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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
104527  Postgraduate Diploma in Project 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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Project 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
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
Project management is not a basic management science but an applied management science, building on, applying and integrating basic management knowledge.

The qualification combines the management skills underlying effective project management with the philosophy, principles and techniques particular to management. This will not only prepare and increase the availability of competent project managers, but also begin to build a pool of executive managers able to manage the project management function in organisations. In addition, it will create upper management skills in respect of understanding the relationship between project management and functional management, as well as the integration of projects with the strategic management of organisations.

Rationale:
Managers are facing increasingly complex challenges, such as having to contend with rapid changes stemming from constant obsolescence of their products, the necessity for rapid response to their markets and acting quickly when faced with opportunities. This situation is exacerbated by most of these challenges being of a discontinuous nature and increasingly requiring inputs across the organisation, or across various organisations or even across various countries.

Project Management is concerned with delivering a specified, discontinuous deliverable by a specific team representing the various specialist skills required, against planned performance, time and cost targets, and is therefore suited to the above scenario. Even with regard to the public sector, Government has publicly emphasised the need to embrace project management as the way to deliver services and improve service levels.

Learners who would benefit from this qualification are employed managers from, or potentially to be promoted to, the whole spectrum of senior, executive and middle management levels. The qualification will enable them to exercise these competencies in all management and leadership roles, in all economic sectors and in all types of private and public enterprises, including Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), Black Empowerment companies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), large organisations and multi-national global players.

The qualification will contribute towards building the intellectual capacity of Africa and to successful learners being active role-players in the development of South African society. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Highly experienced people not meeting these minimum academic requirements will be required to go through a rigorous process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to establish their potential to participate in the program. RPL of learners will be conducted in accordance with the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy of the institution. A functional system for RPL is in place at the institution where RPL is used as a mechanism to gain access to programmes.

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 Department of Business Support Studies for assessment. The faculty's RPL committee assesses the candidate's portfolio thoroughly against the relevant learning outcomes.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum admission requirements for Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management are:
  • An appropriate Bachelor's Degree at Level 7.
    Or
  • An appropriate Advanced Diploma in at Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Levels 8, totalling 144 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 144 Credits:
  • Project management process theory, 12 Credits.
  • Project management process in practice, 12 Credits.
  • Project scheduling, 12 Credits.
  • Project accounting, 12 Credits.
  • Project risk management, 12 Credits.
  • Project procurement, 12 Credits.
  • Project human resources management and communication, 12 Credits.
  • Project management with Integrity, 12 Credits.
  • Project quality management, 12 Credits.
  • Strategic entrepreneurship, 12 Credits.
  • Research methodology, 12 Credits.
  • Research project, 12 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate and apply coherent and advanced knowledge of key project management principles, standards and practice which are underpinned by appropriate project management theories, procedures and frameworks.
    2. Critically analyse problems from interdisciplinary perspectives to establish innovative solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences, including design and implementation alternative solutions.
    3. Communicate in a proficient and professional manner project management plans that meet business needs in complex environments.
    4. Critically evaluate, justify and articulate appropriate responses to ethical issues and dilemmas in project management environments.
    5. Apply critical thinking to promote new and innovative approaches to project management and processes in various business contexts.
    6. Demonstrate the ability to work independently and show leadership where appropriate particularly in a diverse team environment.
    7. Develop an understanding of the fundamental principles, context, systems and methods of applied research in project management practice. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key project management principles, standards and practice which are underpinned by appropriate project management theories, procedures and frameworks.
  • Apply generic project management philosophy, principles and techniques to analyse, plan, measure progress, control and report on any project of any kind or size in any industry.
  • Develop a project plan for application in a real-life situation that includes all the operational processes for executing a project.
  • Compile and execute the procurement plan for a project and manage the steps in a typical procurement-contracting process.
  • Identify, distinguish between and plan for the variable and fixed costs, on a project.
  • Allocate costs for the various inputs to the relevant functional inputting department, contributors or contractors.
  • Analyse the present status of a project, make a diagnosis, determine the appropriate steps to rectify and make a prognosis of the eventual outcome of the project.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of and able to put together a quality assurance plan for a project.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of project risk and what the origins of project risks are.
  • Identify the types of risks inherent in the different phases of a project life cycle.
  • Identify risk events that can be mitigated by insurance as risk mitigation tool and procure the various types of insurance.
  • Analyse, plan and draw up a risk register and decide on the best way to mitigate identified risks.
  • Quantify the probability and impact of a risk event.
  • Implement qualitative risk management.
  • Identify the different types of contracts based on the division of risks between owner and contractor.
  • Implement contract administration and closeout processes.
  • Utilise and apply MS-Project software, or a similar application, to:
    > Draw up a task list and establish the relationships between the tasks.
    > Allocate resources and determine the estimated budget.
    > Generate a Precedence diagram and a Gantt chart.
    > Enter progress information; track the progress and costs, against the planned schedule and costs.
  • Schedule a project with repetitive tasks and outputs according to the balance line technique.
  • Resolve the resource dependency of precedence scheduling through the application of the Theory of Constraints.
  • Optimise the duration of a project by balancing fixed and variable costs.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the perspectives and multi-dimensional nature of the organisation as a system, and analyse own organisation, using a framework of multiple perspectives and dimensions.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Develop and maintain communication planning on a project.
  • Identify and implement communication methodologies appropriate to project complexity.
  • Implement and maintain information distribution and performance reporting.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Evaluate, justify and apply appropriate responses to ethical issues and dilemmas in each project management situation.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Identify and manage stakeholders within the project domain.
  • Apply the idealised redesign approach to developing an ideal future for own organisation.
  • Develop the strategic business architecture of own organisation.
  • Apply the concept of market segmentation to own organisation.
  • Identify and manage the value drivers of own organisation within the context of value-based management.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of Cost implications of Front End Loading and cash flow.
  • Identify, plan and manage situations which can be more fruitfully procured through partnering and strategic alliances between owner and contractor as the procurement processes, as an alternative to the risk division process.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Demonstrate a personal understanding of the impact of a leadership profile.
  • Demonstrate insight on leadership behaviours that create conditions for team work.
  • Interpret the process of change management in project execution.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of Emotional Intelligence.
  • Demonstrate confidence and assertiveness regarding own leadership capability in bringing sustainability to bear on project management.
  • Manage and resolve conflicts effectively.
  • Use negotiation in managing working relationships with others, and in everyday activities.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Ability to apply fundamental principles and methods of applied research in in the project management context.

