SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Postgraduate Diploma in Social Impact Assessment

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
102435	Postgraduate Diploma in Social Impact Assessment
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
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 programme is to assist learners to understand and apply the processes of social impact assessment and public participation. It will equip learners to conduct social impact assessments and public participation processes. The programme has, in the past, and will continue to cater for people from civil service, Non-Governmental Organisations, Universities and Free Lance impact assessors.

Rationale:
The qualifying learners will be able to understand the notion of social change through experience and the ability to apply that knowledge to social contexts. It will equip learners to conduct social impact assessments and public participation processes. Learners are expected to use both qualitative and quantitative research methods, and assist learners to develop a research proposal.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL) in the case of learners not complying with the formal entry requirements will be conducted following the policy and guidelines of the institution concerning the recognition of other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. Recognition takes place only where prior learning corresponds to the required National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level, and in terms of applied competencies relevant to the content and outcomes of the qualification. Through Recognition of Prior Learning students may gain access, or advanced placement, or status recognition on the condition that they continue their studies at this institution.

Entry Requirements:
The entry requirements for this qualification are:

A Bachelor in Sociology, Industrial Sociology, Geography, Philosophy, Historical Studies, Development Studies, Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Politics, Public Governance, Social Work, Education and Economics, NQF Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification comprises of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 8, totalling to 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 120 Credits:

Social Impact Assessment and Public Participation, 120 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Discuss the relationship between environmental impact assessment and social impact assessments.

Analyse and evaluate the challenges of social impact assessments in developing countries.

Provide a theoretical justification for a Social Impact Assessment that they could do as an independent researcher appraise the issues in the practice of public participation and institutional development.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit Level Outcomes:

Explain the methodological procedures for the outlined problem.

Analyse and interpret research data obtained from the field.

Write a research report about the findings.

Explain the problem statement correctly and specifically outline research questions.

Justify and/or motivate their research methods.

Provide the aims and/or objectives of their research and qualitative research methods (e.g. archival research, large-scale research, sensitive research, sampling, interviews, focus groups, ethics in research) and/or quantitative methods (e.g. census, survey research, formulating hypotheses, constructing a questionnaire.

Use NU-DIST and/or a thematic analysis for qualitative research methods and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) for the quantitative research methods.

Interpret data to be linked to the stated research problem answer the outlined research questions support and/or critique the literature review indicate whether the research.

Integrated Assessment:
The qualification is coherently aligned in that all teaching, learning and assessment activities are linked to module and qualification outcomes. Assessment methods are varied and includes summative and formative assessment to enhance applied competence from learners and facilitate authentic assessment and learning. Assessment will not only be used to determine whether outcomes were achieved, but also to generate data for grading and provide feedback in order to improve the curriculum. For all the assessment purposes to be achieved, learners are expected to write assignments and research proposal.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualification was developed in terms of international accepted content and practice. The leaders in qualifications in the field of social impact assessment are based in Australia and the United Kingdom(UK). Examples of benchmark qualifications in Australia are the Postgraduate Certificate in Social Impact offered by Swinburne University, Graduate Certificates in Social Impact offered by the University of Western Australia and the Melbourne Business School, and the Postgraduate Diploma of Social Impact Assessment offered by Macquarie University. In the United Kingdom(UK) examples are the Training on Social Impact Assessment and Management provided by the University of Strathclyde and the ILM Level 5 Award in Social Impact Assessment offered by the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Though the modules of these qualifications differ slightly from the modules offered by the institution, the purpose and outcomes, durations of these qualifications compare favourably with the institution's Postgraduate Diploma in Social Impact Assessment. The focus and competencies are the same.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This allows qualification for vertical and horizontal articulation:
Vertical Articulation:

Master of Arts Sociology, Level 9.

Horizontal Articulation:

Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Social Research, Level 8.

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.

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