Learn 2024

In this course we will explore a comparative, historical and critical approaches to the study of religion - in the first instance through exploring how religion is defined, understood and practiced, and then through learning intimately about the major religious traditions of South Africa, and beyond.

In this class we will explore social, historical and comparative perspectives on religion. While the course will focus on religions in South Africa, we will also study the idea of religion more generally. The course will include possible site visits to a mosque, temple or synagogue.

I hope that the course will be fun and engaging, and that at the end of the semester, you will have developed a deeper understanding of religion as a social phenomenon, and not just as belief and practices.

Aim: This module aims to bring together a broad understanding of qualitative (and quantitative) methods of research taken from the social sciences and applied to the study of religion and culture.

Content: An introduction to the various approaches to the study of religion, giving the student insight into contemporary debates surrounding the issues of methodology in the context of religious and cultural studies, including digital religion.

Learners will be able to gain an understanding of:

·         concept development, e.g. nature and definition of research in religion, and culture, as well as a variety of research approaches used within the study of religion;

·         understanding the difference between research methodologies and research methods;

·          the systematic study of research methodological approaches, aspects of the research process, especially qualitative research;

DOCTORAL COURSEWORK PROGRAMME

DOCTORAL WEBINARS – RESEARCH PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT II

Course Outline

(20, 27 August; 03, 10, 17 September; 01 October 2024)

1        Module Coordinators and Facilitators

Module Coordinators

Prof. Jannie Smit (smitj@ukzn.ac.za)

Prof Relebohile Moletsane (moletsaner@ukzn.ac.za) Prof Moletsane is on sabbatical currently.

Module Facilitators

·     Prof. Nyna Amin, Professor, School of Education (Amin@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Carol Bertram, Professor, School of Education (BertramC@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof Lauren Dyll, Associate Professor, Centre for Communication, Media and Society (Dyll@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Johannes John-Langba, Director: College of Humanities Doctoral Academy, and Professor, School of Applied Human Sciences (JohnLangbaJ@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Nhlanhla Mkhize, DVC & Head: College of Humanities, and Professor, School of Applied Human Sciences (Mkhize@ukzn.ac.za

·     Prof. Matshepo Matoane, Dean & Head of School, School of Applied Human Sciences, and Professor, Applied Human Sciences (MatoaneM@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Anna Meyer-Weitz, Professor, Professor Applied Human Sciences (MeyerWeitzA@ukzn.ac.za) 

·     Dr. Adele Munsami, School of Applied Human Sciences (MunsamiA@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Michael Samuel, Professor, School of Education (Samuelm@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Jannie Smit, Chair: Humanities Institute, and Professor, Religion & Social Transformation, School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics (smitj@ukzn.ac.za)

·     Prof. Radhamany Sooryamoorthy, Professor, School of Social Sciences (SooryamoorthyR@ukzn.ac.za)

2        The Humanities Doctoral Coursework Programme

The doctoral coursework programme in the College of Humanities at UKZN is designed as a research capacity strengthening intervention. The purpose of the coursework is to equip doctoral students with foundational and benchmarked knowledge and skills required to explore and explain societal problems to contribute to knowledge in addressing contemporary social, educational and behavioural problems in Africa. It entails advanced training in social, educational and behavioural research theory and methodology, as well as advanced content in relevant theoretical frameworks and policies in education, humanities and social sciences. Students learn and practice advanced qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research approaches and data analytical and interpretive techniques. Doctoral students are expected to work with their assigned doctoral supervisor to define a specialized area of study based on their field or disciplinary focus for their coursework assignments, and research proposal, that would guide their doctoral research study and thesis.

3        The Doctoral Module by Webinar: Research Proposal Development

Culminating in a full research proposal at the end of the first year, this module covers the following topics: Identification of a research idea and appropriate topic, conceptualizing the research problem statement, objectives and research questions; the role of the literature review and conducting a critical literature review, including major research databases and empirical sources in doctoral research; the nature and importance of theory, philosophical and empirical foundations of research in the Humanities and Social Sciences and developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks suitable for analysing particular research phenomena; research designs,  analytic/ research methodology; data generation strategies; instruments of data generation; sampling strategies (population versus sample); reliability, validity and rigour; referencing;  international and local ethical guidelines and national laws on the conduct of research with human subjects; misconduct/ fraud/ plagiarism in research; components of a research proposal; novelty and originality in a PhD thesis; organization of the PhD chapters; time scheduling and budgeting for the research project.

4        Module Learning Outcomes

Doctoral candidates are expected to attend all sessions and to critically engage with the literature before and after webinars and participate in the sessions online. The main aim of this module is to assist doctoral candidates in selecting an appropriate research topic, conceptualising an academically viable research project, and preparing a strong research proposal with all its elements, which conforms to the ethical standards for conducting of research.  The aim of the module is to support students to strengthen their skills/ capacity to:

a)     Synthesise information from the literature, and identify a research gap, leading to appropriate research questions;

b)     Analyse a research issue, taking into consideration, the research gap, socio-cultural and socio-political contexts, intended target population, and impact of the issue on community or society;

c)     Select appropriate research paradigms, designs and data generation methods and research instruments, to address the research problem;

d)     Describe the appropriate steps and procedures that will be adopted to protect research participants (ethical considerations);

e)     Demonstrate the viability, reliability, validity, and/ or trustworthiness of their chosen research design;

f)      Communicate the anticipated significance of their research results; and

g)     Translate their understanding of the primary components of a research proposal, into a realistic/ implementable proposal, with a budget and time frames.

