CREST

Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST)

The Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) was established as a research centre on 1 January 1995 in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University. In January 2010 it also became an academic department in the same Faculty.

As a research centre its work covers the broad fields of bibliometrics and scientometrics, research on higher education knowledge production, human resources in science and technology, research evaluation and impact assessment studies and studies on the communication patterns of scientists.

For more information, please visit our website (click here).

areas of specialisation include:

Monitoring and Evaluation

The one-year Diploma programme provides training to students who require knowledge and skills in monitoring and evaluation methods. It is aimed at professional and other individuals who are tasked with the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes. Students complete five modules in three 1 week contact sessions as well as an Evaluation report. For more information, please visit our website (click here).

The MPhil programme focuses on the history and theory of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) as a developing 'discipline' in its own right, which is practised within various contexts. M&E has its own approaches and models, own sets of designs and methodologies and own domains of implementation.

The programme is unique in its dedicated focus on the theory, methodology and practice of monitoring and evaluation. Students complete eight modules, as well as an Evaluation report/research assignment over one or two years. For more information, please visit our website (click here).

The doctoral programme aims to meet the demand for high-level and scarce skills in monitoring and evaluation studies on the African continent. At this level, the aim is to ensure that a new generation of evaluation scholars is trained to ensure that the growing professionalisation of the field is sustained and that a tradition of high-quality scholarship in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in Africa is established and further expanded.

The successful completion of the programme involves a good grasp of the theoretical and methodological demands of scholarship in the field that culminates in a novel and original contribution to the field in the form of a substantive dissertation and subsequent journal articles. For more information, please visit our website (click here).

Research Management and Administration

Professional research management and administration (RMA) structures and systems within African universities are critical enablers in achieving maximum research and innovation impact in an increasingly competitive global environment. The effectiveness of these structures depends on skilled research and innovation managers – individuals who will be key in the efforts of African research institutions to help sustain and grow research and innovation. Against this background, CREST is offering a Postgraduate Diploma in Research Management and Administration for both early career and established research managers and administrators.

Students must complete four modules. Each module requires students to be at Stellenbosch University for a five-day lecturing block. Delivery of the programme is through a combination of block (face-to-face) lecturing sessions, online tutorials, self-study and written assignments. The modular structure of the programme makes it possible for participants to study over a period of two years, without the need to be in Stellenbosch permanently. For more information, please visit our website (click here).

Science and Technology Studies

Science and Technology Studies (STS) interrogate and understand science as a social system and as a force that influences and shape society and life. It studies the interactions and relationships between science and society. Scholars in this field investigate how social, political and cultural forces and values shape scientific research and innovation and how these, in turn, impact on society, politics and culture. They are also interested in how people respond to science – the expectations that people have of science to deliver solutions and innovations, but also the concerns that exist about the boundaries and impacts of cutting-edge science.

The MPhil in STS at CREST will introduce students to these different dimension and aspects of science as a complex social system, with a focus on South Africa. Students can choose between two specialisations, a general programme option and an option to specialise in the theory and practice of science communication and public engagement with science. The successful completion of the requirements of the chosen option will result in the MPhil in STS being awarded. For more information, please visit our website (click here).

The doctoral programme entails a dissertation and focuses on the social study of science and technology and related aspects such as science and technology policy, research management and innovation management. For more information, please visit our website (click here).