PhD incentive funding disappoints

In the five years from 2005 there was an annual 6.2% growth in academic publications - which have long received incentive money - against a 3.6% increase in doctoral graduate production since incentive funding for postgraduates began.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University researchers found that the incentive funding system has worked better in increasing research publication than in PhD production. Growth in research and coursework masters graduates actually declined, from nearly 6% to 4.4% a year, and nearly 7% to 1.5% respectively. "Globally, data was showing an increase in postgraduate enrolments and graduations," Pretoria Vice-chancellor Cheryl de la Rey said. "But when we looked at the data from the Department of Higher Education and Training, we saw [some] growth in South Africa but it was modest [...] We needed to find out whether the targets were realistic or not." According to University World News, the national target has been set at 5,000 doctoral graduates a year by 2030.

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