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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
80926  Doctor of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University 
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
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
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

As a new speciality the development of Emergency Care research will identify current standards, aim to improve emergency care on a national and international level, and promote key areas such as disaster medicine, prehospital medicine and patient safety.

After completion the students would have mastered techniques and skills to be competent researchers and educators. The programme will stimulate the development of sub-specialities and Fellowship programmes within the field of Emergency Medicine.

At the end of the qualification, the learners will be able to:
  • Fulfil the need for researchers and educators within the field of Emergency Medicine.
  • Stimulate the development of key areas within Emergency Care.
  • Guide policy development in Emergency Care.

    Rationale:

    The National Plan for Higher Education (DoE: 2001) indicates that research plays a key role in the production, advancement and dissemination of knowledge and the development of high-level human resources.

    Emergency medicine is a new specialty in South Africa and this programme will contribute to define the standards of Emergency care at a national level. Specific key areas of growth have been identified e.g. major incident planning; emergency ultrasound, patient safety and clinical governance.

    This PhD will also contribute to the promotion of education and research in this field. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners who access this qualification are competent in:
  • Emergency medicine at NQF Level 9.
  • Communication at NQF Level 8.
  • Mathematics at NQF Level 4.
    These are generic skills acquired through other programmes.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Decided on case-to-case basis. Current research competencies that have been acquired by prior learning or through related practical experience will be assessed against the outcomes of appropriate masters qualifications to determine compliance with access requirements. Learners must, at the time of application, provide proof in the form of an academic record or other documentation to substantiate required level of knowledge and expertise. Such competencies may help gain access to the programme leading to this qualification, or advanced placement therein.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Learners accessing this qualification should be in possession of:
  • Masters of Medicine in Emergency Medicine, or
  • Masters of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine, or
  • Other Masters degree or equivalent degree in a cognate discipline. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    A dissertation of 360 credits. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate high-level research capability of sufficient quality to satisfy peer review, and merit publication.

    2. Make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of the discipline.

    3. Supervise and evaluate the research of others in the area of Emergency Medicine. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    This programme requires a student to undertake research at the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. Thus it is aligned with the HEQF Level 10 (Doctoral Degree).

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
  • The research field and its implications are critically evaluated, analysed and justified in a research report.
  • A research proposal is compiled in accordance with the institutional research policies and procedural criteria.
  • The proposal is presented according to the institutional research policies and procedural criteria.
  • Medical and research ethics and legal issues pertinent to research in technology are critically reflected on, included in the proposal and adhered to during the research process.
  • Relevant and recent information on the research area is gathered from wide variety of sources.
  • Information is critically analysed, evaluated and discussed in a detailed literature review.
  • Appropriate research design and methodology are selected, described, justified and defended in terms of the research topic.
  • Data is analysed using the relevant statistical tools.
  • The dissertation is written up according to the institutional research policies and procedural criteria.
  • Findings are communicated to peers through oral/poster presentations and/or institutional seminars and publications.

    Integrated Assessment:

    This will be in line with the Faculty's and University's assessment policies. One-on-one supervision with regular direct contact, MoUs and annual reports will allow monitoring of progress and continuous formative assessment.

    The research unit will scrutinise all progress reports. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification is comparable with the Doctorate Programme in Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Studies from Baylor University, Texas, USA. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Vertically: Not applicable. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal and external examiners will be appointed for each student. 

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


    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.