5        NOTE: Recommended Basic Methods Texts (from your local/ university library) for this module and throughout your PhD include (but are not limited to):

Cresswell, J.W. & C.N. Poth, C.N. 2018. Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. 4^th Edition. Los Angeles: SAGE. (The 2^nd Edition of 2007, is available online on Open Access, at: https://revistapsicologia.org/public/formato/cuali2.pdf.)

Cresswell, J.W. & J.D. Creswell 2018. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 5^th Edition.  Thousand Oakes, CA: SAGE. (The 3^rd Edition, 2009, is available online on Open Access, at: https://www.ucg.ac.me/skladiste/blog_609332/objava_105202/fajlovi/Creswell.pdf.)

Trafford, V. & S. Leshem, S. 2008. Stepping Stones to Achieving your Doctorate: Focusing on your Viva from the Start.  Berkshire & New York: Open University. (An earlier, 2002 paper version of the book of 2008, is available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310055048_Starting_at_the_end_to_undertake_doctoral_research_Predictable_questions_as_stepping-stones/link/59a5707d0f7e9b348eb00f27/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19.)

6        In addition to this Course Outline, please make sure you familiarise yourself with the following UKZN policies:

·     UKZN APA & Harvard Styles of Referencing - https://libguides.ukzn.ac.za/c.php?g=1043478&p=7569657

·     UKZN Plagiarism Policy - https://utlo.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/UKZN-Plagiarism-Policy-CO05041209.pdf

·     UKZN College of Humanities PhD Policies – available from the Research and Higher Degrees Committee of each school.

7        Reading homework: To prepare for our first session on Tuesday 20 August 2024, please read the following:

Leshem, S. 2021. The Question of Doctorateness: Theory and Practice. Doctoral School Annual Lecture 2020. University of Malta Doctoral School. Available at:

https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/73548/1/DSAnnLect_2020_FOR%20UPLOADIGN%20TO%20UM%20OAR.pdf

Trafford, V. & S. Leshem, S. 2008. Stepping Stones to Achieving your Doctorate: Focusing on your Viva from the Start.  Berkshire & New York: Open University. (You may also read the 2002 paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310055048_Starting_at_the_end_to_undertake_doctoral_research_Predictable_questions_as_stepping-stones/link/59a5707d0f7e9b348eb00f27/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19.)

8        Weekly Scheduled Topics

Week 1 (20 August 2024) Doctorateness, the Research Process, and the Research Proposal Development and RP Finalisation

Prof Jannie Smit & Prof Nhlanhla Mkhize

Week 2 (27 August 2024) The Quantitative Research Process and Research Paradigms for Research Proposal Development

Prof Anna Meyer-Weitz & Prof Nyna Amin

Week 3 (03 September 2024): RP Development and Social and Educational Policy Analysis for Policy Renewal and Implementation

Prof Michael Samuel and Prof Carol Bertram

Week 4 (10 September 2024): The Basics of Scholarly Literature Review in PhD Research; and Quantitative Research Methods for RP Development

Prof Lauren Dyll; Prof Radhamany Sooryamoorthy

Week 5 (17 September 2024): Research Proposal Dvelopment, and Qualitative, and Mixed Methods and Quantitative Research Ethics in African Contexts

Prof Nhlanhla Mkhize; and Prof Matshepo Matoane

Saturday, 21 – Sunday 29 September 2024: MID-TERM BREAK

Week 6 (01 October 2024): The RP, and Research Instrument Development for both Data Generation and Analysis/ Interpretation

Dr Adele Munsamy & Prof JA Smit

9        PhD Coursework Research Proposal Submissions

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* Students are encouraged to submit their proposals to their respective School Research Proposal Review Committees once they have supervisor support for submission to the committees.

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The purpose of this course outline is to provide students with important administrative, organisational and module information as a frame of reference and map to guide the students in their planning and preparation for this module during this semester.

The learning guide, lecture slides and textbook are not a substitute for lectures. The learning guide, lectures, lecture slides, textbook, case studies, other learning material assessments and other activities comprise an inclusive and intergrated learning experience aimed at achieving the outcomes of this module. Attendance at lectures is vital, as lectures do not only allow for more guidance and direction regarding the scope of the module, but also allows for meaningful engagements which is expected to facilitate an in-depth understanding of the core issues covered in this module.

 Class attendance will be monitored for every lecture.

The field of purchasing and supply management includes the functions of planning, organising, motivating and controlling the flow of purchased materials, products and services into and out of the organisation. The importance of purchasing is clear as every business entity needs a supply of materials. Purchasing is responsible for this supply. Simply put, purchasing forms an important link between business entities and provides the trigger for moving materials through the supply chain.

Some of the benefits of purchasing and supply management include providing a significant competitive advantage; providing an efficient service to internal customers; providing a reliable flow of materials into the business; identifying and selecting the best suppliers; and maintaining supplier relationships.

The aim of this module is to enable learners to understand the theoretical base and practical principles and concepts underlying purchasing management. It provides learners with a sound perspective and insight into the principles and strategies related to purchasing management in organisations and its supply chain partners. Particular emphasis is placed on the South African context.