SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Supervise research in higher education and training

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14296	Supervise research in higher education and training
ORIGINATOR
SGB Higher Education & Training
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 05 - Education, Training and Development			Higher Education and Training
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular	Level 7	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7	10
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		2018-07-01	2023-06-30	SAQA 06120/18
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard.

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

A practitioner in HET who has achieved this unit standard will be able to guide and support postgraduate learners to understand, plan and manage research projects and to produce a research product as part of a postgraduate programme of study. The practitioner will also be able to assess the research product, normally as one of the members of an assessment panel/team.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The credit value is based on the assumption that a practitioner who enters a programme of learning towards this standard or applies to be assessed against this standard has a qualification or equivalent competences at least at NQF level 6 in the field in which he/she will practice this competence. The practitioner should, in addition have research, mediation and facilitation skills.

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:

Supervising research in Higher Education and Training (HET) includes, but is not limited to, supervision of research in a postgraduate programme of HET in a particular field of study or discipline. Research supervision includes guiding learners at the postgraduate level in the understanding, planning and management of research projects and producing an acceptable research product, as well as the assessment of postgraduate research products by the practitioner.

Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Guide students/learners to understand research as a practice.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. An understanding of the concept of research is facilitated with learners.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. An understanding of the contexts of research is facilitated with learners.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. An understanding of the traditions of research in the field of study/discipline is facilitated with learners.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Guide students to identify and plan a research project.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. A framework is provided to enable learners to select suitable research topics with learners.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Relevant literature is identified with learners.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Suitable theoretical frames of reference for research are selected with learners.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Facilitate suitable goals, objectives and a scope for research projects with learners.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. Applicable research methodology to conduct research projects is facilitated with learners.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. Acceptable research design/plan/programmes is facilitated with learners.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Monitor the quality of the research process and product.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The progress of learners' work is regularly monitored in accordance with agreed plans and schedules.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Formative work submitted by learners is criticised constructively.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Summative work submitted by learners prior to examination is criticised constructively.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Support the student/learner in the research process.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The assessor will seek to establish if candidates are alert to personal strengths and weaknesses of learners in the research process.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The assessor will seek to establish if candidates are committed to learners in the research process.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The assessor will seek to establish if candidates are actively interested in learners' formative and summative research products.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5

Evaluate research products and own programme of supervision.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Research products are effectively examined.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Own programme of research supervision is reflected upon.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA
2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or will assess this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA
3. Moderation will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA process.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

The following embedded knowledge will be assessed via assessment of specific outcomes as stipulated in the assessment criteria:

Knowledge of research as a concept

Knowledge of research processes and methodology

Knowledge of research contexts

Knowledge of broad research traditions and the development thereof

Knowledge of scholarly and institutional requirements for quality research.

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Problem solving: The research guidance and supervisory process is in essence a problem-solving process.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Teamwork: Creating opportunities for learners as well as co-supervisors to discuss their perceptions, expectations and perspectives in groups and teams.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Self-organisation: Facilitating learners' abilities to plan and manage their own time, environment and research activities in ways that will promote behaviour that supports scholarship and further learning.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Information processing: Facilitating learners' abilities to utilise instruments to identify, retrieve and manipulate data and information.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communication: Prepare and guide learners to communicate verbally and in writing on advanced levels in information-rich and knowledgeable societies.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use of technology: Applying appropriate technology in research and data management.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

Notes to assessors:

Although the assessment criteria in this unit standard aim at assessing the processes of research supervision, it should be noted that the quality supervision can also be inferred from the research results and products of the learners.
A basic level of research supervision expected in this unit standard. In concrete terms it might be associated with research on levels 7 and 8 on the NQF.

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Elective	23113	Post Graduate Certificate: Higher Education and Training	Level 7	NQF Level 07	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD:

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.

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