Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering

Purpose

The goal of the qualification is knowledge creation in industrial research and development. The knowledge emphasises general principles and application or technology development and transfer. The Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering provides learners with a sound knowledge base in Civil Engineering field or discipline. It also enables learners to apply their knowledge and skills to a particular career or professional contexts while equipping them to undertake more specific and intensive research projects. Specifically, the purpose of the qualification is to enable Engineering Technologists to perform independent academic research and intellectual work as part of their competency and skill evidence across various tasks. Also, activities, which supports the successful completion and conclusion of a research project. This qualification provides the educational base required for entry to post-doctoral research programmes or employment in research councils or higher education institutions.

Engineering learners completing this qualification will have the ability to apply engineering technology. The Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering will enable learners to develop new engineering technology to solve broadly-defined problems, design components, systems, services and processes. They will be able to provide leadership in the application of technology in safety, health, engineering and commercially useful operations and have well-developed interpersonal skills. They will work independently and responsibly, applying judgement to decisions arising in the application of technology and health and safety considerations to problems and associated risks. They will have a specialised understanding of engineering sciences underlying an in-depth knowledge of specific technologies together with financial, commercial, legal, social and economic, health, safety and environmental matters.

The Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering will prepare an Engineering Technologist that will be creative in his or her approach to complex issues, make sound judgements. The qualification will enable qualifying learners to draw conclusions based on the available data and information. The learners will be able to communicate his or her findings to audiences, whether specialist or not, in a transparent manner.

The DEng in Civil Engineering will prepare an Engineering Technologist that will be creative in his or her approach to complex issues, make sound judgements and draw conclusions based on the available data and information. The person will be able to communicate his or her findings to audiences, whether specialist or not, in a clear manner that demonstrates self-direction, originality and autonomy in problem-solving, planning and implementation, while continuing to advance his or her professional knowledge, understanding and skills. This will make a big contribution to wealth creation in communities through the research and development of new and/or improved technologies.

Rationale

In engineering disciplines, the continuous and rapid development of sophisticated technology necessitates higher levels of conceptual understanding required by the broadly defined problem-solving skills. Adaptability to new technologies, furthermore relies heavily on the agreement and the ability to apply fundamental theoretical knowledge to address modern Engineering challenges and to ensure sustainable development. According to the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), South Africa has an engineer to population ratio of 1:3100 compared to Germany (1:200) and Japan, Great Britain and United States of America (1:310). It implies that the engineering team requirement for South Africa needs to multiply 10-fold to compete with international economies.

The Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering is specifically designed to build the necessary knowledge, understanding, abilities and skills required for advanced learning towards becoming a more competent practising engineer. This qualification meets the requirements of the new Higher Education Qualification Sub Framework (HEQSF) for 360 Credit Doctoral Degree and is primarily research-oriented and will develop and transfer cutting edge civil engineering knowledge as a foundation for wealth creation and economic sustainability. A requirement for learners entering the Doctorate qualification is possession of Master in Engineering degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent. The learners will be well equipped to find employment with forward-thinking engineering companies which emphasise research and development and in research organisations and higher education institutions. Programmes leading to this qualification tend to have a strong professional or career focus and holders of this qualification usually are prepared to enter a specific niche in the labour market.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Council may, on the recommendation of the Senate, refuse to register a student if, in its discretion, the candidate's previous learning achievements are considered inadequate to complete the qualification successfully.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering, NQF Level 9.

Or

• Relevant Master's Degree, NQF Level 9.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.

• Thesis, 360 credits.

1. Manage the stock and logistics of a retail business following current industry practices for ethics and corporate governance.
2. Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in research and the ability to conduct independent research.
3. Deliver work that makes a significant contribution to expanding the frontiers of knowledge in the discipline or field.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Develop an appropriate strategic stock and logistics plan, which will demonstrate knowledge of the logistics function for a business.
• Plan Stock and logistics of a retail company including adequate stock and logistic objectives, policies, strategies, action plans and a logistics budget are planned for a year.
• Design an appropriate stock control system.
• Compile a supplier specification policy to ensure the right supply of prescribed products at the required conditions.
• Determine the best possible way of transporting products from the supplier to the business.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Ensure the thesis attests to the independent and original thought.
• Ensure the dissertation is linguistically correct and technically well finished.
• Process the contents scientifically through systemisation and arrangement, descriptive and explanatory analysis and proper interpretation of results.
• Include a complete list of literary sources, arranged according to the conventions of the research field concerned.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• State the nature and purpose of the research clearly.
• Prove the subject of study has been investigated.
• Stipulate contribution of the findings to new knowledge.

Integrated Assessment

Subject to the approval of Senate or the Executive Committee of the Faculty Board, the faculty may appoint any suitably qualified person as a supervisor of an admitted Doctors candidate. However, if the supervisor is not in the full-time employment of the institution, a co-supervisor may be appointed to assist the supervisor. The assessment panel for Doctoral degree programme is composed as follows:

• Supervisor;
• Co-supervisor(s) if appointed;
• Two external examiners/assessors.

The responsibilities of the assessment panel include assessing

• The evidence of the learning achievements of the candidate against the required competency and autonomous learning outcomes for the qualification;
• The credibility of the evidence provided; and
• The degree with which the candidate complies with the requirements for the qualification.