Dr Matlala Makokotlela, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Science and Technology Education, specialising in Environmental Education and Geography.

Tell us about your journey of becoming an NRF grant holder.

My journey began in February 2020 with an email from Prof Gasa’s office sending out a call for NRF grant applications. I showed interest to the call and responded. This led to me to being invited to the workshops by Ms Winnie Motsatsi. The workshops involved creating your own CV and writing a proposal for the NRF grant applicaton. The whole process was online, which was much of challenge for me, seeing that we were working from home due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 national lockdown. Therefore, there was no opportunity for face-to-face consultations.

The application process had three stages, where stage one was the college vetting stage. It involved applications at college level with feedback provided to improve submissions. The second stage involved the institution’s vetting stage. All corrections were done online, before submitting straight to NRF. 

What type of research was the grant awarded for?

Environmental Education Research

How did you feel when you got the news that you were awarded the grant?

I was excited considering that I only had a few years’ experience at a tertiary institution.  The awarding of the grant validated me as a developing researcher. I now know that nothing is impossible and experience should never be taken as a limiting factors.

What are some of the advantages that come with being an NRF grant holder?

The grant has expanded my networking space far beyond UNISA to include other South African tertiary institutions.

What did the whole application process, teach you as a person?

The journey tested my capabilities. It tested my resilience considering the age I am at. Having to do the whole process online, was truly a challenge for me. However, the whole experience granted me the opportunity to put my project management skills to great use. This project gave me the opportunity to focus on disadvantaged schools in my community and to make a positive contribution. From this project, I also see myself being a developed article writer for publication, which will expose me as researcher far beyond the South African boarders.

What are some of the challenges that you experienced through the application process and how did you overcome them?

1. The challenge came with having to obtain all the relevant signatures from the directories, more especially during the national lockdown. This meant having to establish collaborations with colleagues I met at the workshops before the lockdown, as everyone was working from home.

2. The system itself was a challenge since at times the VPN would not connect thus resulting in a lack of access to the site. Resolving this matter was also be a challenge as we were working outside the UNISA premises.

Who is eligible to apply for the NRF grant?

Everyone is welcome, even though there are certain criteria around citizenship, age group, and qualification. It is worth noting that NRF does also advertise bursaries for students too.

What advice would you give to all emerging and developing researchers who plan to apply for the NRF grant?

Do not look at yourself as just an emerging researcher,  but become open to challenges and opportunities provided. What matters the most is the person’s willingness to learn and to apply themselves throughout the process. It is important to always believe that there is nothing impossible and the sky should never even be the limit.

What is next for Dr Makokotlela?

Publishing articles from this grant and being an NRF rated scholar.

From this interview, we learn that challenges are part of life. However, we need to change our mind set and use the challenges as a stepping stone to achieve our goals. It is easy to make excuses, but only those that choose to swim in the challenges rather than to sink get the price. Next time you see a call for application, apply. It may just be the opportunity you are looking for to catapult you into your dream career.

#By Moleboheng Ramulumo, Lecturer in the Department of Science and Technology Education 

#Interviewed by Godfrey Madibane, Broadcast Journalist, Unisa Radio