SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Postgraduate Diploma in Development Assistance Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
102000	Postgraduate Diploma in Development Assistance Management
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Generic Management
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Not Applicable	NQF Level 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2021-07-01	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to develop core competences by focusing on the learners' ability to:

Engage decisively with complex problems through an analytical and systematic application of information and knowledge in the Management of Development Assistance and its implications for regional trade, food security and development as a whole.

Open opportunities for self-development and the application of a strong ethical foundation, specialisation, appropriate techniques and communication skills in dealing with development assistance, its antecedents, challenges and prospects.

These competencies will be achieved through a skill-based approach which emphasises a progression in the ability to develop creatively on the job solutions, critical thinking, and logical analytical and research skills.

Rationale:
The rationale of this qualification is to:

Produce well-rounded graduates with the theoretical knowledge to play a leading role in economic development and food security initiatives within South Africa and beyond.

Develop graduates with proven skills in the implementation of government policies and to help on development assistance, towards sustainable development and improved livelihoods in South Africa, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and throughout Africa.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The application of the institution's RPL policy, adheres to the clearly stipulated criteria. The institution's admission policy, the admission requirement also promotes access and equal opportunity to tertiary education at all levels through the RPL policy. RPL will be applied in terms of granting admission to the qualification for learners who do not meet the stipulated minimum admission requirements. As such, applicants will be expected to provide portfolios on work experience and continuing education and/or short courses which will be assessed by the University's RPL Committee made up of representatives from the Faculty of Management and Commerce, the Department of Public Administration, the Teaching and Learning Centre and the Office of the Registrar.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum requirements for admission into a Postgraduate Diploma is either:

A Bachelor's Degree, Level 7.
Or

Advanced Diploma, Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Levels 8 totalling 128 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 96 Credits:

Development and Aid Management 16 Credits.

Stakeholder Development and Management 16 Credits.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Aid 16 Credits.

International Trade and Investment 16 Credits.

Research for Development 16 Credits.

Skills Based Experiential Learning 16 Credits.

Elective Modules Level 8 (Choose two), 32 Credits.

Phyto-Sanitary Measures 16 Credits.

Disaster and Risk Management 16 Credits.

Food Security 16 Credits.

Leadership and Governance 16 Credits.

Political Economy of Development Aid 16 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply knowledge of leadership and governance theories, styles, models and systems to solve contextual leadership and challenges within the global development assistance management context and apply approaches to leadership development particularly in South Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and Africa.
2. Apply logical frameworks and theory of change to identify long-term development assistance goals and interventions necessary to achieve the desired outcomes in the monitoring and evaluation of development assistance projects and programmes.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the field of development and aid management, including the political context, the ability to produce and communicate information for project planning and preparation for the sustainability of development assistance qualifications in different contexts.
4. Apply knowledge and concepts in stakeholder management project management in development assistance management.
5. Apply practical skills aimed at producing deliverables that address challenges in international development assistance qualifications and projects.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Understand the principles and concepts associated with development assistance, good leadership and good governance in organisational and community context.

Develop innovative, creative strategies for leadership and management roles and functions when in dealing with various situations and challenges within development environments.

Craft a distinct Development Assistance Leaders' accountability profile in the discharge of development assistance.

Demonstrate interactional acceptable leadership, governance and ethical principles through applications in practical operations within the development assistance.

Identify, analyse and evaluate leadership propensity needed to challenge the prevailing leadership, governance, and ethical practices within organisations and boost tenacity to hold on to international acceptable leadership, governance, and ethical practices.

Map out organisational strategies on how to deal with ethical and compliance issue in development assistance.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Develop results-based monitoring indicators for solving development assistance problems and tracking progress on development assistance outcomes as well as the performance of development assistance intervention qualifications within specific contexts.

Understand the key terms of Monitoring and Evaluation and compare and contrast Monitoring and Evaluation as distinct but interrelated concepts.

Correlate Monitoring and Evaluation and development assistance in practice terms.

Classify, compare, contrast and distinguish between indicator types through activity based learning with practical examples of Monitoring and Evaluation of development assistance qualifications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Demonstrate an understanding of common tools used in project preparation and planning which include sustainable livelihoods framework; results based management and the use of development assistance tools.

Communicate concepts, ideas and theories using the language of development practice and the changing agenda and architecture of development practice, displaying creative insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues appropriate to development assistance management.

Critically assess complex project and development documents that are produced by both bilateral and multilateral donors.

Communicate information reliably, accurately and coherent in writing, verbally and demonstrate the ability to reflect universal conventions in copyright and plagiarism.

Build critical arguments meaningfully and build critical discourse with officials and actors involved with Development Assistance.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level outcome 4:

Apply specialist knowledge, techniques and principles to identifying/engaging, managing, monitoring and solving stakeholder relationships in development assistance management.

Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and awareness of the issues and concepts in stakeholder management.

