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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Doctor of Philosophy: Development Studies: Research 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
15846  Doctor of Philosophy: Development Studies: Research 
ORIGINATOR
University of North West 
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 07 - Human and Social Studies  Industrial & Organisational Governance and Human Resource Development 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 2663/05  2006-07-01  2009-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30   2013-06-30  

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 
Given that the capacity for further research at this stage should be at a more advanced level than in the Masters degree, the purpose of this qualification is to equip students with manifestly more complex academic and research skills. Thus, higher levels of mastery in the areas of critical thought, independent analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of material used in the research should necessarily be generic and development studies -specific learner outcomes.

Although students will be expected to reveal a fairly broad coverage of the main "authorities " and sources in the field of development studies, the qualification should enable them to compile an original research thesis capable of filling a gap in the literature, and therefore being theoretically and practically valuable to other practitioners nationally and internationally. Clearly, the outcome of the student 's research should by virtue of its originality either revise or add to existing knowledge in the field of development studies. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Masters degree in Development Studies or in an appropriate related field.
  • Assessment tools to determine prior learning: (a) a written test, (b) an interview.
  • The University and Senate may also grant permission to students to enrol for this programme. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit level outcomes:

    1. On completion of the programme leading to the qualification, learners will be capable of demonstrating significantly high levels of critical thinking, breadth and depth of synthesising, analysing and evaluating information and ideas from a wide range of historical and other related sources by deploying a wide variety of research techniques and methods

    2. On completion of the programme leading to the qualification learners will be capable to producing a copy of a coherent treatment of a well-researched and well-specified subject in the form of a thesis


    Specific outcomes

    On the completion of the thesis learners should be competent in:


    1.1. Providing evidence of a fairly broad coverage of the main sources of information and evidence.

    1.2. Generating new evidence through new questions and effective critique of existing knowledge in development studies.

    1.3. Applying wide range of research methods.

    1.4. Analysing, synthesising and evaluating information found in the sources consulted .


    2.1. Stating a research problem and testable hypothesis which both exhibit the quality of originality.

    2.2. Reviewing and reflecting carefully upon the literature .

    2.3. Presenting a log and carefully structured thesis. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.1.1. Demonstrating breadth and depth understanding of relevant sources to be consulted for the research project.

    1.1.2. Advancing coherent and convincing arguments by appropriately integrating data from different sources.

    1.1.3. Exhibiting satisfactory familiarity with a broad coverage of the main "authorities " and theoretical ideas.

    1.2.1. Questioning ideas, concepts and principles underpinning some of the theories in development studies or other disciplines.

    1.2.2. Examining issues, events and experiences from a wide range of perspectives without sinking into naive relativism.

    1.2.3. Challenging viewpoints, ideas and concepts by other scholars and justifying the criticisms made.

    1.2.4. Developing and justifying their views, opinions and concepts in the field of development studies.

    1.3.1. Creating and storing information or data in forms such as word-processing and databases.

    1.3.2. Retrieving and utilising relevant data from a variety of sources such as the Internet and CD-ROM.

    1.3.3. Demonstrating satisfactory familiarity with interviewing techniques and the construction of questionnaires while recognising the pitfalls of such methods of gathering information.

    1.3.4. Utilising statistics, library books, specialist texts and journals to enhance the quality of their research.

    1.4.1 Identifying ideas, concepts, and principles that underpin theories in development studies and related disciplines.

    1.4.2. Explaining the connections between different theories referred to in their studies.

    1.4.3. Recognising and acknowledging inconsistencies, prejudice and falsifications in the arguments made by other scholars.

    1.4.4. Synthesising written work by providing a theoretical basis that should have a practical value or application and thereby test and reinforce such a theory.

    1.4.5. Organising the interrelationships between the various parts of thesis to reflect and enhance the overall purpose of the research.

    2.1.1. Defining a research problem explicitly and identifying the purpose to reveal the significance of the study in terms of adding new dimension/s to the existing knowledge.

    2.1.2. Providing a research hypothesis to tentatively explain observed facts or phenomena.

    2.2.1. Surveying past works in their area of interest carefully in order to avoid repetition.

    2.2.2. Extending the status of existing work in the field of development studies meaningfully in terms of providing new conclusions and applications.

    2.2.3. Interpreting prior findings or results contained in current literature on the subject or problem being investigated.

    2.2.4. Developing their own ideas and concepts that will serve as a theoretical framework to underpin the empirical or practical work of their study.

    2.3.1. Defending the thesis to other professionals in the field to determine the capacity of the work to withstand scholarly scrutiny.

    2.3.2. Providing evidence that the produced fills in gaps in the existing knowledge in the field.


    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

  • A guided research report which will monitor student's grasp of the content, competencies, attitudes and values particular to the research topic
  • An integrated field assessment and mentoring exercise
  • A thesis on an approved topic and
  • A summative and integrated examination at the end of the programme of the written thesis 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal and external assessment and evaluation by academics and practitioners in related and appropriate fields.

    The Education and Training Quality Assurers (ETQA's) will also moderate 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    hose criteria identified by the Higher Education Quality Committee.

    University of North-West staff will also assess in accordance with the institution's quality assurance system 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006. 

    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.