Publication subsidies: challenges and dilemmas facing South African researchers

In an attempt to encourage and enhance research productivity in higher educational institutions, various systems have been introduced. Currently in South Africa, a government subsidy is granted to higher educational institutions in reward for research outputs (primarily journal publications and postgraduate student graduations). The purpose of this article is not to attack the current or past publication subsidy systems but rather to enlighten researchers, especially emerging researchers, on the benefits and risks of the publication subsidy systems and other systems used to encourage research outputs. With this aim in mind, a comparison of the current versus the previous South African funding formulae will be made and the positive and negative impacts of these formulae (focusing primarily on the one currently in use) will be discussed in the light of international experiences using similar such approaches. In essence I wish to highlight the challenges and dilemmas faced by South African researchers and higher education institutions as they strive to find ways to increase research outputs while simultaneously sustaining or enhancing the quality and impact of these research outputs, in order to maintain and/or gain national and international recognition.