Water Wheel Sept/Oct 2020: Capacity Building

Abstract

Towards a transformed sector – Tracking South Africa’s water doctorates In the academic field, the highest degree attainable from a university is the coveted Doctor of Philosophy or, a PhD. The degree entails the generation of original research. “It’s a proxy or indicator that you can measure as our capacity for knowledge generation,” says WRC research manager for water governance, John Dini. The qualification is regarded as essential in a knowledge-based and complex economy. Dini managed a WRC-funded tracer study of local water and sanitation-related PhDs. Tracer studies typically aim to find and make contact with PhD graduates for an understanding of their career paths. Relatively common the world over, it’s the first to zone in on the water and sanitation sector in South Africa and internationally. The WRC has a long history of supporting doctorate candidates. The inclusion of masters and doctorate students in research projects are often required of funded studies.

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