A PhD Proposal Development Programme

This initiative is called “The PhD Proposal Development Programme” and is facilitated by Santrust, an international legal entity with head office in South Africa. Santrust has entered into partnership with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) to support VUT’s vision towards the realisation of higher levels of academic qualification’s for existing academic staff members.

At a recent gathering of the two companies, held at VUT, it was revealed that 21 candidates joined the field of vibrant research. This fits into our corporate strategy to broaden the VUT research base and to fast track the development programmes for Pre-doctoral candidates.

Santrust, not for the profit trust, has governed the work of similar programmes for the last 14 years in South Africa and other SADC states, including Ethiopia, has extended this opportunity to the VUT.

The programme consists of approximately six modules spread over six weeks of contact learning research methodology, offered at a doctoral level. The programme is facilitated through workshops and conferences. The important consideration for candidates, among other things, is that Doctoral Candidates should ideally have a supervisor or co-supervisor. The agreement will also require the participants to attend all the modules.

The detailed information on the Biographical Form assisted Santrust and the facilitators to ensure that the completions of PhD Proposals were timeously met and customized to suit the actual needs of the academics.

Professor Moutlana: Vice Chancellor & Principal of VUT said that if we consider the fact that our country is said to be producing between 23 to 26 PhD graduates per one million of the population, this occasion - celebrating 21 candidates on the proposal development programme - is quite significant and holds out a strong beacon of hope for our institution. She added that Nations, globally, are increasingly dependent on higher education to produce the highly skilled dependent labour that their economies need. We are a university that leads in innovative knowledge and quality technology education. Within our new corporate strategy one of the nine strategic objectives we have is to broaden our research base through enhancing research output and innovation commercialization, for meaningful application for the betterment of our societies, concluded Prof Moutlana.

Professor Louw: Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic & Research said that VUT is creating an environment for staff to realize their potential to be part of a broader team of researchers of this institution who have already made significant strides in producing research that matters.

At the end of the programme, these researchers would be experienced, committed and knowledgeable scholars, who are still on a journey, but have experienced the doctoral process in their own right.

The programme ended with an exciting and vibrant video of Santrust participants showing how much fun they had during their team building efforts to ensure collegiality and a spirit of togetherness. This compilation was produced by the creative team especially for the occasion.

Our mission is to produce top quality employable and entrepreneurial graduates who can make an impact in society.

A message from CEO of SANTRUST to the Cohort: Dr. A. Padayachee

The Visual Journey & Vote of Thanks on behalf of SANTRUST delegates

Gallery of SANTRUST awards ceremony

This article was written by: Anne naidu
Communications Practitioner/Editor Corporate Communications
Tel: +27 (0)16 950 9729

Pictures: Mandla Mtombeni