The WESAF doctoral programme aims to provide research training to equip students (primarily academics already holding tenured positions) to complete interdisciplinary doctoral research on areas related to sustainability on the African continent.
The blended programme is designed to enable students to complete primarily online masters followed by a primarily online doctorate.
The Masters by Research and PhD programmes will combine in-person elements including sustainability schools (in person schools focussed on enhancing knowledge in the field of sustainability research) in South Africa and contact sessions in Edinburgh alongside workplace-based internships. Supervision will be jointly delivered online by academics from both UoE and Wits.
The programme will recruit an initial cohort of 50 students from faculties from partner African higher education institutions to complete sustainability focused doctoral studies. Following an initial online Masters by Research, to front-load the development of critical research skills and delivered full time, at least 30 of these students will continue to complete PhDs either full-time or part-time.Through its cohort approach and emphasis on advanced research design and methods training, the programme will produce a powerful cohort of African research specialists committed to addressing Africa’s sustainability challenges on its own terms. Impacts The Universities of the Witwatersrand and Edinburgh share a long-standing and productive partnership. Bound by common values, the Institutions are committed to collaboratively producing the kinds of knowledge that will shape dignified, equitable and sustainable futures for people across the world. Under this overarching vision, WESAF aims to:
Founded in 1922, University of the Witwatersrand is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Johannesburg (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), Gauteng. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 97 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 30-40% making this South African higher education organization a very selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.