A survey of doctoral supervisors in South Africa

Mouton, Johann; Boshoff, Nelius; James, Megan

doi:10.20853/29-2-467

Cited by 43 publications

(65 citation statements)

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“…At the same time, doctoral students are under pressure to complete their degrees in minimum time so that their institutions and supervisors can reap financial and reputational rewards. All of this means that part-time study is something that South African students fit into evenings, weekends and occasional days off (Mouton et al 2015). These characteristics of doctoral students, and the contextual pressures they face, resonate strongly with my own experience of undertaking a PhD as a member of the academic staff of a research university.…”

Section: Doctoral Students Under Pressurementioning

confidence: 88%

“…A recent survey of doctoral supervisors in South Africa by Mouton, Boshoff and James (2015) sketched the broad characteristics of doctoral students in South Africa. They found that doctoral students are 'mature', at 41 years of age on average, and take about five years to complete a PhD.…”

Section: Doctoral Students Under Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…One-on-one supervision (rather than group or committee supervision) is the norm for students in the humanities and social sciences (Mouton et al 2015). This mode of supervision is demanding for students and supervisors alike, particularly with the increase in student registrations that most academics in South African universities experience.…”

Section: Doctoral Students Under Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Benefits of freewriting for academic staff engaged in writing retreat

Castle

2017

SAJHE

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Increasing pressures on academics, particularly early-career academics, to conduct research and complete higher degrees has led many institutions to offer writing retreats that focus on the end product of academic writing, typically a journal article based on a chapter of their thesis. These 'product-oriented' retreats give little attention to the creative processes involved in writing, including becoming a generative and confident writer. This article focuses on freewriting as a creative process in a 'process-oriented' writing retreat which enables the benefits of freewriting to be shared among participants. Analysis of three freewrites completed by academics during a retreat shows that focused freewriting can engage academics in re-imagining doctoral study.These academics' writing shows clearly the attributes and benefits of freewriting.

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Section: Doctoral Students Under Pressurementioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Doctoral Students Under Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Doctoral Students Under Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Benefits of freewriting for academic staff engaged in writing retreat

Castle

2017

SAJHE

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“…Despite the pressing need for research concerning the production of more doctorates in South Africa, research on the topic seems scant. Wolhuter 18 and Mouton et al 19 argue that almost no quantitative studies with this focus are available. Until recently, even less research seems to have been available concerning the production of doctorates in the individual academic discipline fields, especially in economics.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developments in the production of economics PhDs at four research-intensive universities in South Africa

Jager¹,

Frick²,

Spuy³

2017

S. Afr. J. Sci.

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There is a national drive to increase PhD production, yet we know little about how this imperative takes shape within different disciplines. We therefore set out to explore recent developments and the current status of the PhD in economics at four South African research-intensive universities. A data set of all economics PhDs produced in these commerce faculties during the period 2008–2014 was analysed to determine whether the departments of economics responded to the call for increased doctoral production, and the role the PhD by publication might have played in the process. How an increase in quantity might influence doctoral education in the respective academic departments was also considered by supplementing the quantitative data with perspectives from heads of department at the four institutions. The notable increase in doctoral production over the time period studied shows that national and international trends have influenced doctoral education in economics departments within South African research-intensive universities. Increased usage of the PhD by publication has implications for policy and pedagogical practice within these departments, especially as there seems to be limited available supervisory capacity. Other changes in departmental practices, such as the entrenchment of a research culture and the promotion of collaborative research amongst students and staff, also contributed to maintain quality in doctoral education.

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“…The doctorate is the apex of all qualifications in systems of higher education worldwide and also in South Africa (Mouton, Boshoff and James 2015). The production of doctorates is increasingly linked to university funding, reputation and rankings as well as larger issues of the nation's economic competitiveness (Devos and Somerville 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The administration of the doctoral examination at South African higher education institutions

Schulze

Lemmer

2019

sajhe

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The doctorate is the apex of all qualifications in universities worldwide and in South Africa. The expected outcome of the doctorate is original research, presented as a thesis. The thesis should demonstrate a student's ability to do high-level research and contribute meaningfully to a discipline. Thesis assessment is through the submission of written examiner reports by examiners external to the university. However, the literature indicates limitations in thesis examination. A qualitative study was undertaken at six South African universities to gather data from a purposeful sample of expert informants and relevant documents. Lave and Wenger's (1991) Community of Practice theory informed the inquiry. The findings indicated challenges in appointing examiners; vague criteria for ancillary requirements to the thesis; and discrepancies in the quality of examiner reports and examiner recommendations, which delay graduation. Recommendations were made for a more transparent examination process and supervisor training in the examination process.

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A survey of doctoral supervisors in South Africa

Cited by 43 publications

References 0 publications

Benefits of freewriting for academic staff engaged in writing retreat

Benefits of freewriting for academic staff engaged in writing retreat

Developments in the production of economics PhDs at four research-intensive universities in South Africa

The administration of the doctoral examination at South African higher education institutions

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