Doctor of Philosophy in Biokinetics

Purpose

The purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy in Biokinetics is to develop, integrate and apply the scientific, research-based expert skills and critical knowledge required at the advanced academic levels. The application of expert and critical knowledge and skills will take place against the background of responsible ethical and professional Biokinetics research practices. The qualification will enable learners to use a wide range of expert and critical skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing, and applying methods of enquiry to address complex and challenging research problems. The qualification is further designed to develop the high-level performance and innovation scholars in the field of Biokinetics who will conduct research to make a significant original contribution to the field of study. Successful learners will be able to integrate theory with practice through the application of advanced theoretical knowledge to highly complex problems, and advanced research.

The qualification will further advance excellence in scholarship of research and public community service. It will promote innovation, distinctiveness, and leadership in the Biokinetics field in South Africa. Learners will therefore embark on relevant and pioneering research; often based on their experiences in private practice. The need for highly- skilled professionals is evident in a developing country like South Africa as their skills, knowledge and expertise are invaluable in a developing environment especially seen against the background of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 in which Health promotion and wellness are stipulated as "critical to the prevention and management of lifestyle diseases, the major non-communicable diseases. These diseases are likely to be a major threat over the next 20-30 years and require careful attention" (Addendum V: NDP 2030: Executive Summary). In achieving this, the qualification aims to promote Biokinetics as a science and a profession in the public interest.

On successful completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Reflect critically and apply specialised knowledge and theories in Biokinetics.
• Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively.
• Make sound judgements using data and information at their disposal.
• Communicate the conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems.
• Act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks with a theoretical underpinning and continue to advance the knowledge, understanding and skills in the Biokinetics field.
• Design and critically appraise research.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in accordance with good clinical practice and evidence-based research.
• Evaluate a range of knowledge sources and apply and debate it in the required context.
• Be ethically accountable towards the profession, clients, and the community.
• Contribute to the current knowledge base in Biokinetics by presenting, communicating, and disseminating academic ideas effectively and in a novel way.
• Present scientific findings to a research audience with different levels of knowledge or expertise.
• Conduct and interpret research within the Biokinetics scope of practice that will be documented as scientific publishable articles and/or a research thesis which will make a significant original contribution to the field of study.
• Generate work independently and take full responsibility for own work, where accountability, leadership and the initiation of processes are central concepts.

Rationale

The profession of Biokinetics was established within the South African context to fill the gap that was identified between the return of functionality and optimisation of performance and movement through the application of an exercise-based intervention. Over the years the body of evidence related to the benefits of exercise has increased particularly within the areas of disease and injury prevention, management, and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or chronic diseases and neuro-musculoskeletal conditions. South Africa has an increasing burden of NCDs and therefore, the profession of Biokinetics is crucial as part of the multi-disciplinary health team to address this burden of disease within the South African context. Biokinetics addresses both the pathogenic and photogenic paradigms of patient care.

Biokinetics is a healthcare profession concerned with prophylactic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, and performance-enhancing exercise modalities to optimize function, movement, and sports performance across the lifespan. Biokineticists implement and supervise the scientific-based individualized physical activity and exercise programmes for apparently healthy, diseased, and injured individuals throughout the human lifespan. Biokinetics forms part of the holistic and multidisciplinary approach to delivering evidence-based preventative and rehabilitative health care. The qualification will allow the Biokinetics professionals to focus more on scientifically research-based evidence to build on the advanced scientific and theoretical knowledge and skills gained. This qualification will equip learners with expert and critical knowledge regarding Biokinetics related research evidence-based interventions to effectively meet the health needs for optimal functioning and physical well-being of the community.

Qualified Biokineticists would be able to display management and leadership skills, knowledge, and expertise within the field of research, as well as field-related skills, knowledge, and expertise, both within the South African as well as the international context. The outcome of the research conducted will be documented as scientific publishable articles at least, and/or a research thesis which will make a significant contribution to the field of study. Learners will exit the qualification as knowledgeable, skilled graduates with competence in performing research, being able to communicate and defend substantial ideas that are the products of research to a range of audiences and interacting effectively within the professional group with different levels of knowledge or expertise, appreciate the components of scholarly writing and evaluate its quality. Graduates will contribute to the development of knowledge within the field of Biokinetics, at a high and/or expert level, as well as a broader range of competencies to ensure a significant impact on the subject field, work environment and community. The qualification will provide an opportunity for learners to pursue evidence-based research in a growing field.

The institution solicited input from the Biokinetics Association of South Africa (BASA) and HPCSA in the development of the qualification. The qualification will be housed in the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences within the School for Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as the advancement within qualifications.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements for this qualification are

Master of Biokinetics, NQF Level 09.

Or

• Master of Philosophy in Biokinetics, NQF Level 09.

Or

• Master of Sports Science, NQF Level 09.

Or

• Master's Degree in the cognate field, NQF Level 09.

And

• Be registered as a Biokinetics with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

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

Compulsory Modules, Level 10, 360 Credits

• Research Thesis, 360 Credits.

