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 Tourism Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
102027  Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism Management 
ORIGINATOR
Central University of Technology, Free State 
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 11 - Services  Hospitality, Tourism, Travel, Gaming and Leisure 
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:
This qualification is aimed at providing enrichment for students who want to pursue a form of business development in Tourism Management.

This qualification is designed to strengthen and deepen the student's knowledge in tourism professions. The primary purpose of the qualification is to enable working professionals to undertake advanced reflection and development by means of a systematic survey of current thinking, practice and research methods in tourism professions.

The search for business development in Tourism, its profile and its conditioning factors are specifically targeted as a field of investigation for students who can operate at the Level 8. This qualification demands a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence, as well as the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts in order to undertake professional or highly-skilled work.

Rationale:
The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) (2013:26) states that this qualification has a number of different purposes, depending on a student's circumstances and the nature of the programme. It may provide entry-level vocational or professional preparation or specialisation for Bachelor's Degree graduates or diplomats by offering an intensive, focused and applied specialisation which meets the requirements of a specific niche in the labour market. Programmes offering this qualification are therefore particularly suitable for continuing professional development through the inculcation of a deep and systematic understanding of current thinking, practice, theory and methodology in an area of specialisation.

Various reports on forecasts for the sector were consulted and recent national statistics reports for South Africa were consulted. The Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) Sector Skills Report (2014/15-2016/17) was also consulted. The CATHSSETA Sector Skills Report (2014/15-2016/17) was also consulted.

The rationale of this report is to analyse the demand for and supply of skills to the sector and, on the basis of this analysis, to determine the skills needs and the skills development priorities for the sector. Strategies for addressing these skills needs and the skills development priorities of the sector, as well as meeting the NSDS III goals and targets, also form part of the SSP.

The continual growth in employment in the sector has led to there being a constant demand for skills in all six sub-sectors that constitute the CATHSSETA sector. This demand encompasses are placement demand of 6,794 employees who will be retiring from the sector, 1,593 current vacancies in the sector as well as 1,508 potential vacancies that will be created in the sector over the next two years.

The Tourism industry worldwide, but also in South Africa both employs a large number of people and also grows faster than the rest of the economy. This growth cannot be taken for granted and like every other successful industry it will need to re-invent itself all the time. Reasons for this vary from the needs of increasingly sophisticated consumer populations to the serious competition between large players in the field. Ever more people want to find a share in this lucrative industry.

Re-invention is what entrepreneurship (business leadership) is all about and this is viewed inside the industry as an important ingredient inside the maintenance and growth of the Tourism industry. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL of students will be conducted on an individual basis in accordance with the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy of the university. A functional system for RPL is in place at the university where RPL is used as a mechanism to gain access to qualifications.

RPL applications for the institution are received by the Centre for Assessments and Graduations. The candidates are required to complete an RPL application document. Accompanying the RPL application must be certified copies of all previous qualifications and a comprehensive portfolio of evidence, reflecting on extensive work learning. Once the institution's RPL coordinator has deemed the RPL application as being complete, the portfolio will be sent to the Department of Tourism for assessment. The faculty's RPL committee assesses the candidate's portfolio thoroughly against the relevant learning outcomes.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum admission requirement to a Postgraduate Diploma is either a:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Management.
    Or
  • Advanced Diploma in Tourism Management at Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules Level 8, 120 Credits:
  • Applied Tourism Business Leadership, 30 Credits.
  • Trends and Internationalisation in Tourism, 30 Credits.
  • Tourism Product and Service Development, 30 Credits.
  • Applied Statistical Analysis Tourism Project, 30 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Motivate employees to participate in both the design and implementation of strategic business ventures.
    2. Discuss trends in tourism in South Africa and relate it to international trends.
    3. Develop a sustainable tourism initiative (event) or services.
    4. Conduct basic research within the Tourism system. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1:
  • Identify the external factors affecting the main components and services within the Tourism system.
  • Evaluate the systemic inter-relationships between the main components and services of the system.
  • Develop a strategic market leadership plan for a specific business in the tourism industry.
  • Explain the importance of leadership in achieving participation from the workforce in the strategic plan of the business.
  • Discuss a variety of people skills in motivating a workforce.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2:
  • Analyse the financial benefits resulting from the internationalisation of a local trend.
  • Compile a case study of how an internationalised trend became part of the local service bouquet in tourism is presented.
  • Analyse the kinds of needs addressed by the emergence of specific trends.
  • Identify the experienced differences between local and international as reported by clients of the tourism industries.
  • Analyse the desirability of certain trends in view of the values of local culture and international pressure groups.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3:
  • Identify an entrepreneurial opportunity for a local and viable tourism initiative.
  • Conduct a viability study that considers strategic thrusts in the industry.
  • Compile a product development plan.
  • Compile a business plan to enable the entrepreneurial opportunity.
  • Present a business plan according to standard conventions.
  • Plan the detail of a product launching project.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4:
  • Identify a research problem within the Tourism system.
  • Justify the investigation of a research problem in terms of given criteria.
  • Select the appropriate methodology for a research project.
  • Develop and write a proposal.
  • Apply the selected methodology for achieving the research milestones.
  • Analyse the collected data pockets statistically.

