Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP) The Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP) is an initiative funded by the DHET in partnership with universities. The NESP recruits Honours graduates who demonstrate academic ability, who express an early interest in the possibility of an academic career and who might be lost to the system if structured, attractive prospects and opportunities for recruitment into academic positions do not exist. Once they have completed their master’s degrees, the NESP scholars transition into a one-year internship programme. During the internship year, the NESP intern is provided a stipend in line with a budget model for the NESP developed by the DHET. The implementation of NESP was carried out successfully in 2022. The four candidates who were awarded scholarships under Phase 1 enrolled for the second year of their master’s degrees at the beginning of 2022, in the following fields: Podiatry, Zoology, Biochemistry, and Mechanical Engineering. One completed his degree in July 2022 and commenced with his one-year internship in August. By the end of 2022, two scholars completed their research and submit their thesis at the of January 2023, they commenced with their one-year internship in February. Unfortunately, one (scholar) dropped out of the programme in December 2022 due to medical reasons, the DHET was notified and is reviewing her case to determine whether she should be exempted from paying back the incurred funds. In 2022, the DHET allocated UJ three posts for NESP Phase 2 (Chemical Sciences; Urban and Regional Planning, and Civil/ Geotechnical Engineering) bringing the total of UJ scholarships to seven. The internal application process for the allocated NESP Phase 2 scholarships was carried out in 2022 and completed. The DHET approved one NESP Phase 2 scholar who signed a contract and commenced her master’s degree in 2023. The University is awaiting confirmation of the remaining two scholars from the DHET. CHART 5. UJ NESP SCHOLARS BY GENDER CHART 6. UJ NESP SCHOLARS BY RACE Female Male Total 5 2 African Indian 6 1 2022 ANNUAL REPORT: DIVISION FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE 34
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