SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Master of Philosophy in Paediatric Infectious Diseases

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
111409	Master of Philosophy in Paediatric Infectious Diseases
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Curative Health
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	180	Not Applicable	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2019-08-23	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of the Master of Philosophy in Paediatric Infectious Diseases (MPhil (Paediatric Infectious Diseases)) is:

To ensure that learners acquire a high level of theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills and experience in the field of Clinical Infectious Diseases, through appropriate assimilation and analysis of new information, the ability to find workable solutions to problems and challenges, as well as practical application of knowledge accrued.

To ensure that learners acquire the necessary skills to identify key research opportunities, initiate well-structured research studies, complete such studies, and apply the results thereof.

To prepare learners who aspire to move to a higher level of academic research work for Doctoral Studies and to promote an approach based on academic integrity and professional ethics.

To contribute to the pool of academics and professionals with the competence and critical intellectual abilities to ensure advancement in the field of Infectious Diseases and to make provision for the country's needs in a skilled scientific workforce of the highest calibre.

To prepare learners who can apply their skills to the task of answering the relevant questions and meeting the critical needs of the country.

The purpose and outcomes of the qualification would be reached by means of the curriculum, as candidates are supervised, guided and assisted by properly qualified individuals and they are required to perform a research project at the appropriate level.

Rationale:
The world-wide pandemic of infectious diseases like Tuberculosis (TB), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and malaria has made appropriate training and research in this field a priority. Southern Africa bears the brunt of the pandemic and currently has the largest antiretroviral therapy qualification in the world. The proportion of TB/HIV coinfection is also the highest in the world. Not only is patient care required, but more clinical research on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, risk factors, prevention and appropriate management has become mandatory. The responsible use of antibiotics in the treatment of infectious diseases (antibiotic stewardship) has become an international focus area, as the current abuse of antibiotics is leading to increasing resistance to antibiotics.

This qualification will address the need for properly trained clinicians with a thorough understanding of and experience in clinical research in infectious diseases. Similar to all the subspecialty qualifications in Paediatrics learners will be qualified physicians who have obtained their Master of Medicine (MMed) and FCPaed qualifications.

Thus the qualification will prepare learners for a career as infectious diseases paediatrician.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) (Paediatric Infectious Diseases) qualification conforms to the Institution's Policy for the Regulation of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) as well as the RPL policy of the Faculty of Health Sciences. In the case of RPL for exemption and CAT for transfer:

Exemption and credit transfer may only be granted on a per-module basis, i.e. a complete module of an academic qualification for which credits may be exempted or transferred.

The time since the learning was completed may be taken into account, since learning that occurred too long ago may not be relevant at the time of application.

A learner may be granted exemption or credit transfer.

A specific set of learning on the grounds of which admission to any Postgraduate qualification is granted under RPL.

Exemption from module(s), as RPL, can be granted on the strength of short course(s) outside the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) (in other words, non-credit-bearing) completed by the applicant, on condition that the course contents, duration and assessment of the short course are at least similar to that of the module(s).

Each credit exempted or transferred must correspond to ten notional study hours.

In the case of RPL for access:

Applications for admission to Postgraduate qualifications, the normal admission requirements may be waived based on prior learning, subject to the approval of the relevant faculty board.

Departments and qualification committees in the Faculty of Health Sciences are at liberty to make use of one or more of the following assessment instruments, or of similar assessment instruments, when considering applications:

Admittance assessment instruments (for example, entrance or placement tests, and special examinations, especially those that are assessed quantitatively).

Learning portfolios (for example, the candidate may present a comprehensive set of documents and/or other evidence to illustrate his/her prior learning - such documentation will be evaluated qualitatively by the academic staff).

"Conditional" admittance (for example, a learner may be accepted as a special learner and then be allowed to "perform himself or herself into" a learning qualification).

Prior supplementary work (for example, a learner may be provisionally admitted to a learning qualification on condition that he/she completes supplementary work that meets set requirements before being formally entered into the learning qualification).