Demonstrate an understanding of civil society in the context of contemporary development qualifications and initiatives.

Explain the philosophy of donations and the importance of fund raising.

Identify and analyse important stakeholders in a given project.

Examine the importance of communication and reporting in stakeholder management as well as demonstrate skills in writing reports to stakeholder.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Identify and understand current practices and developments in international development assistance practice within a specific organisational, qualification or project context.

Develop programme and project development plans for specific projects or programmes aimed at showing an understanding of specific development assistance systems, mechanisms and techniques in stakeholder management.

Acquire a range of appropriate leadership and governance competences and transferable skills in development assistance work, which can support them in present and future roles in the development context.

Develop works plans and reports reflecting on effective development assistance strategies, solutions, approaches and tools learnt.

Integrated Assessment:
Theory and practice are integrated in assessment through case studies of which simulate managing a system based on an understanding of the roles and relationship between elements with wider governance and administrative systems.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The School of Government and Management in the United Kingdom, University of Birmingham (UoB):
The Postgraduate Diploma in Development Assistance Management (PGD-DAM) qualification is comparable to this Postgraduate qualification offered by the International Development Department (IDD) in the University of Birmingham. This university sought institutional collaboration with the University of Birmingham because of the international prominence of their qualification and knowledge centre.

The qualification offered at the University of Birmingham was compared with the core programme offerings at the South African University. The qualifications were deemed relevant to the vision and mission of the Institute for Development Assistance Management (IDAM) and were adopted to suit the Southern African development context.

Comparison:
General similarities:
Much like all qualifications in the Birmingham model (which are pegged at the Masters and Postgraduate Diploma levels), the South African qualification was also deemed suitable to be pegged at a Postgraduate Diploma level. Comparable scope of knowledge is in terms of understanding of knowledge content and ability to critically interrogate topical debates in the subject area and solve practical development related programmes.

Additionally, the South African qualification offers specialist pathways. Although the qualification from the University of Birmingham does not offer specific specialised pathways, it gives the student the opportunity to choose from electives (Governance track or Agriculture track).

General differences:
Because of its demand driven practical approach, the Postgraduate Diploma in Development Assistance Management takes a more multidisciplinary approach to development assistance management incorporating research, monitoring and evaluation as it core courses. Based on the Development Assistance Management founding strategic partnerships, the qualifications includes electives track for Agriculture focused students.

The School of International Service in the American University Washington DCL:
The South African qualification has been compared to the Master of Science (MS) in Development Management offered at the American University in Washington.

Comparisons:
Master of Science (MS) in Development Management: This is a 2-year full-time Degree, targeted at those who have at least two years' prior field experience and a strong applied and practical focus.

Similarities:

Like the South African qualification, the MS in Development Management, takes a multidisciplinary approach in terms of traditional applied skills in this qualification like monitoring and evaluation, management principles and international development management.

The MS Degree also has a management practicum as a distinct component of the Degree much like the PGD-DAM incorporates the practical training component as a distinct component of the course structure.

Distinctions:

The Degree has flexible options where students can build their own areas of focus on the sector of their choice (e.g. environment, global health, gender). The South African qualification is a structured qualification. However it does offer 2 elective tracks for students.

Although a Postgraduate Degree and this is a 2 year Masters level qualification. whereas the South African qualification is a one year Postgraduate Diploma.

Master of Arts (MA) in International Development: This is a 2-year full-time Degree which is practice focused and it enables students to participate effectively in driving global socio-economic, political, and environmental change.

Similarities:

Like the South African qualification, this qualification enables students to acquire research and writing skills and complete a capstone that demonstrates of critical thinking, research and writing skills and from an application viewpoint, a practical training.

Distinctions:

The Master of Arts (MA) in International Development has flexible options where students can build their own areas of focus on the sector of their choice. The South African qualification is a structured course. However it does offer elective 2 elective tracks for students.

Although a Postgraduate Degree, this is a Masters level qualification. However, entry requirements for both the qualifications is an undergraduate Degree.

Based on the above analysis of the qualifications from the United Kingdom and the United States of America, the South African qualification in terms of expected Exit Level Learning Outcomes, measures up to knowledge and practical level outcomes expected at a Postgraduate level internationally, the content and modules are compared internationally with a strong local (Southern African and African) context bias.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows for both vertical articulation and horizontal articulation options.

Horizontally Articulation:

Bachelor of Administration Honours in Public Administration, Level 9.

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Sector Monitoring and Evaluation, Level 9.

Postgraduate Diploma, Honours Degree qualification in Development Studies, Development Management, Public Management and Administration, Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Public Administration, Level 9.

Master of Administration in Public Administration, Level 9.

Master of Commerce in Development studies, Level 9.

Master's Degree in Development Studies, Development Management, Public Management and Administration, and other related qualifications, Level 9.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	University of Fort Hare