Dr Vijay Reddy
Executive director
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What we do The Education, Science and Skills Development (ESSD) programme conducts research in the areas of education, skills development and innovation systems. Education and skills development promote individual, social and economic development. They are key to growth and the exercise of citizenship. Science is central to the knowledge society and to a functioning innovation system.  | RESDI newsletter, November 2009 issue out now  | | ESSD has embarked on an ongoing process of reviewing developments in education, skills development and innovation in a newsletter titled RESDI (Review of Education, Skills Development and Innovation). The first edition (November 2009) of RESDI provides an overview of developments in education before and after the 2009 election; it considers risks and opportunities in the shift of the sector education and training authorities (SETAs) from the department of labour to the department of higher education and training; and looks at regional innovation systems and strategies. |
Scope of work
The work of ESSD is organised into three units that explore issues in and across the education, work and innovation system interface: - Education - researches primary, secondary and tertiary education and its research focuses on access, quality, relevance and equity in education.
- The world of work - researches labour markets, skills and human resource development and in this way seeks to address the key imperatives of improved access to skills acquisition, raising employment opportunities and sustaining economic growth.
- Science and innovation studies - researches the link between technology, innovation and economic development.
Focus areas
Research teams have been involved in a range of research projects in the following domains: Education - Languages and literacy
- Science, mathematics and technology education
- Curriculum development and analysis
- Teachers, teaching and teacher education
- Finance, governance, management and administration
- Educational assessment, analysis and evaluation
- Technical and vocational education and training
- Higher education
World of Work - Analysis of skills and training
- Employment equity
- Occupations and professions
- Youth unemployment
- Impact of HIV/AIDS
Innovation Studies - Firm learning and technological upgrading
- University-industry linkages
- Regional innovation systems
Partners, collaborators and funders
ESSD has built strong collaborations and partnerships with national and international organisations across the public and private sector, increasingly also in other developing countries. Through these networks, the programme has completed successful research projects for: The European Union Royal Netherlands Embassy International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Irish Aid Carnegie Corporation Spencer Foundation Shuttleworth Foundation Department of Labour Department of Science and Technology The National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) Provincial government departments.
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