University Research Fund

Funding and grants

Block allocations, research grants, equipment, progress reports and the research register are administered by the Research Board. Current monetary figures are obtainable from the Secretary of the Research Board or the Faculty Representative.

Block allocation

Each department receives a block allocation based on the number of established academic posts. The Board will not entertain applications above the annual block allocation for the applicant.
Funds may be used for consumable stores, research equipment, ad hoc temporary research assistance, travel, typing of research papers, conference registration fees, telexes, email and faxes related to research, books, membership of learned societies, and journal subscriptions.
Two or more members of staff may combine block allocations to buy equipment costing less than the Chairperson’s action maximum. A higher amount needs Research Board approval.
The Secretary prepares a report on block allocation expenditure for department chairpersons to confirm.
Block allocation reports must be received by the deadline of the November meeting. If they are not, the department forfeits its allocation for the following financial year.
A department that carries forward a balance of more than twice its annual allocation will not normally be granted its allocation for the following year.

Research grant criteria

The Board supports a grant when:

It forms a distinct contribution to knowledge of the subject. Due weight is given to work with direct relevance to Zimbabwean circumstances.
It shows originality, either in the discovery of new facts or in the exercise of originality and scholarship.
It is in line with priority research themes based on national research priorities, emerging societal needs, new research areas and international trends identified by the University.

For a major capital grant, the application should be supported by a majority of departmental Chairpersons in the Faculty, should detail similar equipment already owned by the University and certify that it is fully utilised or not suitable, and should state the level of utilisation anticipated.

Capital equipment funds not used within two years revert to the Board. Faculty Representatives may appeal before the funds are repossessed.
A new grant is considered only after satisfactory accounting for funds previously granted, and evidence of envisaged output (publication, design or innovation).
The Board does not normally award grants for clerical salaries, typing and photocopying.
All equipment bought with a research grant or block allocation is the property of the Research Board.
Books and journals bought with Research Board funds, including block allocation, are the property of the University Library.

Equipment register

Research equipment includes non-consumable equipment and motor vehicles used for research. The Board keeps a database of all research equipment in the University, whether bought with Board funds or other funds such as a donor agency. When new equipment is received, the department Chairperson fills in the form from the Secretary. Each year the Secretary sends a print-out for confirmation and correction. Departments with no registered equipment still reply by memorandum.

Research output

A proportion of farm produce that results from Board-funded research is the property of the Research Board.
Authors of books funded by the Board acknowledge its assistance and provide two copies to the Main University Library.
Authors of journal papers and book chapters submit a copy to the Main University Library Repository.
Designs, innovations, inventions and discoveries from Board funding must acknowledge the assistance and be forwarded to the Incubation Hub pending commercialisation.

Progress reports

It is a condition of the grant that the Board is kept informed of progress and completion. Failure can result in the Board recovering the money from the researcher’s salary. A penalty applies to defaulters on both research grants and external or internal travel grants.

A progress report includes: grant account number, month and year of approval, and expected completion date; Research Board paper numbers for the original and any supplementary application and previous progress reports; a brief description of progress; the amount granted; expenditure to date under capital, consumables, travel and subsistence, research assistance, and other; the balance; anticipated use of remaining funds; publications, with copies if possible; and the signature of the Faculty Representative and the date.

Progress reports are discussed with the Faculty Representative and submitted by the closing date of each meeting.

Supplementary grants and the research register

A supplementary grant can be considered after a progress report. The progress report is separate from the supplementary application. Use pro forma A, adapted where necessary, and quote the original Research Grant vote number.

Form RR1 is required for every new project on the University Research Register. It is obtainable from the Faculty Representative and is submitted to the Faculty Representative, who submits it to the Secretary.