1. Demonstrate expertise and critical knowledge in an area at the forefront of the field, discipline, or practice; and the ability to conceptualise new research initiatives and create new knowledge or practice.
2. Demonstrate the ability to contribute to scholarly debates around theories of knowledge and processes of knowledge production in an area of study or practice.
3. Demonstrate the ability to develop new methods, techniques, processes, systems, or technologies in original, creative, and innovative ways appropriate to specialised and complex contexts.
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply specialist knowledge and theory in critically reflexive, creative, and novel ways to address complex practical and theoretical problems.
5. Demonstrate the ability to identify, address and manage emerging ethical issues, and to advance processes of ethical decision-making, including monitoring and evaluation of the consequences of these decisions where appropriate.
6. Demonstrate the ability to make independent judgements about managing incomplete or inconsistent information or data in an iterative process of analysis and synthesis, for the development of significant original insights into new complex and abstract ideas, information, or issues.
7. Demonstrate the ability to produce substantial, independent, in-depth and publishable work which meets international standards, is considered to be new or innovative by peers, and makes a significant contribution to the discipline, field, or practice; and an ability to develop a communication strategy to disseminate and defend research, strategic and policy initiatives and their implementation to specialist and non-specialist audiences using the full resources of academic and professional or occupational discourse.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical underpinnings in the management of complex systems to achieve systemic change; and an ability to independently design, sustain and manage change within a system or systems.
9. Demonstrate the ability to demonstrate intellectual independence, research leadership and management of research and research development in a discipline, field, or practice.
10. Demonstrate the ability to operate independently and take full responsibility for his or her work, and where appropriate to lead, oversee and be held ultimately accountable for the overall governance of processes and systems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Conceptualize and apply new ideas of understanding and knowledge in their area of expertise, namely Biokinetics.
• Conceptualize new research initiatives and therefore create new knowledge and/or practice in Biokinetics.
• Critically plan and execute therapeutic interventions in exercise programme prescription based on evidence-based research and/or practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Evaluate a range of knowledge sources and scholarly apply and debate it in the required context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Develop research-based skills and knowledge required at the most advanced academic levels.
• Develop, conduct, and interpret research within the Biokinetics scope of practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Apply specialist knowledge and theory in critically reflexive, creative, and novel ways to address complex practical and theoretical problems to deliver an original and significant contribution to the base of knowledge within the field of Biokinetics.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Be ethically accountable towards the profession, clients, and the community.
• Function as part of a multi-disciplinary team in accordance with good clinical practice and evidence-based research.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Apply the advanced and/or critical theoretical knowledge, adhering to evidence-based practices and self-growth to serve as a professional supervisor to Learners/colleagues working in the field of Biokinetics.
• Apply evidence-based research and/or practice as a base for clinical reasoning.
• Critically reflect on and apply scientific and/or expert skills and knowledge regarding research.
• Conduct research that will be documented as scientific inter-related publishable articles and/or a research thesis which will make a significant original contribution to the field of study.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Contribute to the current knowledge base in their area of expertise by presenting, communicating, and disseminating academic ideas effectively nationally and internationally.
• Produce substantial, independent, in-depth, and publishable research in the form of published or publishable scientific peer-reviewed articles in national and/or international accredited journals, which meet international standards considered to be new and/or innovative by peers and make a significant original contribution to the base of knowledge in the Biokinetics discipline and/or field and/or practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Apply and integrate a researched-based, scientific and specialized and/or expert level of knowledge and skills within the field of research.
• Use a wide range of specialized and/or expert skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing, and applying methods of enquiry to address complex and challenging research problems within the field of Biokinetics.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Apply high-level critical knowledge, scientifically founded and research-based reasoning as well as high-level communication and management and expert skills against the background of ethical and professional business practices.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Work or generate work independently and take full responsibility for own work, where accountability, leadership and the initiation of processes are central concepts.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Assessment of theses/thesis and articles happens according to Faculty procedures, where internal and external examiners are formally approved and appointed by the Faculty Executive Committee as well as the Faculty Board. Clear timeframes and guidelines exist for examiners, to ensure that both learner and examiner know the dates the thesis/thesis should be submitted by the learner and when the examiner is expected to submit their report to ensure an adequate amount of time for the learner to finalize their theses or thesis in time for graduation. Assessors are expected to study the thesis/thesis within the context and fundamental principles of the discipline and submit a report in this regard.

Formative Assessment

Successful presentation of research progress at regular intervals is required. It is also expected from learners to engage in regular formal discussions with the promoter(s).

Summative Assessment

Summative assessment entails writing a thesis. It contains a justifiable argument that is based on research and counts 100% of the achievement mark. The title of the thesis will be submitted to the Faculty Board only on the recommendation of the Faculty Management.

On completion of the thesis and the recommendation of the supervisor(s), the thesis will be examined by two external assessors and one internal assessor.

All Doctoral degree theses are externally examined, ensuring quality, and providing a level of national and/or international benchmarking. The production of a high-quality Master-level conventional research thesis or a research thesis containing two interrelated published article/s or publishable manuscripts in which the learner must demonstrate that, under supervision, learners can conduct scientifically sound, theoretically grounded, ethical research on a Specialisation in Biokinetics, and is able to communicate research findings in an academically appropriate manner.