CENTRE FOR POSTGRAGUATE STUDIES

GUEST LECTURE

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A PhD viva involves defending a candidate’s thesis in an oral examination, with the aim of confirming that the work is that of the candidate.  It is the period in which a candidate’s knowledge and work are evaluated by independent examiners. The purpose is to insure that they have deep understanding of the project and that they are competent researchers. The process of preparing for a viva therefore, should be taken seriously. It is in this spirit that this presentation focuses on preparing PhD and MPhil candidates to ensure that they sail through their viva with ease. This preparation will allow candidates to have a better understanding what a voice viva is, why have a viva?; the thesis examination process; the examiners; how is your thesis judged? What are the possible outcomes? How to prepare for the viva? What to do in the viva and after the viva. It is hoped that after this presentation, candidates will be able to enjoy rather than endure the viva process.

Prof Tsitsi Chataika is an Associate Professor of inclusive education and disability inclusion in the Department of Educational Foundations, University of Zimbabwe. She is also the Faculty of Education Research and Innovation Manager. Prof Chataika is adistinguished international scholar. Notably, she is a visiting Associate Professor at the University of Sheffield (ihuman Centre) and the University of Witwatersrand (Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology). Prof Chataika has internally and externally examined numerous PhD theses, and she has vast experience in conducting

PhD viva. Prof Chataika serves in various national and international boards as a disability and inclusive education expert. Remarkably, she serves as the United Nations Disability Expert Panel Team Member and recently, she was nominated as the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) Zimbabwe Board Chairperson. Her research interests revolve around disability and how it intersects with but not limited to education, childhood studies, development, gender, health, social inclusion, safeguarding, religion, livelihoods, policy and programming. Her many publications include ‘The Routledge Handbook of Disability Activism’, which made her the 2019 Outstanding Global Taylor & Francis Award Winner in the Social Sciences and one of the most as well as the being one the 20 most 2023 influential books on activism.