DHET Future Professors Programme 2025 for Early and Mid-Career Academics

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About DHET Future Professors Programme

The Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) Future Professors Programme (FPP) prepares promising early and mid-career academics to advance to the level of professor across the disciplines. As such, this call seeks to identify the country’s most talented young academics to benefit from a structured and intense programme aimed at accelerating their readiness for the professoriate.

• School: University of Cape Town

Benefits of DHET Future Professors Programme

Components of the Programme 

1. Baseline Evaluation

This initial assessment helps each scholar gauge their current standing within their discipline and provides personalised recommendations for future growth and development. 

2. Residential Series

Fellows will engage in a series of seminars, retreats and coaching sessions. These immersive and scholarly communityenhancing experiences are complemented by individual opportunities tailored to each participant’s unique needs and aspirations. 

3. International Engagement

Scholars will have the chance to participate in international activities that align with their specific intellectual project.

DHET Future Professors Programme Requirements

Academic staff are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. In terms of the summarised criteria, a candidate should:

• hold a doctorate
• have demonstrable evidence of some academic achievement (signalling advancement towards the senior ranks of the academy in their scholarly work), and
• be permanently employed in an academic capacity, or an equivalent academic appointment.

The following may strengthen the likelihood of selection, however, these are not exclusive requirements for applying:

 

• black and women scholars
• lecturers and senior lecturers, and/or
• an NRF rating or similar scholarly standing.

Candidate attributes 

• A deep commitment to the pursuit of advanced scholarship. 
• Evidence of productive and imaginative scholarly work.
• Early signs of purpose and direction in academic work. 
• Novelty, richness and a willingness to take risks in the pursuit of large ideas. 
• Personal qualities of self-awareness, teachability and the need to grow. 
• Evidence of resilience and persistence in the face of setbacks. 
• A willingness to benefit from and contribute to a community of scholars

Application Date and Process

Documentation required for submission: 

1. A curriculum vitae including the following information: 

• Full name and date of birth (including year of birth). 
• Contact details (work and cell phone) as well as preferred email address. 
• Educational history (including the title of PhD thesis, the year received [use date of graduation ceremony not submission of thesis], the university that awarded the degree and the name/s of supervisor/s). 
• Employment history (including current position [e.g. Senior lecturer], faculty and the department where you currently serve and the name of your head of department). 
• Publication record (including papers submitted/accepted and where). 
• Research projects and funding generated. • Current teaching and supervisory responsibilities (distinguish undergraduate and postgraduate). 
• NRF rating, if applicable (year obtained and rating received). 
• Google Scholar H-Index and Scopus H-Index, if disciplinarily applicable. 

2. A two-page evidence-based submission 

• An essay explaining how you meet the attributes listed above. 

Use this narrative to tell us about yourself, how these attributes inform your personal career choices and your research trajectory, including your planned future research. This submission should include a commitment from the scholar to participate fully in the programme, if selected. 

3. Contact details of three referees (including a note on how and in which capacity they know you).
 

Submission process: 
• Applications should be submitted electronically no later than 25 February 2025 to [email protected] 
• Each document should be saved in the following format: SurnameInitialCV; SurnameInitialEssay E.g MoyoSCV and MoyoSEssay. •Outcomes will be communicated to successful candidates, the Vice Chancellor of your university, and the designated authority, by the DHET

• Read more about the details on the application process.
• Download the application form.

Application Deadline

25 February, 2025

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