Who are we
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Internship Programme offers an opportunity to unemployed graduates in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET), Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) as well as Research Development and Innovation fields to:
- Acquire practical work experience through mentoring and exposure; and
- Promote an environment in which the interns acquire the required skills needed to ease entry into the relevant sector/job market;
- Transfer their knowledge to host institutions and contribute to the goals of the institution;
- Gain experience in research management, research support, and administration at public higher education institutions and research institutions at large.
What we do
- Establish and increase the pool of skilled human resources for the National System of Innovation (NSI);
- Provide graduates and postgraduates with work experience in SET and HSS fields commensurate with their qualifications, thus increasing their chances of employment;
- Provide SET graduates and postgraduates with exposure to research and development projects that are critical to the NSI and attract them to pursue careers in the NSI;
- Build capacity and capability in research management at higher education institutions (HEIs) and research institutions throughout the country and to improve equitable access to marginalized groups;
- Contribute to life-long learning
Who is Eligible
Unemployed Graduates that meet the following criteria
- South African citizen or South African Permanent Resident (with a valid South African Identity Document).
- Graduates that are 35 years of age or younger at the time of appointment to the internship programme
- Hold a NQF level 7 to 9 qualification from a DHET – accredited higher education institution.
Host Institutions
- In the Science, Engineering, Technology (SET), Research, Development and Innovation, Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) disciplines;Able to identify mentors who have been employed in the host institution on a long-term contract (at least 2 years) or in a permanent position.
- Have mentors willing to allocate time for mentoring, training and support for interns
- Have infrastructure for the interns to work namely workstations, computers and other resources including platforms for working remotely to ensure adequate work exposure for the interns
- Willing to participate in the mentor forums and training programmes provided by the internship programme
Our approach
key to the implementation approach of the internship programme is the mentorship component which pairs interns with mentors who are responsible for exposing interns to skills linked to their fields of study or discipline. This mentorship approach ensures that interns are equipped with the requisite skills to facilitate their next transition in their pathway.
Embedded in the design and implementation of the programme is a well-designed capacity development plan which brings together partners within the HSRC and other stakeholders for transversal skills training and transfer. These include workshops that builds soft skills such as communication, work etiquette, time management, etc. the programme also has a deliberate Employee Wellness Programme, which provides amongst others psycho-social support and advice such as legal, financial management, grief/ trauma counselling. This holistic approach ensures that interns are well rounded and developed by the time they exit from the programme.
Remuneration
The internship provides monthly allowance for participants throughout the duration of the internship, administered through the HSRC.
Duration of the Internship
The internship programme is offered for a period of 24 months.
Recruitment Process
The HSRC publishes two sets of calls;
- Step 1: invite hosting institutions to express their interest in hosting interns by expressing their intern profile requests.
- Step 2: Invite graduates to apply for the internship.
- Step 3: Grant successful hosts access to the intern portal to identify their relevant interns aligned to the qualification.
- Step 4: Hosts identify and interview shortlisted candidates and communicate with the HSRC if they have found an intern to match their needs.
- Step 5: HSRC undertakes verification of eligibility of the applicant and, if approved, then facilitates the contract
How to apply?
COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION HERE
Who can apply?
To be eligible, interns MUST meet the following minimum requirements:
- Be a South African citizen or South African Permanent Resident (with a valid South African Identity Document).
- Non-South Africans are not eligible to apply;
- Should be currently unemployed and 35 years of age or younger at the time of appointment to the internship programme; A graduate holding any of the following:
- NQF Level 7 Bachelor’s, Advanced Diploma, or B-Tech Degree;
- NQF Level 8 Bachelor’s Hons Degree and Postgraduate Diploma;
- NQF Level 9 Master’s Degree or M-Tech.
- Hold a qualification in Science, Engineering and Technology, Research, Development, Innovation, Social Sciences and Humanities or related disciplines and SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED THEIR STUDY at the time of submitting the application.
The following applies to candidates who are NOT ELIGIBLE to be appointed as DSI-HSRC interns:
- Candidates who hold a Diploma at BELOW NQF level 7 as well as PhD at
NQF level 10;
- Candidates who would be registered full-time for study
- Registered Doctoral (PhD, DPhil and DTech) students; and
- Candidates who hold DSI-funded scholarships or bursaries during the internship year.
- Candidates who are past beneficiaries of the DSI-NRF or DSI-HSRC Internship programme
