About the programme

In Africa, only a few institutions offer courses at higher levels of education in the field of disability and rehabilitation, though disability-related needs are vast. Under such a situation the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals may appear only a mirage. This realization is motivating a shift in attention in the training of manpower in the field of disability and development. The rapidly increasing interest in disability as a development and a human rights issue provides impetus to the growing recognition that the expansion of higher training opportunities in this emerging field is an urgent priority. The training opportunities offered by the MPhil in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development Programme at KNUST aims to produce this urgently needed manpower.

 

The MPhil in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development programme at the Department of  Health, Promotion and Disability Studies of the School of Public Health will provide students with a comprehensive insight into the subject of Disability and Rehabilitation within the African context. It will highlight the disability theory and definitions, policy processes, individual and community assessment, management practices, research and management of Community Based Rehabilitation programmes. The programme is designed for people working or planning a career in the field of disability and rehabilitation, and is especially suitable for health professionals, social workers, educational psychologists, educationists, architects, sports and exercise scientists and policy planners and makers.

 

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

The MPhil in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development aim to train high-level graduates with the requisite professional profile and competencies for work in the government or private service, NGO, and academic institutions.

 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the MPhil programme, the graduates should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding and make critical appraisal and application of the key theoretical and practical approaches to disability and rehabilitation programmes.
• Plan, develop, implement and evaluate context-specific strategies and interventions for addressing disability (including community-based rehabilitation approaches).
• Apply and assess quantitative and qualitative research methods appropriately in the field of disability and rehabilitation.
• Critically read and appraise scientific papers on issues related to disability and rehabilitation.
• Design research proposals and protocols and conduct research in the area of disability and rehabilitation.
• Apply self-directed learning skills, using appropriate internet-based and other resources.
• Use a range of relevant ICT tools like word processing and statistics software
• Act as trainer and lecturer
• Manage Human Resource Development, team building and quality assurance.

 

Enquiry Requirements

The course is intended for:

1. Practising professionals/graduates with a good first degree in the fields of:

• Disability and allied disciplines
• Health and Health-related Sciences
• Education
• Social services or Social work
• Natural Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Law
• Engineering
• Development Planning

 

      2. A pre-requisite for admission will be satisfactory results from:

 

• An interview
• Motivation statement to be written 
• An assessment of attitude towards disability 
• Evidence of financial support/capability

 

 

Graduation Requirements

Candidates will be required to pass all required courses as well as elective ones and obtain a total number of credits not less than 60. In addition, the candidate shall be expected to submit a thesis from original research and pass an oral examination on the thesis. CWA requirement will be 55 or above.

 

Career Prospects

The graduates of the MPHIL programme will be able to gain employment in the service providers in the government or private sector, NGO’s and Academic institutions, where their job descriptions could be as below

1. Government service

The graduate will work in a government unit responsible for inclusive planning and implementation of public works, education, health or social services. The graduate will develop inclusive strategies and carry out operational research, action research or health systems research to support evidence-based policy development and management. The graduate may also have an advisory or management function in a government health programme dealing with disabling conditions, human rights policy or disability prevention programmes.

 

2. Non-governmental organisation (NGO)

The graduate will work as a technical advisor, research consultant, trainer or evaluator in the field of disability and rehabilitation. Alternatively, the graduate may be a manager in a community-based rehabilitation programme or other NGO rehabilitation service or specialist referral institute.

 

3. Academic institution

The graduate will be an all-round member of a research and teaching team in an academic department focussing on disability prevention, social and human rights aspects of disability, medical rehabilitation, community-based rehabilitation, and (inclusive) education. The MPHJL provides an excellent background for a higher research degree, such as a PhD in Disability & Development.

 

4. Private Sector

Graduates of the programme can be employed in the service industry by providing training in Disability Orientation for staff to be able to handle appropriately clients with disabilities, private sector, especially in health facilities, and in individual capacities in the areas of guidance and counselling and vocational training for Persons with Disability and their caregivers.