concerned.

Financial reports

Annual financial reports on expenditure incurred up to 31 December of the year of the grant must be submitted by the institution by 15 February of the following year.

ESKOM/FRD will provide details on the format of financial reports.  The FRD requires an auditor's report verifying the figures in the financial report by 31 March.  No further payments will be made by FRD until this report has been received.