An assessment of research capacity development in institutions of higher learning : a case study of the former postgraduate students at the honours, masters, and doctoral levels in South Africa

Abstract

Background: Little is known about Research Capacity Development (RCD) in postgraduate studies, particularly in South Africa. This study assessed RCD for postgraduate students in South African public universities in order to learn how it was implemented between 2010 and 2020; and if it was ‘sufficient’ for postgraduates. In doing so, past postgraduate experiences inform future RCD guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures and the assessment of the programme. Methods: In this quantitative study, former postgraduate students who registered in South African public universities at the honours (n=24), masters (n=25) and doctoral (n=24) levels between 2010 and 2020 and have had research exposure, were recruited using referral sampling in order to complete an online survey. Results: A needs-driven RCD which measures progress must be coupled with strong supervision, policy and career-related support, an exposure to collaborations and emotional support to ensure student satisfaction, which may lead to increased throughput rates and less dropouts in postgraduate studies.

Marangaphanḓa: A hu athu u vha na ṱhoḓisiso yo no itwaho nga ha Mveledziso ya Vhukoni ha Ṱhoḓisiso (RCD) kha ngudo dza nṱha ha vhutelwadigirii, nga maanḓa Afrika Tshipembe. Ngudo heyi yo ela RCD kha matshudeni vha nṱha ha vhutelwadigirii kha yunivesithi dza nnyi na nnyi dza Afrika Tshipembe u itela u guda uri yo phethiwa hani vhukati ha 2010 na 2020; na u vhona uri yo vha yo ‘lingana’ kha nṱha ha vhutelwadigirii. Musi zwo ralo, tshenzhemo ya nṱha ha vhutelwadigirii ya tshifhinga tsho fhelaho i do eletshedza nyendedzi dza tshifhingani tshiḓaho dza RCD, Maitele a Zwilinganyo zwa Kushumele na u ela Mbekanyamushumo. Ngona: Kha ngudo heyi ya khwanthethivi, matshudeni vhakale vha nṱha ha vhutelwadigirii vho di nwalisaho kha yunivesithi dza nnyi na nnyi dza Afrika Tshipembe kha maimo a honasi (n=24), masiṱasi (n=25) na vhudokotela (n=24) vhukati ha 2010 na 2020; vhane vha vha na tshenzhemo ya ṱhoḓisiso, vho nanguludzwa hu tshi khou shumiswa tsumbonanguludzwa dzine wa tou livhiswa hu tshi itelwa u ṱhaphudza ṱhoḓisiso ya kha lubuvhisia. Mvelelo: RCD ine ya vhangwa nga ṱhoḓea, ya ela mvelaphanḓa, i fanela u ṱangana na nyendedzo yo khwaṱhaho, mbekanyamaitele na thikhedzo i elanaho na zwa mabuḓo, tshenzhemo kha tshumisano na thikhedzo ya vhupfiwa, hu u itela u vhona uri matshudeni vha a fushea, zwine zwa nga livhisa kha u engedza phimo ya u bveledza, na u fhungudza u ṱutshela tshikolo kha ngudo dza nṱha ha vhutelwadigirii.

Tlhaloso: Go itsiwe go le gonnye fela ka Tokafatso ya Bokgoni jwa go Dira Tlhotlhomiso (RCD) mo dithutong tsa morago ga kalogo, segolo bogolo mo Aforikaborwa. Thutopatlisiso e sekasekile RCD ya baithuti ba dirang dithuto tsa morago ga kalogo mo diyunibesithing tsa botlhe tsa Aforikaborwa go leka go tlhaloganya le go itse gore e tsentswe jang mo tirisong fa gare ga 2010 le 2020; le gore a e ne e ‘lekane’ mo baithuting ba dirang dithuto tsa morago ga kalogo. Ka go dira jalo, maitemogelo a mo nakong e fetileng a dithuto tsa morago ga kalogo a kaela dintlhakaedi tsa mo isagong tsa RCD, Mekgwatiriso ya botlhokwa ya tiragatso ya tiro e rileng le tshekatsheko ya lenaneo. Mekgwatsamaiso ya tlhotlhomiso: Mo thutopatlisisong e ya kgobokanyo le tshekatsheko ya data ya dipalo, baithuti ba neng ba dira dithuto tsa morago ga kalogo ba mo nakong e fetileng, ba neng ba ikwadisitse mo diyunibesithing tsa botlhe tsa Aforikaborwa mo maemothutong a onase (n=24), mmasetase (n=25) le a bongaka (n=24) fa gare ga 2010 le 2020 le ba ba nnileng le maitemogelo a tlhotlhomiso, ba ne ba rotloediwa go tsenela thutopatlisiso ka go dirisa mokgwa wa go kopa batsayakarolo ba thutopatlisiso go rotloetsa batsayakarolo ba bangwe go tsenela thutopatlisiso ka maikaelelo a go wetsa patlisiso e neng e dirwa mo inthaneteng. Diphitlhelelokgolo: RCD e rotloediwang ke ditlhokego le e lekanyetsang tswelelo e tshwanetse go kopanngwa le kaelo e tseneletseng, tshegetso ya go tlhangwa le go tsenngwa tirisong ga pholisi le tshegetso e amanang le tiro (porofešene), maitemogelo a tirisanommogo le tshegetso ya maikutlo go netefatsa gore baithuti ba kgotsofalela le go itumelela thuto ya bone, sengwe se ka dirang gore go nne le dielo tse di oketsegileng tsa baithuti ba konosetsang dithuto tsa bona ka nako le dielo tse di kwa tlase tsa baithuti ba tlogelang dithuto tsa bona mo dithutong tsa morago ga kalogo.