South Africa's Postgraduate Research Landscape: A Call for Urgent Reform

In the heart of South Africa's higher education sector, a pressing debate is unfolding. Senior academics from leading universities are voicing strong concerns over the current state of postgraduate research, particularly the evaluation of theses and dissertations. They argue that traditional assessment methods fail to bridge the widening gap between academia and industry needs. This challenge comes at a critical time, as the country grapples with expanding postgraduate enrollments—reaching over 160,000 students in public universities alone in 2023—yet facing persistent issues of graduate unreadiness and limited societal impact.

The Enabling Quality Postgraduate Education (EQPE) colloquium, hosted by Universities South Africa (USAf) in March 2026, brought together 120 experts, including policymakers from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Council on Higher Education (CHE), and Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). Discussions revealed systemic flaws: blurred distinctions between master's and doctoral qualifications, outdated supervision models, and evaluation criteria that prioritize academic outputs over practical relevance. As Professor Stephanie Burton from the University of Pretoria emphasized, "A master's degree is about advanced knowledge acquisition, while a doctorate is about creating new knowledge." Yet, current practices often dilute this distinction, undermining the value of both.

Challenges in Thesis Evaluation: Academic Rigour vs. Real-World Relevance

Thesis evaluation in South African universities traditionally hinges on the production of a substantial document demonstrating original scholarship. Examiners, often senior academics, assess methodological soundness, literature review depth, and contribution to knowledge. However, critics like Professor Anil Chuturgoon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), highlight a critical shortfall: these assessments rarely incorporate industry perspectives or measure tangible impacts on practice. "Are we clear on what separates a master's from a doctorate, or are we in pretend mode while our degrees lose significance?" he questioned during the colloquium.

This misalignment stems from legacy models where student-initiated topics dominate, frequently disconnected from institutional priorities or national development goals. In Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, graduate research is fragmented, with supervisors acting as peripheral facilitators rather than agenda-setters. Thesis committees seldom include practitioners, leading to outputs that gather dust on shelves rather than driving innovation. Statistics underscore the issue: doctoral throughput hovers at 67%, with dropout rates of 33-41% for advanced degrees, partly due to mismatched expectations and inadequate preparation.

Moreover, funding constraints exacerbate problems. National Research Foundation (NRF) bursaries are declining, and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) primarily targets undergraduates, leaving a 'missing middle' of postgraduate students unsupported. Supervisors, overloaded with 10+ students alongside teaching duties, struggle to provide quality guidance, perpetuating a cycle of delayed completions—often 5-6 years for PhDs.

Senior Academics Lead the Charge for Change

Prominent voices are at the forefront. Professor H.B. Klopper, Academic Head at Belgium Campus iTversity, advocates for recognizing multiple knowledge creation pathways without diluting standards. "Differentiation does not mean dilution; it means recognising multiple pathways to rigorous and impactful knowledge creation," she stated. Her call includes practitioner involvement in supervision and evaluation tailored to applied contexts.

At UKZN, incentives like full fee remission for timely completions (one year for master's, three for doctorates) demonstrate practical steps. Professor Chuturgoon pushes for employer assessments of outputs and reconfigured supervision models distinguishing applied master's from original doctoral work. Meanwhile, the CHE is reviewing the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF), proposing differentiated doctoral pathways—professional, coursework-based (120 credits coursework, 240 dissertation), and traditional thesis-based—to better align with diverse career trajectories.

These leaders warn of brain drain and eroding global competitiveness, with South Africa's PhD production per million lagging behind leaders like the US and UK.

Bridging the Academia-Industry Divide

A core contention is the disconnect between postgraduate outputs and industry demands. Despite South Africa's higher education system contributing 73% of continental knowledge production, many graduates lack workplace readiness. The National Development Plan (NDP) targets 5,000 PhDs annually, but 2023 saw only 3,620, with employability gaps widening as industry seeks skills in AI, green tech, and digital innovation.

Reforms advocate embedding graduate research in faculty-led thematic hubs aligned with national priorities like the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Co-supervision with industry experts would ensure relevance, while evaluation criteria expand to include patents, prototypes, policy briefs, and practice changes. For instance, professional doctorates in health and management could prioritize real-world problem-solving, with portfolios alongside theses.USAf's EQPE insights highlight how current metrics undervalue these.

Institutions like Stellenbosch University and UKZN are piloting industry-linked research chairs, fostering collaborations that integrate training with challenges like renewable energy and biotech.

Structural Barriers and Equity Concerns

Equity remains elusive. Black South African participation has risen to 80% of postgraduates (from 65% in 2005), and women comprise 57%, yet dropout persists due to funding gaps and isolation. Part-time students, often working professionals, face stretched supervision and inflexible policies. The USAf's AECRS programme supports black scholars via mentorship, but systemic reform is needed.

Undergraduate research exposure is minimal, with many entering postgrad without basics, as Professor Lutendo Murulana notes: "A student can complete an undergraduate qualification without any exposure to research." Proposed fixes include research-infused undergrad curricula and national doctoral cohorts.

Proposed Reforms: A Roadmap Forward

Senior academics outline clear steps:

• Explicit programme handbooks defining qualification purposes.
• Faculty-driven research agendas with student recruitment into themes.
• Professionalized supervision: training, co-models, reduced loads.
• Holistic evaluation: assess scholars via milestones, impact metrics, industry input.
• Funding overhaul: multi-year bursaries covering full costs, incentives for completion.
• Differentiated pathways: professional doctorates for industry, traditional for academia.

The CHE's HEQSF review could mandate credit-bearing PhD coursework for attributes like ethics and leadership. DHET's University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) offers resources for equity.Frontiers in Education on Sub-Saharan reforms supports these via quality assurance integration.

Case Studies: Universities Innovating Ahead

North-West University (NWU) mandates a published article for PhD exams, blending academic and dissemination skills. UKZN's fee remissions accelerate throughput. Tshwane University of Technology reformed geomatics curricula for industry alignment. These pilots show feasibility, but scaling requires policy support.

Implications for Stakeholders

For students, reforms promise better preparation and careers; academics gain incentives and reduced loads; industry accesses skilled talent. Nationally, aligned research bolsters innovation, addressing NDP goals amid economic pressures.

Photo by Marlin Clark on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Towards Impactful Scholarship

With DHET, CHE, and DSTI aligning, 2026 could mark a turning point. As post-truth challenges rise—AI-dissertations, skepticism—robust evaluation restores credibility. Senior academics' challenge signals commitment to excellence, positioning South African universities as African leaders in relevant postgraduate education.Explore USAf's full colloquium report.