    Integrated Assessment:
    All work and assessment are required to preferably start with situations and required decisions in an industrial setting. This practice enables the qualification and its lecturers to achieve the required integration of assessment which by definition means to:
  • Treat a number of outcomes together.
  • Treat a number of assessment criteria together.
  • Promote an awareness of the connections and relationships between the knowledge, processes and skills inside the different modules.
  • Practice a combination of assessment methods and instruments used to achieve outcome/outcomes.
  • Collect naturally occurring evidence (such as in the workplace setting).
  • Acquire evidence from other sources, such as supervisors' reports, testimonials, portfolios of work previously done, logbooks or journals. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Department of Tourism and Event Management, the originator of the qualification, has over a period of almost two decades maintained working relationships with international training institutions in the tourism industries. This qualification has been compared to similar qualifications in other countries to ensure that the South African qualification is comparable to those qualifications in terms of the learning outcomes, competencies developed and the standard of performance demanded of graduating learners. Countries whose qualifications and courses were looked at included amongst others the Netherlands, Germany, Finland and Ethiopia.

    Vrije University, Netherlands: This university if known for its extensive research development and projects especially in Africa. The Strongbow project (Sustainable Tourism based on Natural resource management with Gender Balance towards Women) was is a capacity building project developed to enhance the ability of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to enable them to provide gender sensitive quality education and training in Natural Resources Management, Tourism and Ecotourism. The principal targets of achievement by the project are staff capacity development, curriculum revision, strengthening research skills and demand driven action research methodologies, partnership development and setting up mechanisms for sustainable income generation. One of the core pillars addressed by the project is establishing strong link between education service providers and multi-stakeholders through labour market oriented education and training and demand driven action researches.

    Hochshule Aalen, Germany: This university of applied sciences offer a variety of international courses and a number of international exchange programmes for students and staff. Students from this university have exchanges since 2012 to the University. The courses in International Marketing and sales (up to Masters level) follows a similar curriculum with specific focus on (international) marketing, qualitative research, management of business and economics as well as focus of specific markets.

    Kajani University of Applied Science, Finland: Currently, a MoU is in place with this university too and exchange of students to this department has taken place since 2011 due to the comparability of it learning programmes. Graduate Attributes are also synced and compares well with that of this qualification. The curriculum of this university focuses on product development in tourism, business activities, leadership, tourism service and research methodologies in social sciences.

    Ethiopia: Arba Mich University, University of Addis Ababa, Jimma University, Mizan Thepe University and Hawassa University: As part of the Strongbow project (as mentioned above) the listed universities were assisted in the alignment and curriculum development of amongst others qualifications in Tourism and Eco Tourism Management. Although curricula provide for its own unique environment within Ethiopia, similarities are found in the major components of the qualifications in tourism development, destination management, research methodology, (international) marketing where applicable, product and service development and general business management and leadership.

    All the above-mentioned universities examples correspond well with this qualification and provide opportunities for articulation and exchange of students on the different levels of education. It also needs to be noted that this qualification in tourism may, due to the internationalisation of its curriculum be successfully benchmarked against many more international universities. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Completion of a Postgraduate Diploma meets the minimum entry requirement for admission to a cognate Master's Degree, usually in the area of specialisation of the Postgraduate Diploma. Specifically, the Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism Management meets the minimum entry requirement for admission to the Central University of TechnologyCUT Master of Management Sciences in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism Management provides opportunities for horizontal articulation with related qualifications in Tourism Management at NQF Level 8 offered by other universities. Examples of articulation qualifications include, but is not limited to, Bachelor Honours Degrees in Tourism Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism and Postgraduate Diplomas in Hospitality Management. 

    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.