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

Doctor of Technology: Information Systems 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
86766  Doctor of Technology: Information Systems 
ORIGINATOR
Vaal 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 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Information Technology and Computer Sciences 
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 0695/12  2012-07-01  2014-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2015-12-31   2018-12-31  

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
97077  Doctor of Philosophy in Information and Communication Technology  Not Applicable  NQF Level 10  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

The registration would be beneficial to Information Technology graduates, allowing professional recognition of the degree obtained by the graduates. This degree is intended to be followed after successful completion of the M Tech degree in this field.

The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the ability to:
  • Carry out independent research in the field of Information Technology and mastering the required study field.
  • Demonstrate the required level of intellectual and theoretical knowledge and insight into computer science problems, thereby revealing his/her ability to critical reasoning, formulation, analysis and evaluation of a specific information technology problem.
  • Demonstrate reflexive competencies such as innovation, decision-making, strategic thinking and organisational abilities.
  • Access further education and training and to enhance his/her marketability and employability in the field of Information Technology (IT).
  • Write a thesis about the research field.
  • Write articles in the relevant field to be presented at national and international conferences.
  • To demonstrate the ability to generate an original contribution to the field of IT.

    Rationale:

    The registration would be beneficial to Information Technology graduates, allowing professional recognition of the qualification obtained by the graduates. This qualification is intended to be followed after successful completion of the Master of Technology degree qualification in this field. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    To enrol for this qualification, potential learners must demonstrate the following competencies:
  • The candidate should have already mastered the skills of applying research methodology correctly, applying a level of synthesis to explanations in literature study and be able to write scientific English in the correct format.
  • Specialised subject knowledge in a relevant discipline related to Informatics.
  • Advanced research skills.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    A learner who claims to have achieved entry requirements through an equivalent qualification at another university is evaluated on an individual basis with each application by the head of the department.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Any applicable Master's Degree. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Learning components (curriculum):
  • Carry out independent research in the field of Information Technology and mastering the required study field.
  • Demonstrate the required level of intellectual and theoretical knowledge and insight into computer science problems, thereby revealing his/her ability to critical reasoning, formulation, analysis and evaluation of a specific information technology problem.
  • Demonstrate reflexive competencies such as innovation, decision-making, strategic thinking and organisational abilities.
  • Access further education and training and to enhance his/her marketability and employability in the field of Information Technology (IT).
  • Write a thesis about the research field.
  • Write articles in the relevant field to be presented at national and international conferences.
  • To demonstrate the ability to generate an original contribution to the field of IT. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The learners should be able to:

    1. Demonstrate an ability to conduct a research study.

    2. Identify, locate, evaluate and consolidate relevant literature on the research project, and generate, analyse and evaluate obtained literature.

    3. Write a thesis that is well structured and contains relevant research in the field.

    4. Write a research paper on the research topic.

    5. Make a contribution to the field of IT. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:

    Assessment is focussed on the candidate's ability to fulfil their life role performance as well as to demonstrate broad enabling competences. They have to be able demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and understanding of applications with discussions and debates on scientific issues and practice. Assessment strategies and procedures include:
  • Formative (continuous) assessment practices:
    > Research progress is assessed at regular intervals by meetings scheduled with the study leader and other stakeholders in the research field.
    > Colloquiums are also arranged after the completion of the proposal and before final submission.
  • Summative (final) assessment practices:
    > The thesis is assessed by the study leader and at least two external examiners in the research field from another institution with at least a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the research area. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification is comparable to a PhD Internationally. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • At least two external examiners, usually recommended by the supervisor must be approved by the head of department and the Dean's executive committee of the Faculty, as well as the Faculty board and Senate.
  • At least two external examiners (from another higher education institution or from a relevant field in labour or industry) of national/international stature are used for the external examination of the thesis. Students also have to provide proof of the publication in an accredited journal upon submission of their theses.
  • No letters provided by a professional body as such body do not exist for ICT in South Africa.

    An external examiner has to complete a formal assessment report that will be submitted to the Faculty of Business Informatics:
  • The Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences coordinates the written reports received from the external examiners.
  • Reports are considered by the Higher Degrees Committee, which makes recommendation to the Senate. 
    		•

    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. 

    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.
     
    1. Vaal 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.