Supplementary work during the qualification (for example, a learner may be admitted on condition that he/she successfully completes supplementary work during the course of a learning qualification).

Recognition of formal learning in the form of parts or the whole of learning qualifications which were offered or completed at other institutions (for example, relevant qualifications).

Recognition of formal learning completed in the form of professional short courses or in-service training courses (for example, learning that is not certified as a qualification, or part thereof, by another institution of higher learning).

Recognition of non-formal or informal learning (for example, learning that took place in the workplace or in another appropriate environment on the initiative of the individual).

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

A Fellowship: College of Paediatricians (FCPaed).

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate the ability to function as a clinical infectious diseases paeditrician and to adequately take care of patients with a variety of infectious diseases.
2. Independently design a clinical (or basic science) research project, to obtain ethical approval, to obtain funding to perform such a project, to present the results and conclusions in a scientific format, and to accept the responsibility and accountability for the performed work within the context of the discipline of Paediatric Infectious Diseases.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.

Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community.

Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion.

Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

Reflect on and explore a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.

Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities.

Show culturally and aesthetically sensitivity across a range of social contexts.

Explore education and career opportunities; and develop entrepreneurial opportunities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Formulate clear, answerable research questions as they pertain to the discipline of Paediatric Infectious Diseases.

Decide on the most appropriate methodology to address the research question(s).

Find all relevant information, including research and review articles, textbooks and guidelines, by accessing Internet databases and employing appropriate search strategies.

Critically evaluate the relevant literature.

Write an appropriate literature review.

Formulate and write a research protocol.

Conduct the study and analyse the data.

Draw logical, evidence-based conclusions from the data.

Present and defend the results of the research in an acceptable scientific format.

Integrated Assessment:
Formative assessments are performed on a continuous basis. This is done through monitoring procedures and helps to identify specific weaknesses in the learners' knowledge before engaging in a formal assessment process.

The summative assessment of a learner is performed by a process of formal internal and external examination of the two qualification modules viz.

Module I: Clinical competency is evaluated by a formal national written examination and clinical assessment, set and marked by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.

Module II: The Research Project is assessed by two independent examiners (that is to say, they must not have been involved in planning and conducting the study), one of whom should be an external examiner. Examiners (preferably 3) may be proposed by the supervisor, but must be appointed by the Postgraduate Committee of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. The Research Project, together with a copy of the guidelines for assessment and a copy of the standard (pro forma) report form, must be submitted by the Postgraduate Committee (and not the supervisor) to the examiners for assessment. The examiners must return the completed standard report form to the PGC together with a more detailed report.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The following international qualification has been identified to be comparable to this qualification:

Paediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship, University of Colorado:
The University of Colorado School of Medicine (CU SOM) offers a three-year, well-rounded fellowship training programme in the field of Paediatric Infectious Diseases. The programme is run by the CU SOM Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease and has its clinical base at Children's Hospital Colorado. The goals of the fellowship programme are to prepare the fellow for a career in academic medicine, with strong emphasis on excellence in clinical care, teaching, and productive and independent research. The first year of the fellowship is devoted primarily to clinical training, education, and experience, and the second and third years are devoted to research activities with continued training in the outpatient and continuity aspects of the field.

The first year of fellowship is dedicated to acquiring clinical proficiency in both inpatient and outpatient aspects of Paediatric Infectious Disease.

The second and third years of training are primarily devoted to research training. The Fellowship Director holds twice-yearly individual meetings with each fellow to discuss all aspects of the fellowship training programme, with special emphasis on his/her research project and the mentorship provided by the research mentor. Each fellow presents twice yearly at research in progress sessions to the fellow's Scholarship Oversight Committee and the Fellowship Director.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Master of Medicine, NQF Level 9.

Master of Medicine in Paediatric Surgery, NQF Level 9.

Vertical Articulation:

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences, NQF Level 10.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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