Submit via email to info@saaps.org.za ,No faxed, hand delivered & late proposals will be accepted.

The South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS) hereby invites all South African Universities to submit their proposals together with budget estimates to host the 17th Biennial Conference of the association in 2025.

The SAAPS Council will consider both proposals and make a final decision based on the information provided to it in the following categories:

  • The preferred date of the conference (its duration is normally 2-3 days). These conferences were normally held in September/October in the past.
  • The proposal should include an official indication by the host university management that it will support the department in hosting the conference
  • The availability of one facility which can accommodate plenary sessions attended by between 150 and 300 people
  • Facilities for about six breakaway sessions at the same time which can accommodate at least 30 persons per session.

Traditionally, a conference dinner (including prize giving) is held on one of the evenings, hosted by the organisers. The proposal should indicate whether the department will be able to do it. The dinner should be included in the conference budget.

  • Provide an indication of how many and what type of accommodation facilities are available at the proposed conference venue or very close to it.
  • A preliminary budget should be included in the proposal. It should include the possible revenue sources, including the registration fees. (SAAPS will make a contribution towards the budget but the main sources should be identified by the hosts.). The budget should also include estimates of the main expenses.
  • The proposals should indicate how the local organising committee will be constituted and what its capacity will be. SAAPS prefers that students also be part of the organising process and the conference itself.

About SAAPS

The association came into life in May 2001, as the result of the merger of the South African Political Studies Association (SAPSA) and the South African Chapter of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS-SA). The Association is the official body of the disciplines of Political Science and International Relations in South Africa.

SAAPS’s aims and activities:

  • Perform an educational function by promoting knowledge and understanding of national and international political affairs through teaching, workshops, discussion and study groups, seminars, conferences, publications, and research.
  • Encourage contact and stimulate relationships among individuals and Institutions concerned with the systematic study of national and international political affairs.
  • Perform empowerment functions through a special emphasis on the encouragement and facilitation of emerging and student scholarship.

Qualifying criteria for selection:

  • Interested hosts must demonstrate the necessary capabilities and experience in hosting conferences
  • Provide verifiable evidence of such experience (event evaluation forms or any related will be an added advantage)
  • The venue should have a lift/ramp to all floors/rooms.
  • Plenary room must have a capacity for up to 300 participants.
  • Availability of breakaway rooms to hold all participants attending the conference & should be close enough to the plenary venue
  • Available parking near or at the venue.

Mandatory Requirements:

  • A proposal no longer than 10 pages, along with a budget for the event and proposed timelines from call for proposals to the conference
  • Prices must be quoted in South African Rand, inclusive of VAT where applicable.
  • The proposal must also include the proposed themesand a preliminary budget.

Enquiries may be directed to Dr. O. Mtimka ongama.mtimka@mandela.ac.za.

Compulsory virtual briefing session: Time: Aug 29, 2024, 2:00 PM Johannesburg, Join Teams Meeting

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OTdmNzdhZDMtMWU3MC00MTRhLTgyNmMtZTI1OTMyZGRhMmEw%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22bd70eeb3-a537-435a-937c-7cd330dc74d8%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22003dcf2d-e24a-40e2-b141-be2b208919b8%22%7d