HELP! I HAVE TO ASSESS A PHD! LOOKING CLOSER AT THE DOCTORAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Assessment practices in South African higher education institutions (HEIs) have been the subject of much debate in recent times. Doctoral assessment, particularly the summative doctoral assessment process and the complex nature of the doctoral curriculum are grappling issues navigating the debate. In this session I will discuss what literature tells us about the different forms of doctorates, look closer at the summative doctoral assessment process and the principles behind it. I will also examine the characteristics of the doctoral candidate and the indicators of quality as often perceived by examiners. I will look at the examiner as an assessor and discuss the analysis and findings of a case study of the quality assurance of theses examination in education sciences at a South African university. The paper will be concluded with a reflection on how one might think about summative doctoral assessment.