About the Programme
Doctor of Philosophy in in Social Work Qualification code: 8CE R01 Faculty specific rules and requirements of the programme:
a) Admission to this programme/curriculum takes place after obtaining the master’s degree in social work on NQF level 9.
b) Consideration will be given to the student’s previous academic performance. (Candidates must have achieved an average of 65% in the master’s degree).
c) Completion of an academic literacy test or equivalent assessment to demonstrate reading and writing ability may be required, the final scores of which should be above 60%.
d) Each applicant will be subjected to a selection interview conducted by the post graduate panel of the subject group. For this purpose, a structured interview schedule will be used, and the average of panellist’s ratings will serve as selection criterion.
e) Submission of a shortened (draft) research proposal will serve as final selection criterion.
f) Students registering for this programme/curriculum should supply proof of registration as a social worker according to the Act on Social Service Professions (Act 110 of 1978).
g) Prospective applicants may have to complete and pass a short refresher course in research methods.
Please use the following document as a guideline for your 5-page summarised research proposal: PhD Application Proposal Guideline It is recommended that you use the official COMPRES Research Proposal Template The link for the NWU Application Form - http://studies.nwu.ac.za/postgraduate-studies/higher-degree-admissions Researcher Focus Area Description Contact Details Prof Carlien van Wyk Child Participation Social work, play therapy, children’s participation in the context of children’s rights, child protection
Prof Mariette van der Merwe
Trauma Trauma, marginalised populations, visual data collection Research on victims of crime (gun violence, stabbing-related violence, rape, school violence, elder abuse, migrant trauma, gender-based violence) Mariette.VanDerMerwe@nwu.ac.za
Dr Issie Jacobs
Environmental Social Work Climate change issues, disaster management, family relational well-being
Dr Susanne Jacobs
Resilience, Psycho-Social Well-being, and Strenghs-Based Researc Relational Health Strengthening, restoring, and preserving communities
Prof Lizane Wilson Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Community Engagement The prevention of sexual violence against children is increasingly being prioritized as a global priory, but is still a neglected area. When multiple risk factors are present in a community, the children in this community are even more prone to become victims of CSA
Dr Marelize Vergottini School Social Work My research focus is on school social work, wherein all roles and psychosocial challenges are unpacked. The three systems within the education system, learners, educators and parents of caregivers form part of this area of focus.
Prof Elmien Crofford Child Protection My research focus is on tackling the complex challenges faced by child protection social workers in South Africa. Through research, we explore the different levels, factors, and stakeholders within the child protection system to identify what hinders effective child protection. Through both PhD and master’s research, our goal is to uncover these obstacles and develop practical solutions to address them.
My personal background and professional training are in child protection social work, and my teaching and research focus align with this field. I collaborate with other researchers in supervising the students involved in this work. We prioritize ensuring that our findings are widely disseminated through key conferences and academic journals. Our goal is to make an impact on the child protection system, empower child protection social workers, and advocate for their needs so they can effectively perform their work, ultimately improving outcomes for every vulnerable child depending on this system.
Dr Lucé Pretorius
The social service profession is dedicated to improving human well-being and meeting the basic needs of all people. We champion the empowerment of the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and impoverished. However, we must consider the implication and challenges involved in achieving this. Who bears the responsibility for ensuring the safety and well-being of our frontline social service professionals? It's time we pose the question: "Who safeguards those who are entrusted with safeguarding others?”
Prof Elma Ryke Family studies Child protection Forensic practice I am currently supervising postgraduate students on topics related to informal alternative care for children, forensic assessments of sexually abused children with autism, and the experiences of divorced parents sharing custody of their children. My research focuses on how individuals shape their immediate environments to create social niches that support their well-being.
Dr Frans Manthosi Child protection EAP Supervision and management Pre-service training of prospective foster parents, In service training of foster parents, screening of prospective foster parents, grandparents fostering grandchildren Employee wellness (work stress and burnout), Solution focused therapy Social work supervision in government and management of social service organisations
Dr Tasleem Sayed
As a supervisor with expertise in resilience, strengths, positive psychology, and well-being, my research explores the ways individuals and communities can harness their innate strengths to overcome adversity and enhance their overall well-being. I focus on resilience not just as the ability to bounce back from challenges but as a dynamic process that integrates emotional, psychological, and social resources. Grounded in positive psychology, my work emphasizes identifying and maximising strengths to promote growth, empowerment, and long-term flourishing.
Prof Hanelie Malan
Prof Wim Roestenburg Ecometric scale development Evaluation research Technology use in social work Management in social work Alcohol/drug treatment Wellness indicators Social workers need to actively use measurement tools in their practice. I see it as a priority to develop scales with high local relevance. Social workers must transition to the digital age. My priority is to facilitate this transition through research that removes barriers and enables technology adoption. Scale use, technology and interventions in different fields are areas worth evaluating. Hence, programme evaluation forms an important area of focus for my research. The corporate wellness context is a typical area where evaluations are needed. Various practice contexts must be developed, and this requires management skills – hence, a further focus on management issues remains part of my research
Dr Roslind Mokwele Social development and social work Social development, developmental social work interventions, policy and poverty
Prof Elzahne Simeon-De Jager Child Protection My research is centered on the overarching theme of child protection, with a specific focus on understanding and addressing the needs of children requiring care and protection. This includes a thorough examination of alternative care systems, and the associated challenges faced by vulnerable children. By investigating various dimensions of child welfare, my research focus aims to identify gaps in current care frameworks and propose evidence-based strategies to enhance the effectiveness of protective measures and support systems for children in need. With this research focus I seek to contribute to the development of more responsive and comprehensive policies and practices that safeguard the well-being of at-risk children and ensure their optimal development and safety.
Dr Pieter Boshoff Trauma My research focuses on trauma, with a particular emphasis on its impact within emergency services. I explore how exposure to traumatic events affects the mental health and social well-being of emergency responders, such as paramedics, medical staff in particular registered nurses, forensic pathology, and law enforcement officers. My work aims to better understand the unique stressors these professionals face, develop effective interventions, and ultimately improve support systems to enhance their resilience and overall psycho-social health.
Dr Sufran Smith Forensic Social Work
Child sexual violence and child violence investigations. Expert court testimony in child violence matters.
Prof Eleanor Hendricks Gender-based violence and femicide School social work Indigenous social work Social work and social media My research focusses on the psychosocial and mental factors resulting from GBV. Support services rendered to victims of violence by school social workers further forms part of my research niche areas. Indigenous social work practices specifically Ubuntu social work is another area of interest. I have done a few research collaborations with colleagues from the African continent on the subject matter. Finally, the migration of social work practice to online platforms, ethical implications thereof and the availability of social work services on social media platforms.
For any additional queries please visit the contact page for full contact details of academic or support staff relating to the applicable degree: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za/compres/get-touch Application Process
Potential Supervisors and Research Areas
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