SOUTH AFRICA
RESEARCH
The Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR), University of Cape Town
The Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR) is an interdiscplinary research centre in the Humanities Faculty in the University of Cape Town. It was established in 2001 with generous core funding from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation. The CSSR’s goal is to promote quality and innovation in social science research in Southern Africa. It is a focal point where a community of scholars share ideas, comment on each other’s work and co-operate in research projects in a cost-effective manner. The CSSR’s work contributes to a better understanding of social and economic realities and informed public policy-making.
The CSSR seeks to develop capacity in the collection and critical analysis of quantitative social science data. This entails, inter alia, seeking to combine the insights of qualitative and quantitative research.
The CSSR currently comprises three research units: The Aids and Society Research Unit; the Democracy in Africa Research Unit; and the Social Surveys Unit. The Data First Resource Centre, initially established by and in the Centre for Social Science Research, has now been taken over as a core university facility.
The CSSR has a central Directorate, which serves as the administrative hub for the units making up the CSSR. It manages the finances, edits and produces working papers, organises meetings, and provides an organisational focal point for the CSSR. Robert Mattes is the CSSR Director, Kathy Forbes is the Administrative Officer, and further assistance is provided by Libbi Downes and Nondumiso Hlwele. Allison Stevens is the Publications Manager, responsible primarily for the CSSR’s Working Paper series.
Data Sets
The Data First Resource Centre houses the country’s largest user-friendly set of South African social science data-sets, as well as selected data-sets from other parts of Africa. One of Data First’s major activities is cleaning and making more user-friendly data from the official South African statistical agency, Statistics South Africa. Additional data-sets from the CSSR’s own surveys are available in the research units within the CSSR,
Library access
Access to all UCT libraries is available through the CSSR.
Research seminars
The CSSR runs a regular research seminars together with frequent workshops and conferences. GNI fellows are expected to attend and contribute to the intellectual life of the CSSR.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Accommodations
Accommodation for visiting researchers is available through the university’s All-Africa House (see below). Accommodation is sometimes available in student residences (see below). There are many guesthouses close to the university (see below), and a lot of accommodation is advertised in the university’s Monday Paper (see below).
1. Bed and Breakfast Guesthouses
Carmichael
11 Wolmunster Road, Upper Rosebank
Sandy, Fax: 689 8097, Tel: 689 8350
Carmichael@adept.co.za
Hame
45 Klipper Road, Newlands
Mrs McIntosh, Tel/fax: 689 3507; Cell: 082 290 2195
csmh@kingsley.co.za
Devonshire House
6 Lover’s Walk, Rondebosch
Jaquie or Kathleen, Tel: 686 1519
Belmont House
5 Barry Ave, Rosebank
Renee and Dick, Tel: 685 3594
Acre Cottage
10 Rusacre Ave, Rondebosch
Marilyn Jackson, Tel/Fax: 686 8352 or Cell 083 565 1880
2. On-Campus Accommodation
All Africa House
Patrick Rezandt, Tel: 650 4152/4187
prezandt@protem.uct.ac.za
3. Casual Accommodation
Advertised in the Monday Paper, accessed via the University of Cape Town’s web address: www.uct.ac.za.
NB: Overseas visitors - telephone numbers start with +27 +21
4. Real Estate agent
Further information is available from Kathy Forbes at Kforbes@commerce.uct.ac.za.
Health Insurance
The US State Department provides extensive information on health insurance for Americans traveling abroad.
Office Space
GNI fellows will get access to shared office space with network connections whenever possible.
Timing
TheSouth African academic year comprises two semesters: from the end of February through to May, and from the end of July through to October. The university is quieter outside of semesters, and is especially quiet from mid-December to early February. Cape Town has wonderful weather, but the best seasons of all are spring (September to November) and autumn (March and April).
Visa information
Visa information should be available on the South African Embassy website. If Fellows require an invitation letter for obtaining a visa, contact Kathy Forbes at Kforbes@commerce.uct.ac.za.
For more information on the CSSR, see its website http://www.cssr.uct.ac.za.
For more information on the University of Cape Town’s Sociology Department, check out their website at http://www.soc.uct.ac.za/.
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