SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Education 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
99190  Doctor of Education 
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 05 - Education, Training and Development  Schooling 
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
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

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:
  • It is intended to prepare students for research based Postgraduate study in a particular field in Education.
  • It serves to consolidate and deepen a student's expertise in a specific area in Education.

    Rationale:
    To produce a graduate who is able to deal with complex education issues both systematically and creatively through research.

    To promote professional and academic development such that the graduate is able to contribute knowledge and skills within communities of practice.

    To develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques of the area: graduates to have high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence.

    The qualification will provide benefits to the learner, society and the economy.

    The graduates will be able to:
  • Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsible and effectively; collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Communicate effectively using visual, symbolic and/or language skills in various modes.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving context do not exist in isolation.
  • Reflect on and explore a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.
  • Participate as responsible a citizen in the life of local, national, and global communities.
  • Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social context. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL will be assessed in terms of the university Draft Policy subsection10.1.2 which provides that for admission into an advanced programme or qualification; candidates who apply for this type of RPL should be in possession of an accredited qualification which is at the same NQF Level and the same minimum weighting as the qualification required for admission.

    Status may be granted with or without conditions.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum admission requirement to a Doctor of Education Degree is a Master of Education Degree or another appropriate Master's Degree. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The first part of the Doctor of Education is to produce and submit a research proposal that is assessed by both the School Higher Degrees Committee and then by the University Higher Degrees Committee. The second part constitutes the production and submission of an original thesis that is assessed by the appointed internal and external examiners. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. The ability to do independent research and competence in scholarly exposition.
    2. The ability to present information clearly, cohesively and in scholarly style.
    3. Show an understanding of current theories of the discipline.
    4. The ability to contribute to the body of knowledge through research activities. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrates by the preparation of a topic related to the major subject.
  • Explains convincingly why the research is relevant.
  • Formulates the research problem, aim, questions, hypotheses (where applicable) clearly.
  • Demonstrates how and why paradigms, research designs and methodology are relevant to the study.
  • Structures content in logically sequenced chapters.
  • Selects and consults authoritative sources and of acceptable recency.
  • Defines and discusses theoretical constructs, relationship between literature and topic or research problem clearly.
  • Interprets main trends in the data and provide substantial background for conclusions and recommendations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Observes the rules of grammar and syntax.
  • Produces a clear, appropriate and logical table of content.
  • Produces a technically correct thesis: type size, format and spacing, correct acknowledgement, correct citations, correct illustrations, references and addenda.
  • Summarises the study meaningfully.
  • Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Demonstrate a high level of competence in a particular field in Education.
  • Apply the techniques and findings of independent research so far as they bear upon the subject.
  • Understand and contribute to the technical and professional literature in the field of Education.
  • Criticise learned procedures in the light of historical trends and practices in this and other countries.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Coherently display broad and in-depth knowledge of the research field.
  • Discover new facts, principles, and connections to improve educational practice.
  • Suggest improvements in educational contexts and thus make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a research problem.
  • Demonstrate the ability to address a professional or academic problem with originality and independent thought.
  • The product has a potential for publication.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessment is both formative and summative.

    Formative: Proposal development workshops and seminars, drafts, submission to SHDC, submission to UHDC, ethical clearance, data collection procedures, data collection, and production of a thesis.

    Summative: Assessment of the thesis by at least four examiners, two internal and two external, defence and acceptance of a thesis to which the full 360 Credits is allocated at Level 10. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    University of Venda's Doctor of Education is comparable to three International Universities that offer Doctor of Education qualification. University of Ibadan, in Nigeria offers Doctor of Education similar except for our Educational Management. The Oxford one is broad under two fields with one specified field in Early Childhood Education as ours. Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand offers the Degree closely similar to ours:

    University of Ibadan (Nigeria) offers the following qualifications in Doctor of Education:
  • Early Childhood Education.
  • Sociology of Education.
  • Comparative Education.
  • Science Education.
  • Curriculum Studies.
  • Mathematics Education.

    University of Oxford offers the following qualifications:
  • Comparative and International Education.
  • Families, Effective Learning and Literacy (Early Childhood Education).

    Srinakharinwirot University (Thailand) offers the following qualifications: Educational Administration,
  • Educational Technology.
  • Counseling Psychology.
  • Early Childhood Education.
  • Special Education. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Graduates with Doctor of Education Degree can pursue post-doctoral fellowships in Education. 

    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.