    Integrated Assessment:
    All work and assessment are required to preferably start with situations and required decisions in an industrial setting. Such practices enable the programme 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). 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    International Comparability:
    The institution, has over a period of almost two decades maintained working relationships with international training institutions in the field of management. Many of them even participate as direct contributors to the programme content. The qualification compares favourably with similar qualifications offered by the following international institutions:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management, Cambridge Intercontinental University, United States of America.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management, Cavendish University, Zambia.
  • Graduate Diploma in Project Management from University of Southern Australia.
  • Graduate Diploma in Project Management from University of Sydney, Australia.
  • University of Dublin Trinity College Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management. Ireland.

    For example, like the Graduate Diploma in Project Management from University of Sydney that requires bachelor's degree in any discipline from Australia, qualification requires one to be in possession of a South African Bachelor's Degree or equivalent.

    The Graduate Diploma in Project Management from University of Sydney has a duration of 1 year full time; and duration of 2 years part time. The same time frame applies to these qualification offering.

    The core elements of the Graduate Diploma in Project Management from University of Sydney are: Project Process Planning and Control; People and Leadership; Project Economics and Finance; Project Risk Management; Project Planning and Governance; Project Leadership and Communications; Project Economics and Investment; Risk Dynamics and Resilience. While the nomenclature and configuration might differ, the modules amount to the same coverage at the same Level 8 this qualification.

    Successfully completion of study in the Graduate Diploma in Project Management from University of Sydney, articulates to the Master of Project Management. In the same manner, successful completion of this qualification articulates to Master of Project Management of Central University of Technology (CUT). 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers the following articulation options:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • An appropriate Postgraduate Diploma, Level 8.
  • Honours in Project Management, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Masters or equivalent Degrees in project management or related fields either through pure research or coursework at 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. Central University of Technology, Free State 


    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.