COMMENTARY

 

A commentary on the intellectual health of the nation

 

 

Christopher L. Vaughan; B. Dayanand Reddy; Timothy D. Noakes; V.C. Moran

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The record of high-quality research at South African universities is not as impressive as we may have thought, according to some international rankings. Whatever we might think of these assessments, we have to take them seriously. We suggest ways in which our universities and other institutions of higher learning might raise the level of their game.

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References

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* Author for correspondence: Research and Postgraduate Affairs, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa. E-mail: kit.vaughan@uct.ac.za
† C.L. Vaughan is deputy dean, Faculty of Health Sciences; B.D. Reddy and V.C. Moran are former deans of science; and T.D. Noakes is director of the Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit, all at the University of Cape Town.
Note added in proof: The 2004/5 national survey on research and development reveals that the ratio of South Africa's gross expenditure on R&D to gross domestic product has risen to 0.87%, the highest yet recorded.