Are doctoral studies in South Africa higher education being put at risk?
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNISA Press
Abstract
Inasmuch as many attempts are being made in South Africa to increase the
doctoral throughput rate, it appears as if the rush to produce doctoral (PhD)
qualifications might just be the biggest risk that confronts the pursuit of doctoral
studies. The author argues that, in the quest to accelerate the number of
doctorates produced in the country, higher education institutions (HEIs), in
particular administrators and – to a lesser extent – supervisors, run the risk
of trivialising doctoral education: because of an over-emphasis on throughput
rates alone, the purpose of the doctorate is assigned to a mere exercise of
technical compliance and completion. In this article, the author offers a word
of caution as to what the doctorate should not be subjected to if such a highlevel
achievement is to remain an aspiration of those serious about knowledge
construction, reconstruction and deconstruction.
Description
CITATION: Waghid, Y. 2015. Are doctoral studies in South Africa higher education being put at risk? South African Journal of Higher Education, 29(5):1-7.
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajhe
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajhe
Keywords
Doctor of philosophy degree, Education, Higher -- South Africa
Citation
Waghid, Y. 2015. Are doctoral studies in South Africa higher education being put at risk? South African Journal of Higher Education, 29(5):1-7.