Faculty of Applied Science zooms in on PhD’s
PhD: The Faculty of Applied Science is set to increase the number of doctorate graduates.
Tuesday, 01 November 2011
The Faculty of Applied Science is taking bold steps to increase the number of doctoral graduates in South Africa.
Currently, South Africa produces just over 1000 doctoral graduates a year – a dismal figure compared to other countries producing far higher numbers. According to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), this figure is way below the number of doctoral graduates required for the growth of the South African economy.
With CPUT committed to addressing local and national problems, the Faculty of Applied Science has put in place strategies to increase the number of doctoral graduates.
Prof Michael Mcpherson, Faculty Research Coordinator said they have submitted an application to the Department of Education for the approval of several new programmes at the Doctorate of Technology level.
“By offering more doctoral programmes we will be able to broaden our research base,” he said.
Doctoral programmes are planned in the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Food Technology and Nature Conservation. The faculty already offers doctoral programmes in Chemistry and Environmental Health.
Prof McPherson said they are also in the process of recruiting post-doctoral fellows, who will play a critical role in the contribution of research and supervision of doctoral students.
The faculty has also increased its staff profile by employing several researchers who hold doctoral qualifications while a number of existing staff members have improved their qualifications up to doctoral level.
These initiatives will go a long way in improving the faculty’s research output, said Prof McPherson. Currently the faculty boasts the second highest research output at CPUT in terms of journal publications, conference proceedings and book publications.
The faculty’s initiatives are being supported by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Chris Nhlapo.
“Efforts by Prof McPherson are lauded as these can only expand our research base and increase our research output,” said Dr Nhlapo.
The faculty’s initiatives are also in line with the CPUT 10-year Research and Innovation plan, which was tabled in September of this year. The plan outlines strategies that will ensure CPUT produces more doctoral candidates, research output and patents.
“The generation of new knowledge by researchers is highly acknowledged, lauded and fully embraced by my office. It is indeed the only way of building a globally competitive faculty,” said Dr Nhlapo.
By Candes Keating
Written by CPUT News
Email: news@cput.ac.za
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