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 Strategic Retailing 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
109940  Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Retailing 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
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  Wholesale and Retail 
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  2019-07-25  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 the qualification is to strengthen and deepen the applied and practical competencies of the learners in the acquisition, understanding and application of retail strategies. It further provides an intensive, focused and applied specialisation within the retail field to ensure that graduates are able to undertake an advanced reflection and development by means of systematic survey of current thinking, practice, theory and methodology in the field of retail.

Rationale:
The Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) is tasked to identify the scares skills for the Retail and Wholesale Sector of South Africa in order to professionalise the industry, a strong need for Postgraduate qualifications specialising in retail was identified. Professionalising the retail industry would improve the interest in the industry as a choice career, opening more choices for school levers.

There is a shortage of retail managers in South Africa and retail managers are registered as a scares skill. Many retailers offer graduate programmes to develop specialised skills for their organisations and the industry. However, there are no retail Postgraduate qualifications currently available at this level in South Africa.

Consultations with various retailers continue on the matter in the form of Industry Advisory Boards were held. Qualifying learners will be able to apply for a supervisory or entry level management position in the retail field. Those qualifying learners with extensive retail industry experience will be able to advance their careers at the level of strategic management of a retail organisation. The retail entrepreneur will learn valuable skills to enhance their business competitive strategy and grow their organisation.

The qualification is designed to address critical scares skills in the retail sector which will improve employability of graduates and improve the unemployment crisis among the youth. Furthermore, there is a shortage in academics specialising in retail, which is partly due to the lack of Postgraduate qualifications in the field, and this qualification will help improve the situation in the medium to long term. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an integral part of education and academic practice. It acknowledges that all learning has value and accepts the challenge posed by the assessment of prior learning and awards credits that are aligned to promote lifelong learning. The purpose of the RPL policy, is to recognise prior learning in order to provide access into qualifications, grant advanced placement in qualifications and grant credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as a basis for departmental RPL practices.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement is:
  • A relevant Advanced Diploma at Level 7.
    Or
  • Bachelor's Degree in a related field at Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8 totalling 124 Credits.
  • Applied Research, 16 Credits.
  • Contemporary Business Practices, 16 Credits.
  • Advanced Finance for Managers, 12 Credits.
  • Practical Retailing, 16 Credits.
  • Integrated Retail Distribution Management, 16 Credits.
  • Online Retailing, 16 Credits.
  • Applied Competitive Intelligence, 16 Credits.
  • Applied Strategic Retailing, 16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Contribute to the development, growth, competitiveness and sustainability of retail organisations at a strategic level.
    2. Use advanced management techniques and financial analysis in management decision making.
    3. Conduct a sound action research project for the development of retail organisations, processes, systems and solutions.
    4. Comply with good governance, strong ethical principles and quality performance standards when implementing, managing and improving retail business practices.
    5. Design a customer data collection plan that a multichannel retailer can utilise to gain market share and grow their competitive advantage. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The ability to apply strategic thinking when formulating a strategic plan for a retail organisation is exhibited.
  • A comprehensive strategic plan for a retailer that aims to improve the competitiveness of the organisation is prepared.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Financial analysis, calculations and the results in relation to the business decisions made in the organisation can be appropriately discussed.
  • Specialised risk and performance analysis skills to analyse and address complex practical problems in a retail setting is utilised.
  • The relationship between the retail strategy and financial performance of the organization.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • A comprehensible action research project that is inclusive of a practical research problem, objectives, hypotheses, current significance, applied methodology and activated time framework can be prepared.
  • Appropriate research methodologies to solve problems and to communicate research industry results effectively are correctly identified.
  • Research results and recommendations for management decisions can be effectively interpreted.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Current business practice developments in a retail/marketing field can be critically reviewed and evaluated.
  • Standard procedures, processes and techniques to solve unfamiliar business practice developments in the retail/marketing field are accurately applied.
  • Ethical practices within a retail organisation can be evaluated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • The current opportunity to collect consumer intelligence can be critically reviewed and evaluated.
  • The legislation on consumer protection and protection of personal information are accurately interpreted.
  • A data collection strategy for consumer intelligence across all retail channels can be designed.

    Integrated Assessment:
    This qualification implements two Summative Assessments in the form of individual and group assignment during the course of a module, one final Summative Assessment in the form of a project at the end of a module as the means of learning evaluation. The lecturer for each of the abovementioned modules determines the assessment method to be used in each instance.

    Assessments include the following outcomes based activities:
  • Observation of real or simulated tasks, e.g. practical exercises/demonstrations, role-plays, presentations.
  • Evaluation of a product after a task has been completed, e.g. projects, assignments, case studies, portfolios, artefacts, log books, reflective journals.
  • Questions, oral or written, used either separately or in combination, e.g. tests examinations, including short or long questions, essays, multiple choice questions, etc.

    Formative and Summative Assessment:
    Both Formative and Summative Assessments are integral to all modules in the programme. Formative Assessment are synonymous with continuous assessment and conducted during the course of teaching and learning and usually do not count towards the final mark. Summative Assessment is carried out during the module that contributes toward the semester mark for the specific module. A final Summative Assessment is carried out at the end of a semester (6 months) period of teaching and learning of a module. The purpose is to judge the student's achievement of the exit learning outcomes.

    Summative Assessment takes place during the process of learning and teaching. They take the form of tests, assignments, projects, presentations, creative production or other means where students provide evidence of learning. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification has been benchmarked against two international qualifications. The modules of these qualifications differ to the modules of the Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Retailing. The purpose and outcomes of these qualifications compares favourably with the Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Retailing as it allows students to deepen their knowledge on a strategic retail level building on their undergraduate studies and experience.

    Country: India.
    The Symbiosis Centre for distance learning offers the Postgraduate Diploma in Retail Management (PGDRM).
    The Content of the qualification:
  • Principles and Practices of Management.
  • Retail Management I.
  • Consumer Behaviour.
  • Services Marketing.
  • Sales Management.
  • Marketing Management.
  • Retail Management II.
  • Management Information Systems.
  • Concepts in Supply Chain Management.

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Retail Management covers a range of issues such as service operations, consumer behaviour, sales management, marketing management and supply chain issues related to the business. With an emphasis on retail management and marketing topics, this program explores key developments and trends in this field.

    The MIT (School of Distance Education) in India, also offers the Postgraduate Diploma in Retail Management (PGDRM):
    The Content of the qualification:
  • Management Information Systems.
  • Advertising and Sales Promotion.
  • Product and Brand Management.
  • Managerial Economics.
  • Operations Management.
  • Retail Marketing.
  • Strategic Retail Management.
  • Retail Sales and Customer Service.
  • Retail Personnel Management.
  • Project Report.

    This qualification emphasises skill development in strategic management, marketing, supply management, product and brand management, retail operations, merchandising, and personnel management that are unique to the retail industry. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers the following articulation possibilities.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management, Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Business Administration, 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 Johannesburg 


    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.