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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Education 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
85086  Doctor of Education 
ORIGINATOR
Cape Peninsula University of Technology 
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  Level 8 and above  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:
  • To accredit candidates who have contributed substantially to the field of Education through their research.
  • To produce graduate who are capable of critical analysis and high level enquiry in the field.

    Rationale:

    The Doctor of Education is a Postgraduate qualification aimed at creating opportunities for candidates to engage in highly advanced and specialised academic or professional study of and research into an aspect of Education Training and Development. The degree will be conferred only on those candidates who have demonstrated the capacity for sustained original research that makes a contribution to the constitution of and/or generated well- grounded new knowledge in the Education Training and Development field. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that candidates on whom this qualification is conferred will already have demonstrated the necessary linguistic competence, theoretical knowledge and understanding and research ability required for study at this level. More specifically, potential students at this level will have demonstrated proficiency in the language of publication, substantial theoretical knowledge and in-depth understanding of their proposed specialised area of research, as well as evidence that they are able to conduct independent research.

    Access to the Qualification:
  • A Masters qualification in Education.
  • A relevant Masters' Degree with at least a Bachelor of Education (Honours) Degree.
  • Relevant research experience. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Doctor of Education is a 360 Credits qualification at old NQF Level 8. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Candidates will qualify for this degree only if they can demonstrate the competence described in the Exit Level Outcomes that follow. The descriptors which follow the Exit Level Outcomes should be regarded as ways of interpreting the Exit Level Outcomes. Competence should be at the degree of complexity indicated in the NQF Level descriptors for NQF Level 8.

    1. Candidates demonstrate that they have acquired a sound knowledge base and critical understanding of education in general and of their area(s) of specialisation in particular.

    2. Candidates demonstrate the ability to critically analyse and evaluate knowledge in their area(s) of specialisation, and to contribute to systematic and disciplined thinking about educational matters and issues with particular reference to their area(s) of specialisation.

    3. Candidates demonstrate the ability to conduct independent enquiry in a specialised field of education, training or development and to report their findings in academically appropriate ways. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

    1. Exhibit extensive, sophisticated theoretical knowledge and critical understanding in/or across one or more area/s specialisation.
    2. Apply their knowledge, skills and understanding in reflecting on and contributing to educational discourse and debates.
    3. Can deploy knowledge, understanding and expertise confidently and fluently in diverse educational contexts.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

    1. Exhibit a well-developed capacity for dealing with complexity, ambiguity, lacunae, and lack of coherence in existing knowledge on their area/s of specialisation.
    2. Question existing knowledge, theoretical positions and proffered solutions to educational problems in ways that demonstrate their analytical and intellectual independence.
    3. Contribute in various ways to systematic and rigorously disciplined theorising in the fields of educational theory as well as on education policy and practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

    1. Use a range of appropriate strategies and sources, including information and communication technology to access and process information.
    2. Make an original contribution to knowledge in their area of specialisation through independent research that satisfies current international standards for research and scholarship.
    3. Submit and publish a substantial, well-ordered thesis that displays the candidate's ability to construct an informed cohesive argument to show its relations with current and earlier streams of thinking and to interpret the implications the research findings might have for knowledge and thinking in the area of inquiry.

    Integrated Assessment:

    At this level assessment should focus on candidates' ability to generate and/or contribute to new knowledge in their area/s of specialisation by means of sustained, independent research of high quality. Candidates should produce evidence of such competence by producing an original thesis that serves as evidence of their ability to use their extensive theoretical knowledge and critical understanding of their area/s of specialisation in the generation on new knowledge and/or the solution problems. The research findings may be acceptable to the academic/scientific community, for example, a series of accredited articles, internet publications or electronic materials. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    N/A 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The Cape Peninsula University of Technology has a rigorous system of external examination where doctoral theses are examined by at least three examiners, external to the institution, one of which should be an international academic. Reports are scrutinised by an internal Senate Committee before awarding the qualification. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

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

    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. Cape Peninsula University of Technology 


    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.