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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96450  Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health 
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda 
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:
The purpose of the qualification is to prepare professionals in the public health sector to either take up careers as faculty members or to work in the other sectors where advanced knowledge, skills and experience in public health are needed to address today's most demanding public health and social issues. The learners will participate in rigorous but engaging intellectual discourses that will equip them with professional and research skills needed to act as consultants and leaders in the public health sector.

Rationale:
The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (PhD Public Health) is a highly attractive qualification to many learners both in South Africa and beyond. It is of high demand and relevant to the needs of graduates with a Master's Degree in Public Health and in any other related fields who are working in different areas of employment both locally (Limpopo province) and in other provinces in the country. There are very few graduates in Public Health with PhDs in South Africa and in most African countries. Currently, graduates with a PhD in Public Health in South Africa are classified as having scarce skills. Specifically, there are several graduates with Master's in Public Health in our department who are yearning to pursue a PhD in Public Health qualification in order to provide leadership and also act as experts in public health in the districts and municipalities. The qualification offers the learners immense career opportunities both in the government departments, the universities, international organisations and non-government organisations. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution has an Assessment Policy and Recognition of Prior Learning (APRL) policy in place.

The qualification conforms to the institution's Policy for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as well as the RPL policy of the Faculty.

The policy defines the process that must be followed in the assessment of an application for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at postgraduate level and provides information pertaining to assessment tools that can be used in the assessment of RPL applications. The PRL process is subjected to the Faculty's quality assurance process.

Entry Requirements:
A minimum requirement is a Master's of Philosophy in Public Health or in any other related field. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health consists of 1 compulsory module at NQF Level 10 totalling 360 Credits:
  • Dissertation in Public Health in Thesis at NQF Level 10, 360 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Identify and analyse an ethical issue; balance the claims of personal liberty with the responsibility to protect and improve the health of the population; and act on the ethical concepts of social justice and human rights in public health research and practice.
    2. Provide fiscally responsible strategic and operational guidance within both public and private health organisations for achieving individual and community health and wellness.
    3. Create and communicate a shared vision for a positive future; inspire trust and motivate others; and use evidence-based strategies to enhance essential public health services.
    4. Synthesize and apply evidence-based research and theory from a broad range of disciplines and health-related data sources to advance programs, policies, and systems promoting population health.
    5. Communicate and interact with people across diverse communities and cultures for development of programs, policies, and research.
    6. Influence decision-making regarding policies and practices that advance public health using scientific knowledge, analysis, communication, and consensus-building. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Positions on health issues, law, and policy are presented.
  • Consensus-building, negotiation, and conflict avoidance and resolution techniques are utilised.
  • The impact of legislation, judicial opinions, regulations, and policies on population health are analysed.
  • Goals, timelines, funding alternatives, and strategies for influencing policy initiatives are established.
  • Action plans for building public and political support for programs and policies are designed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Collaborative partnerships with communities, policy makers, and other relevant groups are established.
  • Engaging with communities in creating evidence-based, culturally competent programs are displayed.
  • Community-based participatory intervention and research projects are conducted.
  • Action plans for enhancing community and population-based health are designed.
  • Cultural, environmental, and social justice influences on the health of communities are assessed.
  • Culturally and linguistically appropriate programs, services, and research are implemented.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Theoretical and evidence-based perspectives from multiple disciplines are applied in the design and implementation of programs, policies, and systems.
  • Quantitative and qualitative data following current scientific standards are interpreted.
  • Design needs and resource assessments for communities and populations are suggested.
  • Health surveillance systems are developed to monitor population health, health equity, and public health services.
  • Information from multiple sources for research and practice are synthesised.
  • The performance and impact of health programs, policies, and systems are evaluated.
  • Risks, benefits, and unintended consequences for research and practice are determined.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Teams for implementing health initiatives are implemented.
  • Capacity-building strategies at the individual, organisational, and community level are developed.
  • Health surveillance systems to monitor population health, health equity, and public health services are developed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Strategic planning processes are implemented.
  • Principles of human resource management are applied.
  • Informatics principles are used in the design and implementation of information systems.
  • Policies and procedures with regulatory and statutory requirements are applied.
  • Quality improvement methods are deployed.
  • Financial and business plans for health programs and services are compiled.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Potential conflicts of interest encountered by practitioners, researchers, and organisations are managed.
  • Strategies for resolving ethical concerns in research, law, and regulations are designed.
  • Tools that protect the privacy of individuals and communities involved in health programs, policies, and research are developed.
  • Ethical considerations in developing communications and promotional initiatives are assessed.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The Degree will be assessed based on the production of a thesis of a maximum of 100,000 words and an oral examination. Two internal examiners (promoters) and two external examiners shall mark the doctoral thesis. Each of these four examiners shall comment on the work in writing, and give a clear breakdown on how they arrive at the final grading of the thesis. In addition, there shall be a public defence of the thesis organized - by the Higher Degrees Committee, in the School of Health Sciences. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This Doctoral qualification is comparable to the following international qualifications:
    The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah offers the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health. A PhD in public health will allow the learner to be a primary investigator on population-based studies and thus enable the learner to compete funded studies. It will also enable the learner to teach and conduct research as faculty at schools of medicine, schools of public health and other academic settings, as well as cancer centres, and other health organisations.

    Temple University in Philadelphia, United States of America offers the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health qualification. This qualification provides a critical and theoretical basis for advanced research in the field. Learners are integrated into the professional public health community through departmental conferences, seminar, and other activities. The PhD qualification provides training and experiences that support interdisciplinary learning, promote critical and theory-based, problem-solving skills to address public health problems, and fosters the development of public health professional values and ethics.

    The qualification prepares learners for advanced research and scholarship in:
    Health-related data sources:
    Advanced training in theory, research and practice related to health policy. The qualification will train learners in developing, evaluating, and implementing health policy at multiple levels (local, state, national, global) and in both private and public institutional settings. Learners may choose to focus on health policy in a variety of areas.

    Conclusion:
    From the information collected, it is evident that this qualification compares favourably with the international qualifications in terms of the purpose of the qualifications. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Successful completion of the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health will offer opportunities of horizontal articulation with relevant cognate qualifications in the field of Public Health:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Community Health at NQF Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Systems at NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    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 Venda 


    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.