The ASC-CODESRIA award for students researching African societies
This annual award has been set up jointly by the African Studies Centre (ASC) in Leiden, the Netherlands and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) in Dakar, Senegal. It aims to encourage student research and writing on Africa, and to promote the study of African cultures and societies.
Master’s Thesis Award
The ASC-CODESRIA award for students researching the societies of Sub-Saharan Africa
The African Studies Centre is an independent and multi-disciplinary centre undertaking research on Sub-Saharan Africa in the social sciences. It aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of African societies within the Netherlands and beyond and has established relations with universities and other institutes focusing on Africa, in particular with research schools in the Netherlands.
CODESRIA, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, is headquartered in Dakar Senegal. It was established in 1973 as an independent Pan-African research organisation with a primary focus on the social sciences, broadly defined. It is recognised not only as the pioneer African social research organisation, but also as the apex non-governmental centre of social knowledge production on the continent.
The award
This annual award has been set up jointly by the African Studies Centre (ASC) in Leiden, the Netherlands and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) in Dakar, Senegal. It aims to encourage student research and writing on Africa, and to promote the study of African cultures and societies. It will be presented to a student whose Master’s thesis has been completed on the basis of research conducted on Africa. The award may also be granted to any other final-year piece of work in the form of film, video or CD Rom that presents a clear analysis of an issue relating to Africa. (The term ‘thesis’ is also used to include these other forms of scientific reporting.) The award consists of a prize of 1000 for the winning thesis, the publication of the work in the ASC Research Report Series and the publication of an article by the winning author in CODESRIA Bulletin.
Who can apply
Any final-year student who has completed his/her Master’s study with distinction (Dutch rating: 8 or more) at a university in Africa or the Netherlands can be awarded the ASC-CODESRIA Master’s thesis prize. The thesis must be based on independent empirical research related to Africa in one of the subjects listed in the following section. It must have been examined within one year prior to the deadline for submitting manuscripts (see below). Work that has already won a prize elsewhere will not be considered for this award.
The ASC and CODESRIA specifically encourages students from Africa to submit their theses for this annual competition.
Subject of the thesis
Any thesis thematically related to socio-geographical, economic, political, historical, juridical or anthropological issues or focusing on the humanities (with the exception of language, literature and/or semiotic studies) can be submitted.
Where to submit a thesis
Theses can be submitted to CODESRIA or the ASC (but not to both) depending on the following criteria:
- a thesis can be submitted to CODESRIA if it is written in English, French, Portuguese or Arabic and if its geographical focus is on Africa as well as on its migrant communities elsewhere in the world.
- a thesis can be submitted to the ASC if it is written in English, French or Dutch and if in terms of geographical focus, the subject is limited to Sub-Saharan Africa and its migrant communities elsewhere in the world.
From the submissions to both institutes, a shortlist will be drawn up from which the winning thesis will be selected by a joint jury.
Quality of the thesis
The ASC and CODESRIA seek to attract theses that demonstrate a high quality with regard to the subject matter of the research as well as the way the research has been conducted. The jury attaches importance to an original approach and insight, and the relevance of the research to a scientific understanding of the issues covered. In addition, the jury will consider the significance of the thesis with regard to development-related issues and its interest for the general public.
How to submit a thesis
If a student or his/her supervisor feels that a thesis merits an award because of its high quality and originality, the thesis should be submitted to the African Studies Centre Awards Committee or the CODESRIA Awards Committee. Every submission must include:
1. a letter of recommendation from the student’s supervisor containing details about the educational institution from which the student has graduated, and the quality (awarded with distinction!) of the thesis; and
2. the thesis as well as a summary of a maximum of 500 words
Applicants based in the Netherlands are requested to submit two hard copies of their thesis. One will be returned to them afterwards and the other will be placed in the ASC or CODESRIA library. Those based in Africa are free to send an electronic version of their thesis by email.
If a hard copy of the thesis is submitted, the applicant’s email address must be included so that receipt of the thesis can be acknowledged by email.
The application will not be processed if the submission is incomplete.
Time schedule
The annual deadline for the submission of theses is 31 May 2005. The jury will announce its decision at the beginning of September and the presentation of the award will be made by the Director of the African Studies Centre during a formal ceremony in October. The winner will be invited to present his/her work at a seminar at an ASC-CODESRIA seminar in Leiden and may also be invited to do the same at a seminar or conference hosted by one of CODESRIA's member institutes in Africa.
The decision of the jury is final and no correspondence will be entered into concerning this decision.
The jury
1. Jos van Beurden MA, research journalist (chair)
2. Prof. Eric Aseka (Kenyatta University), representative CODESRIA
3. Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur (University of Ghana), representative CODESRIA
4. Dr Rijk van Dijk (African Studies Centre), anthropologist
5. Prof. Sjaak van der Geest (University of Amsterdam), anthropologist
6. Dr. Gerti Hesseling (African Studies Centre), legal scientist
7. Mindanda Mohogu MA, economist
8. Dr. Cyril Obi (Nordic African Institute), representative CODESRIA
Gitty Petit (African Studies Centre) (secretary)
Chifaou I. Josiane Amzat (CODESRIA) (secretary)
Further information
For more information or queries regarding the submission of a thesis, please contact the secretary of the ASC Awards Committee, Ms Gitty Petit: [email protected] or the secretary of the CODESRIA Awards Committee, Ms Chifaou I. Josiane Amzat: [email protected] or [email protected]