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

Doctor of Commerce: Informatics 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
19494  Doctor of Commerce: Informatics 
ORIGINATOR
Rand Afrikaans University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was CHE until Last Date for Achievement  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  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 is replaced by: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
73854  Doctor of Commerce in Informatics  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the ability to:
  • Specialize in a specific area of Informatics,
  • Do original research work,
  • Expand the borders of Informatics as a discipline
  • Expand theoretical knowledge on the subject Informatics,
  • Obtain competencies and skills that can be used in future decision making and strategic thinking on the corporate level. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Learners accessing this qualification should demonstrate their ability to

    1. to do independent research work
    2. interpret research results and to come to motivated conclusions.

    Students must have a M Com degree with Informatics (or and equivalent course) as the are of study

    Recognition of prior learning:
    A learner who claims to have achieved entry requirements through experiential learning will be assessed. If the learner is found to be competent the learner may
  • Gain access,
  • advanced placement
  • or recognition of degree status will be granted on condition of continuing education 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. The researcher should be able to: Solve an advanced research problem in IT. Solve the problem in a present time frame. Do original work contributing to extending the scope of the subject.

    2. The researcher must be able to work on an individual basis, doing research work. Must be able to liase with the study leader with reference to research problems. Must be able to supervise M Com students working under his leadership/supervision. Must be able to work in collaboration with other research teams, locally or abroad.

    3. The researcher must have high level of self-responsibility and personal motivation.

    4. The researcher must be able to work independently. Must be able to apply basic principles of the scientific research methods applied in the IT field. Must be able to report his findings (media)

    5. The researcher must be able to communicate with other researchers on his results. Must be able to explain research results to non-technical audience in seminars.

    6. Although research work can be of a theoretical nature, the candidate must be able to demonstrate his knowledge on most recent developments in IT with special references to developments n his own field of research.

    7. The researcher must demonstrate his deeper insight into the relationship of his research work with the environment at large.

    8. The researcher must be able to obtain research results form sources such as search engines on the Internet, CD-ROMS, journals and text books. Must be able to form an own interpretation of the obtained research results and to place it into context. Must be able to use the obtained information in building a conceptual research model to solve the problem under investigation.

    9. The researcher has to be aware of methods/strategies to be used in applying research results to improve living conditions of other citizens. Must be responsible not to misuse research results to the detriment of other citizens. (e.g. Hacking the Internet, breaking security code systems, writing viruses)

    10. The researcher must be sensitive to the needs of other citizens and how to apply research results in such a way not to offend any individual or a group.

    11. The researcher must be aware of how to obtained knowledge which can be applied in forming a career path in IT.

    12. The researcher must demonstrate abilities as IT consultant. Must be aware of business principles of self-employment. Must be aware of business principles in managing a business. Must be aware of generating jobs in the IT industry. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1. The researcher can: Demonstrate his abilities to solve an advanced research problem.
    Incorporate the results into the final research solution/model.

    2. Although the researcher is doing individual research, the promoter must assess the student's abilities to work under his guidance and supervision.

    Feedback from leaders of other participating research groups in assessing the contribution of the learner in solving IT research problems.

    3. The promoter must assess the progress of the researcher with reference to a work plan. If progress is not acceptable, the necessary steps should be taken to rectify the situation.

    4. The promoter must assess the candidates abilities to study, interpret and evaluate a wide range of subject related material such as research papers, thesis and other recent documentation on the research subject.
    The study leader must assess the researcher's ability to apply the fundamental theoretical principles to formulate the research model.
    The study leader must assess the researcher's ability to demonstrate how the model solves the original problem.
    The study leader must validate the correctness of the solution by testing algorithms, progress, formulas and other results.

    5. The promoter must assess the candidate's abilities to write technical documents.
    These documents are assessed by the acknowledged international jurors for publication in accredited information technology journals.
    Final evaluation takes place when a written thesis is submitted to the promoter and a panel of external examiners.
    The ability of the candidate to present research work by verbal communication is assessed at international conferences where research papers are presented.

    6. The promoter must assess the researcher's knowledge and insight into the technology driving developments in the IT-field.


    7. The researcher's responsibility towards society and the environment is assessed.
    The researcher's attitude towards the IT-community is determined.
    The way in which the researcher intends to use his knowledge in serving the society is assessed.

    8. The researcher should be able to demonstrate his abilities to follow a systematically procedure in acquiring the necessary background knowledge and skills to conduct the research project.
    The promoter must judge the researcher's abilities in integrating the acquired knowledge and skills in building models to solve the research project

    9. The researcher should be aware of the importance of applying his knowledge to the benefit of other citizens in society.
    The promoter must ascertain the researcher's attitude towards the citizens of the country, making sure that the acquired knowledge will be used to the benefit of the society at large.

    10. The researcher should be aware that there is a diversity of culture groups in the country and that the research results must be applied in such a way as not to offend any individual or groups of individuals.
    The promoter must ascertain that research results are presented in such a way that nobody is offended.

    11. The researcher should be able to present himself to the IT industry as a productive, honest and reliable worker.
    The promoter must see to it that the researcher knows the ethics of employment in the IT industry.

    12. The researcher should be aware of the importance of generating job opportunities in the IT industry.
    The promoter is responsible to assess the researcher awareness of the importance of generating job opportunities in the IT industry by informal discussions.
    The promoter has to assess the researcher's knowledge of business principles by informal discussions during the research period.

    Formative assessment practices that will be implemented:

    Learners are continuously assessed by informal discussion with their appointed study leaders. The course requires learners to study, interpret and evaluate a wide range of subjects related documents - like research papers, thesis and product documentation.

    Furthermore learners are exposed to document writing, and must produce several technical documents which are often submitted as papers to subject journals. Learners must produce their own original research, which must be published in an internationally accepted (reviewed) subject journal, or must present their research results at an internationally accepted (reviewed) subject conference.

    Summative assessments that will be implemented:
    Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement the exit-level outcomes, will be done by means of

    Learners must produce a comprehensive thesis on which the final evaluation is based. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Access to qualifications on a lower level;

    Learners who wish to gain access to certificates, diplomas or degrees on NQF level 5 to 7 may be allowed, subject to approval by the Dean and panel of participating departments. Credit will be retained for modules passed previously.
  • Access to qualifications on the same level:

    If the learners want to continue their studies at another education institution, they may switch, but only if they find a suitable study leader at the other institution to continue the chosen project, or if they start from scratch. Accreditation of any part of a D Com-thesis completed at this institution will depend totally on the decision of the other institution.
  • Access to qualifications on a higher level:
    D. Com is the highest qualification that can obtained in the formal academic environment 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    External assessors are appointed by formal invitation.

    Assessors must formally accept the appointment as an external examiner.

    An external examiner has to complete a formal assessment report in writing that will be submitted to the office of the dean.

    The promoter coordinates the written reports received from the external examiners.

    Two external moderator is appointed coming either from other Computer Science departments at other universities, locally or abroad or from the IT industry. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
  • Any assessor must at least have an MSc, M Com or PhD level 8 in the IT or relevant field.

    Any assessor must have had experience in the IT environment with some academic experience in research.

    Any assessor must have had exposure to assessment in a tertiary academic environment, preferably in academic research or industry. 
    		•

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

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.
     
    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.