Higher Degrees and Research Processes Reviewed at Workshop

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The College of Law and Management Studies held a workshop aimed at reviewing and streamlining the College’s Higher Degrees and Research Processes.

The workshop, attended by the College’s higher degrees staff, featured presentations on various aspects of the research process including academic decisions, progression rules, ethical clearances and the thesis examination.

The College’s Director of Professional Services Dr Kathy Cleland set the scene by detailing the academic flow decision for higher degrees decisions, while College Academic Services Manager Ms Marion Kirsten spoke on higher degrees progression rules and the Research Office’s Assistant Administrative Officer Ms Mariette Snyman talked about ethical clearance applications.

The College’s Principal Administrative Officer Ms Smangele Ninela presented on the thesis examination process.

Deputy Dean of the Durban University of Technology’s Faculty of Accounting and Informatics Professor Paul Green spoke from a perspective of an external supervisor.

‘We have pressure when it comes to supply meeting demand because of timing and we find that the process of filling out forms is too tedious; we would prefer an automated system with drop down options to make our lives easier.

‘We would also like to have knowledge of the final outcome of the theses we work on because we never get to know what happens and are lucky if we get to see candidates graduating,’ said Green.

Professors Purshottama Reddy and Thokozani Nzimakwe spoke from a supervisor’s perspective and   Senior Funding Advisor Mr Bongumusa Gasa made a presentation on student funding.

The College’s Acting Dean of Research, Professor Harold Ngalawa, who presented on the examiners’ process, said the rationale behind the workshop was not only to highlight the processes and procedures but also to create a platform for sharing challenges and solutions.

‘We are a team and we work within the same environment despite being in different schools.  Therefore, it is important that we should all understand and agree in our interpretation of the University’s rules and guidelines. We are all working towards a common goal of improving the College’s research output, which can be effectively achieved if we streamline our standard operating procedures’ he said.

After the presentations there was an open discussion with suggestions shared and agreements reached on a uniform process to be adopted for the College.

Words: Thandiwe Jumo