Whose PhD is it? A Case of Supervision in Higher Education in South Africa

Whose PhD is it? A Case of Supervision in Higher Education in South Africa

Maserole C. Kgari-Masondo , Bernard Chingwanangwana , Pfuurai Chimbunde , Lungile P. Zondi , Aboshioke L. Umejei & Dineo F. Mosina

Issue: Vol.5 No.14 Issue Article 12 pp.2613-2623
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202451412 | Published online 29th November, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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ABSTRACT

“Whose PhD is it?” This question arises from more than two fronts: the contribution each makes, the intellectual property rights, and the moral ownership of the product. There is a dearth of such literature, the available one concentrates mainly on the administration and intellectual property rights, disregarding the gruesome activities that take place from the start to the completion of the degree itself. The purpose of this study is to answer that question using research. The study uses the qualitative self-study approach, and a case study was conducted from two purposively selected universities in South Africa, drawing data from five academics who lecture in these institutions. This study sought to unpack this question through a self-study methodology. Data generated from the discussions were communicated through WhatsApp, emails, and telephones and then thematically analyzed. The evidence indicates that the supervision style determines whose PhD it is. The authoritative, Eurocentric style of supervision disengages the student from ownership of the PhD, through a shared partnership between the supervisor and the student, the PhD journey becomes a ‘collective project’ and a student’s work. The study contributes to the administration, management, and retention of PhD candidates in universities by advocating for using the Ubuntu Style of Supervision that safeguards and promotes respect, love, care, freedom, social justice, and participation. Over and above this, the research contributes to the literature on PhD student supervision in terms of ethics, accountability, policy adherence, and planning purposes.

Keywords: PhD; Doctoral Candidate; Supervision; Higher Education, Ubuntu Style of Supervision

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Professor Maserole Christina Kgari-Masondo, Associate Professor of History, University of Venda. South African-born and educated, widely published with an excess of twenty articles. Has experience in teaching Cultural History. Has a cutting-edge approach to Decolonization and Indigenous knowledge insight and campaign, through her various writings and practices. Professor Maserole Christina Kgari-Masondo grew up as an orphan and in a poverty-stricken household. Despite that, she used her family background and personal challenges as motivation to be a high achiever. Studied her degrees through academic awards from – Kellogg’s Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and National Research Fund. For PhD, she won a prestigious Academic Award from Carnegie Mellon Scholarship for Black Students in 2004-2007.

Dr. Bernard Chingwangwana, holder of PhD in Educational Leadership (Witwatersrand), born in Zimbabwe, South Permanent Resident, currently doing a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship with the University of Venda, South Africa. He is on leave of absence from Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University. He has been in Education for over 35 years from High School to University. Has published over fifteen articles on Educational Leadership and Management. His area of specialty and research interest in ethical leadership in schools.

Dr. Pfuurai Chimbunde, holder of PhD in Educational Sociology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, is currently doing a Post Doctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Free State in South Africa. He has published over 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr Chimbunde is a seasoned educator who has taught in various colleges and Universities.

Dr. Lungile P. Zondi holds a PhD and is affiliated with the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Dr Bandile is a seasoned Anthropology Lecturer who has published in peer-reviewed journals and has extensive experience in education at various levels.

Dr.Umejei L. Aboshioke is a PhD holder in Culture, Heritage, and Tourism. She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. Dr Umejei has vast experience in the private sector, both in South Africa and Nigeria. She is an avid researcher who has published in renowned peer-reviewed journals.

Dineo F. Mosina, Completed her PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She also has a Master of Education from the same university. Her teaching passion is in the representation of African Women in Decolonisation and Gender issues, as well as in History. She is focusing on developing textbooks in Curriculum Transformation in Higher Education.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Kgari-Masondo, Maserole C., Bernard Chingwanangwana, Pfuurai Chimbunde, Lungile P. Zondi, Aboshioke L. Umejei & Dineo F. Mosina. “Whose PhD is it? A Case of Supervision in Higher Education in South Africa,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.14 (2024):2613-2623. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202451412