Transforming Staff Doctoral Research: University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP)

Project team

• Professor Katherine Wimpenny PI GLEA, Coventry University
• Professor Liezel Frick PI, Stellenbosch University
• Dr Ferdie Gerber Coordinator- Project Manager, Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
• Associate Professor Luca Morini
• Assistant Professor Que Anh Dang
• Sarah Patrick, Collaborative Degree Programmes, Doctorate College, Elm Bank, CU

Total value

5,000,000 ZAR (£285,000)

Duration

February 2020 - February 2026 (Extended due to Covid)

Collaborators

There are 3 partners
CU and Stellenbosch are awarding institutions for the joint doctrate
Ferdie Gerber is coordinator at WSU

Project overview

Funded through UCDP - University Capacity Development Programme - South Africa, ‘Transforming Staff Doctoral Research’ is a collaboration of Coventry University with the Walter Sisulu University and the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The purpose of the project is to contribute to the increase in the number of permanent academic and professional staff members at South African higher education institutions (SAHEIs) who are qualified at doctoral level.

In addition, the project seeks to make progress towards two of Walter Sisulu University (WSU) stated strategic objectives, which is to increase the percentage of academic staff with doctorate qualifications and to increase the research capacity and output of its academic staff members (WSU, 2014).

We are addressing the above issues through a transnational, structured doctoral programme in the field of higher education studies which has embedded mechanisms for training, development and practice-sharing with a wider cohort of supervisors, potential doctoral candidates and research support services at WSU. We have recruited an international cohort of 10 doctoral candidates for this programme which comprise staff at WSU, CU and SU.

This cohort represents the principles of equity and reciprocity in learning that are central to this consortium. The programme is structured as an SU-CU dual award which draws taught components and online resources from all three institutions. We are exemplifying, testing and providing a platform for international research education; building supervisory capacity and capabilities; and enriching the research environment of all three institutions.

Project objectives

The fundamental objectives of this project consist of (1) increase in the number of permanent academic and professional staff members at South African higher education institutions who are qualified at doctoral level, and (2) facilitating the support and progress of selected staff in their respective fields to obtain a Doctoral qualification in the field of Higher Education Studies.

Impact statement

This action-based project takes a holistic view of Joint Doctoral Education programmes at all three partner institutions. We are supporting an international cohort of 10 doctoral candidates for this programme which comprise staff at WSU, SU and CU who meet the funders’ profiling and equity targets. This cohort represents the principles of equity and reciprocity in learning that are central to this consortium.

Academic outputs

• Wimpenny K. & Frick, L. (2024). “Postgraduate supervision as relational in peer learning and group contexts with global citizenship education”. Ninth Biennial Conference on Research
  into Postgraduate Supervision in partnership with IDERN, 25 – 28 March 2025, Stellenbosch University http://www.sun.ac.za/chae/conference/index.html
• Morini, L., Gerber,F., Cishe, E. Dang, Q-E Kariyana, I. et al (2024). Transforming Doctorate Education: Views from Supervisors. 2nd Multi-Inter-Transdisciplinary Conference on Africa Transformation Perspectives, 17 – 19th April 2024, Mthatha Campus, WSU.
• Wimpenny, K. & Patrick, S. (2024). Empowering South African Institutions for Cross-Border Qualifications: Building Understanding and Enhancing Implementation. Hosted by Walter Sisulu University as part of the African Partnerships Universities Alliance - a consortium of 10 leading South African universities. Online Webinar, September 4th, 2024.
• Frick, L. & Wimpenny, K. (2024). Crossing borders and boundaries: Positioning joint doctoral degrees as a capacity building initiative, Quality in Postgraduate Research Conference: Graduate researchers: identity and importance, 17-19 APRIL 2024, Adelaide, South Australia. https://www.qpr.edu.au/
• Wimpenny, K. Frick, L., Gerber, F. et al. (2022). ‘Doctorate Supervision in Virtual Borderland Spaces’ In: Transforming the post-graduate supervision space. Stellenbosch 8th postgraduate supervision conference, 2022 15 – 18th March 2022. https://postgradcollaborations.com/8th-postgraduate-supervision-conference-2022/