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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Doctor of Philosophy: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
16346	Doctor of Philosophy: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language		Information Studies
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	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 091/21	2021-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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

The purpose of this qualification is to provide advanced students in the field of AAC with the opportunity to further their study and become quality researchers. This degree will fill a need for expert researchers who can facilitate the development and application of AAC strategies in all sectors of human life in this country.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Matriculation certificate
First degree: B Communication Pathology; B Sc (Occupational Therapy); B Sc (Physiotherapy); B Ed
Honours degree: B A (Honours AAC)
Master's degree: B A (Masters AAC)

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Ph D Specialising in Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Learning outcomes:
A qualified expert at this level is able to fulfil the following roles and competencies:

The researcher will be highly competent in the knowledge, skills, values, methods and procedures relevant to the field of AAC

S/he will be prepared to take a leadership role in teaching and further research in the field of AAC

S/he will be highly competent in the methods and procedures of different kinds of research activities in the field of AAC

Critical cross-field outcomes:

Produce quality research which will enrich the field of AAC to the benefit of clients who need AAC intervention.

Identify and solve problems regarding specific case studies within the domain of AAC and severe disabilities in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.

Work effectively with other students as a member of a transdisciplinary team as the field of AAC has a rich interdisciplinary nature.

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information regarding AAC and severe disabilities in order to develop culturally sensitive intervention guidelines.

Communicate effectively by writing clear assessment reports and intervention guidelines and by participating as a valued and contributing member to the AAC intervention team.

Use science and communication technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards individual clients and the community at large.

Reflect on and explore a variety of intervention strategies relevant to the South African context.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

A range of assessment modalities will be used in an integrated manner to assess whether the specific outcomes have been met. The student will submit a thesis on an approved topic and will take an oral examination. Additional oral presentations will be required. Formative and summative assessments will be used. External evaluators will be used to control these outcomes in order to ensure that they meet the standard and level of achievement which is relevant to the qualification at this particular level (level 8)

Integrated assessment:
Written examinations
Oral examinations
Other:
Ph D Dissertation

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Related qualifications:
Post Doctoral work in AAC and Severe Disabilities

MODERATION OPTIONS

Frequent collaboration with international AAC and Special Education experts to ensure standards

Collaboration with other universities that present AAC programmes

Use of internal second marker with relevant qualification

Use of external marker with relevant qualifications.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Qualifications required:
The minimum qualifications are: Ph D

Career experience required:
At least five years experience in the field of severe disability

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

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 Pretoria