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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Nutrition 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
90820  Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Nutrition 
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 10  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
This Doctor of Philosophy: Public Health Nutrition encourages advanced intellectual achievement in the form of productive scholarship and research in the field of Public Health Nutrition. The aim is to promote the application of nutritional knowledge and research for the improvement of the health of the population. Perspectives will be gained in:
  • How public policy affects health and how to effect policy change.
  • The design of national programmes/projects to improve the nutritional status of the population as a whole and those at risk in particular.
  • The social and behavioural factors that impact on health in general and nutritional factors, specifically.
  • The design and implementation of programmes/projects to improve the institutional status of the population as a whole, or that of subgroups within various populations.

    Rationale:
    No doctoral programme exists in the discipline of Public Health Nutrition in Limpopo, as is found in the Provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Western Cape. This qualification will offer opportunities to address problems specific to Limpopo in the area of nutrition and health. Limpopo Province is mostly rural and has high rates of malnutrition and a proportionately higher population of women; (54% as per Stats SA, 2003), with high levels of unemployment and poverty, particularly amongst women. The research to be conducted in areas such as Child and Maternal Nutrition, will contribute greatly to the solving of regional and, by implication, national problems. The institution is engaged in the production of knowledge through engagement in research. This qualification will also contribute to improvement of the research output and capacity-building for the institution. 

  • LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners have mastered the required research methods and techniques, are able to carry out independent research and have the required language skills to write a doctoral thesis.

    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Access to this Doctoral Degree could be granted to learners not in possession of a relevant Master's Degree but who meet the admission requirements through the Recognition of Prior Learning, at the discretion of the Institution and in agreement with the relevant Quality Council.

    Access to Qualification:
    An appropriate Master's Degree in the field of Public Health Nutrition is required. Alternatively, conferment of status may be granted through an internal evaluation process in alignment with institutional policies; or recognition of prior learning granted through an internal process. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Doctoral Degree is awarded on production and submission of an original thesis that has been assessed, suitably published and accepted by relevant peers. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge in a nutritional science area.
    2. Demonstrate competence in intellectual creativity.
    3. Demonstrate visionary skills in research.
    4. Show leadership in nutrition and research education.
    5. Utilise basic science skills to analyse nutrition related problems.
    6. Acquire technical and theoretical competencies to establish a research programme.
    7. Critically analyse nutrition research results and indicate how these relate to good health.
    8. Critically analyse the impact of nutrition intervention strategies on the public's health status.
    9. Critically analyse the role of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Position Statements on nutrition as a science and its relevance with regard to South Africa.
    10. Introduce an original thesis bases on own independent research findings that meets the international academic requirements.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in this qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Assessment Criteria are generic and each applies to some or all of the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Expertise and critical knowledge in the field of Public Health Nutrition is demonstrated.
  • New research initiatives are conceptualised and new knowledge or practice in Public Health Nutrition is created.
  • Intellectual independence, research leadership and management of research and research development in an ethical and accountable manner in Public Health Nutrition is demonstrated.
  • New methods, techniques, processes, systems or technologies are developed in original, creative and innovative ways appropriate to specialised and complex contexts within Public Health Nutrition.
  • Specialist knowledge and theory is applied in critically reflexive, creative and novel ways to address complex practical and theoretical problems in Public Health Nutrition.
  • Substantial, independent, in-depth and publishable work that meets international standards is considered to be new or innovative by peers and makes a significant contribution to Public Health Nutrition, is produced and disseminated.

    Integrated Assessment:
    For this qualification, only summative assessment of the end-product, which is a thesis, will apply, whereby the examiners grade the thesis in accordance with the assessment criteria set for the qualification. 

  • INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This Doctoral qualification is comparable to other Doctoral qualifications around the world with regards to outcomes and assessment criteria, degree of difficulty and notional learning time. The standard is assured, inter alia, by a requirement for assessment by external examiners who hold a university academic position, and where at least two are based outside of South Africa. Doctor of Philosophy graduates are accepted to Post-Doctoral positions in academic, research and industrial positions around the world. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification has both horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities:
  • The qualification articulates horizontally with other cognate Doctoral or Doctor of Philosophy Degrees.
  • The qualification articulates vertically with post-Doctoral studies in related fields; inter alia, food security, access to fresh water, adequate housing and easy access to health and education facilities. 

  • MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal moderation of all assessment is carried out by the academic staff of the institution.
    All moderators must be qualified and be experienced in the field of the qualification being assessed.
    External moderation of assessment is performed by suitably qualified persons from recognised institutions who are experienced in the relevant field.
    Two examiners in the field of nutrition from outside the institution will be appointed to examine the final thesis. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    All assessors must be in possession of a relevant qualification at the NQF Level of this qualification and be experts in the relevant field.
    All assessors should have practical experience in the areas being assessed and should be placed in academic institutions at the time of acting as assessors. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of Venda 



    All qualifications and part qualifications submitted for public comment, or registered on the National Qualifications Framework, are public property. Thus, the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction: it is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.