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:

Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
116376	Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree	Field 05 - Education, Training and Development		Higher Education and Training
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	360	Not Applicable	NQF Level 10	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2021-07-01	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 Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies prepares learners for research-based Postgraduate studies in the area. It consolidates and deepens a learner's knowledge of Curriculum Studies and develops research capacity in its methodology and techniques of Curriculum Studies. Given the research focus on the qualification, the primary purpose of the qualification is, therefore, to educate researchers and professionals who can independently or collectively contribute to the knowledge base in Curriculum Studies. The qualification increases the knowledge and skills in research on issues that need high-level Curriculum interventions in society and particularly in the school. The qualification provides learners with scientific knowledge that adds value to the existing field of Curriculum to develop it to a higher level in terms of its practical application to conditions and situations. In terms of research capacity development, the qualification is a preparatory process for learners for doctoral studies and therefore motivates its learners to aspire for further studies in their specialisation.

Given the above qualification purpose and capacity building of the qualification, the expected outcomes on the learners includes analytical skills, ability to plan and implement research programme, write research reports through compiling a thesis that has potential for publication of results that can contribute to solutions to national, regional and international social, political, cultural, linguistic, and any other challenges that can influence access to and achievement in education.

Rationale:
South Africa and the Southern African region need highly qualified and professionally trained researchers in higher education sectors. The qualification provides an opportunity for learners who wish to develop their capacity in research knowledge and skills in Curriculum Studies for investigation and application to a variety of challenges that require researchers.

The qualification meets the national requirements for NQF Level 10 as per the NQF Level Descriptors and provides enrolled learners with the knowledge and skills on theoretical and methodological techniques in Education. It consolidates and deepens learner's knowledge in the field of Curriculum Studies and develops research capacity in its methodology and techniques. The qualification includes conducting and reporting on research under the supervision of highly qualified academics/researchers.

Learners who qualify from this qualification can enrol for postdoctoral fellowship programmes or as researchers and academics on educational policy and practice in the country.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
In line with university policy, recognition of prior learning will be extended to deserving learners who can demonstrate evidence that despite not having all the entry requirements, they have concrete evidence in the form of a compiled portfolio, that they can cope with the qualification expectations if enrolled. Learners eligible for RPL need to provide relevant evidence for consideration and verification by the University registry. Learners who apply for this type of RPL should have an accredited qualification which is at the same NQF level and the same minimum weighting as the qualification required for admission.

The status may be granted with or without conditions. Learners who do not have an accredited qualification which is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission based on advanced standing. Advanced standing may be granted with or without conditions.

For RPL, relevant knowledge, skills and competencies that have been acquired through formal, non-formal and informal learning shall be recognised. RPL is applied to learning that occurred through informal and/or non-formal learning routes. Learning resulting from formal routes will normally be dealt with via Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT), but in cases where CAT is not applicable, the RPL route may be explored. Credits may be obtained through RPL and/or CAT towards the qualification. In line with RPL Policy, credit/s shall be granted for learning that occurred and not for experience. Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted

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

Master of Education in Curriculum Studies, NQF Level 9.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of a compulsory module at National Qualifications Framework Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 360 Credits:

Thesis, 360 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Conduct independent research and competence in scholarly exposition.
2. Present information clearly, cohesively and in a scholarly style.
3. Show an understanding of current theories in the discipline understudy
4. Contribute and communicate research findings to the body of knowledge in the field through logical research activities.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Formulate the research topic, problem, aims, questions, hypotheses (where applicable) clearly relevant to the topic and field of research in Curriculum Studies

Explain convincingly why the research study is related to current issues in Curriculum Studies

Demonstrate the capacity to do independent research by presenting a well prepared and detailed research proposal on chosen and approved topic.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Provide well-founded interpretations of literature in the area of Curriculum Studies, and concise and accurate syntheses of written arguments;

Use specialist and applied knowledge appropriately in an area of Curriculum Studies in theory and practice through literature study and conducting research fieldwork;

Grasp the dialectical relationship between theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of Curriculum Studies;

Demonstrate proven awareness of the variety of educational contexts in which knowledge of Curriculum Studies is relevant and practically applicable in education

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Provide well-founded interpretations of literature in the area of Curriculum Studies, and concise and accurate syntheses of written arguments;

Use specialist and applied knowledge appropriately in an area of Curriculum Studies in theory and practice through literature study and conducting research fieldwork;

Grasp the dialectical relationship between theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of Curriculum Studies;

Address a professional or academic problem in Curriculum Studies with originality and independent thought.

Discover new facts, principles, and connections to improve educational practice in the field of Curriculum Studies.

Suggest improvements in educational contexts and thus make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a research problem and share with colleagues in the field of Curriculum Studies ż Disseminate the whole research process and findings in a logical and scholarly manner to specialists and generally interested stakeholders through publication in peer review platforms such as journals and book chapters.

Integrated Assessment:
Assessment criteria for the qualification include the following:
Formative assessment at the stage of research proposal writing and submission of the proposal, ethics application and approval, developing research chapters on the approved proposal, instrumentation and data collection, verbal and written presentation of the thesis.

Summative assessment method applies the examination stage when learners submit the full thesis. The examiners are nominated and approved internal examiner(s) and two external examiners who assess the thesis. Each examiner comments on the thesis in writing and give a clear breakdown of how they arrive on the final decision on the thesis.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Internationally, many countries offer Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies either as a Doctoral degree in Education or Doctor of Philosophy degree with a specialisation in Curriculum Studies by research as the one at the South African institution. The institution offers the DED in Curriculum Studies purely by research and this is a common practice globally. The following institutions offer a qualification at Doctoral level by research which is equivalent to the one offered by the South African institution:
Closer to South Africa, in Zimbabwe, the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Great Zimbabwe University, Midlands State University all offer a PhD in Education with specialization in Curriculum Studies. The entry requirement is a Master of Education in Curriculum Studies or its equivalent just like is the requirement for this qualification. Further, it is noted that learners doing Curriculum Studies at these universities can choose a specific methodology or learning area to specialise on such as Curriculum Studies in Languages, Humanities or Science subjects.

Overseas, the following universities also offer a similar Doctoral degree in Curriculum studies; the University of Queensland in Australia, Leeds, London, Cambridge Universities in the UK. However, most universities in Europe consider coursework by MPhil before the research component of the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Curriculum Studies.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Doctor of Philosophy, 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.

1.	University of Venda