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Assessing Physics Research, Education, Infrastructure, and Training in the SADC Region

Estimated completion time: 20–25 minutes

Confidentiality: All responses will be anonymized and used solely for regional strategic planning by SAPhysNet and partners.
1.Country(Required.)
2.Name of Institution(Required.)
3.Type of Institution (tick one):(Required.)
4.Current Role / Job Title(Required.)
5.Does your country have a physics society?(Required.)
6.Are you a member of a physics society outside of your country?(Required.)
Section 1: Physics Research
7.Approximately how many physics-related research publications has your institution produced in the past 5 years?(Required.)
8.Main areas of physics research focus (tick all that apply):(Required.)
9.How would you describe the trend in physics research output over the past 10 years?(Required.)
10.What are the main challenges in conducting and publishing physics research? (tick all that
apply)(Required.)
11.What are primary sources of research funding for your institution/research (tick all that apply):(Required.)
12.Is current research funding adequate?(Required.)
13.Does your institution engage in physics research collaborations?(Required.)
14.What kind of support is available to researchers within your institution? (tick all that apply)(Required.)
15.What areas of physics research should be prioritized for development in your country?
16.What strategies could strengthen institutional capacity for physics research within your institution?(Required.)
Section 2: Undergraduate Physics Education
17.Which undergraduate physics programmes are offered at your institution?(tick all that apply)(Required.)
18.What is the approximate annual senior class/exit level undergraduate enrolment in physics-related programs at your institution?
19.What is the approximate number of undergraduate students graduating from an only pure Physics degree?(Required.)
20.How would you rate the adequacy of the current undergraduate physics curriculum?(Required.)
21.Is the curriculum regularly reviewed and updated?(Required.)
22.Main challenges in delivering undergraduate physics education (tick all that apply)(Required.)
23.Does the curriculum include practical applications linked to SADC development priorities
(e.g., energy, health, climate, ICT)?(Required.)
24.Which topics are most emphasized in the undergraduate curriculum? (tick all that apply)(Required.)
Section 3: Physics Infrastructure and Facilities
25.Does your institution have dedicated physics laboratories?(Required.)
26.Types of physics labs available in your institution (tick all that apply) :(Required.)
27.How adequate is laboratory space for teaching and research?(Required.)
28.Condition of laboratory equipment:(Required.)
29.Key challenges in maintaining labs (tick all that apply):(Required.)
30.Computing, IT, digital resources and AI applications available for physics (tick all that apply):(Required.)
31.Does your institution allocate a specific annual budget for lab maintenance/upgrades?(Required.)
SECTION 4: TRAINING AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT IN PHYSICS
32.Are postgraduate (Master/Doctoral) programmes in physics available in your institution?(Required.)
33.Approximate annual postgraduate enrolment:(Required.)
34.Main barriers to accessing postgraduate training (tick all that apply):(Required.)
35.Are there active postgraduate exchange or joint-degree programmes within SADC?(Required.)
36.What is the capacity/number of physics academic staff at your institution?
Undergraduate teaching staff _______

Postgraduate supervisors _______

Research-only staff _______(Required.)
37.What is the capacity/number of physics technician staff at your institution? :(Required.)

Undergraduate teaching staff _______

Postgraduate supervisors _______

Research-only staff _______(Required.)
38.Are there training programmes for laboratory technicians or teaching assistants?(Required.)
39.Priority investments needed to strengthen physics training (tick top 3):(Required.)
40.What policies or regional initiatives would most improve physics training in your
country?(Required.)
41.Additional insights on opportunities or systemic challenges in physics (research,
education, infrastructure, or training) in your institution or country:(Required.)
SECTION 5: AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF AI IN PHYSICS EDUCATION
42.Which areas of physics do you believe AI can impact the most? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
43.Does your institution currently use AI tools in teaching or research?(Required.)
44.What are the main barriers to adopting AI in your institution? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
45.Does your institution have a strategy or policy for AI adoption in research and education?(Required.)
Thank you for your valuable input.

Your responses will directly inform SAPhysNet’s strategy to strengthen physics across the

SADC region.Bottom of Form
Thank you for your valuable input.

Your responses will directly inform SAPhysNet’s strategy to strengthen physics across the
SADC region.