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:

Bachelor of Administration

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
111474	Bachelor of Administration
ORIGINATOR
University of Limpopo
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National First Degree	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Human Resources
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	360	Not Applicable	NQF Level 07	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		2033-06-30

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 will equip learners with the managerial insight and knowledge they need for careers in public and private sector organisations, as well as for independent business activities. The purpose is to contribute to, and strengthen the leadership that is already present at these levels. This qualification provides a foundation through training in critical aspects relating to work behaviour, human resource management, public administration, politics and administration, labour relations, policy interpretation, and consumer behaviour, which are focal areas in the field of public and private sectors in our economy.

Rationale:
A lack of appropriate professional knowledge and skills in public offices is a major concern in South Africa today, putting the effective management of public resources to benefit the citizens of the country at risk. This qualification will meet the need of providing a trained work force in public finance management, human resource and labour relations management, and public policy analysis and application, who has a thorough understanding of the developmental need and political environment of a developing South Africa. The need for expertise in the field of Public Administration is underscored by the introduction by Government of the White Paper on the Transformation of Public Service and the White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery. Typical learners who have an interest in improving the efficiency of public service delivery along the principles of Batho Pele, who have an interest in administration, policy and politics, are trained to become efficient administrative officers, organisational development officers, administrative clerks, administrative managers and directors, and business administration experts.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is guided by the institutional policy and is aligned to the objectives of the NQF. Entry into the qualification is possible via RPL as well as indicating advanced standing, provided that it is aligned to the institutional policy and that the applicant is evaluated by a qualified RPL assessor in a manner that is free from any form of discrimination. RPL practices also include standard Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) practices of equivalent modules that may have been achieved in the course of the applicant's studies.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

National Senior Certificate (NSC) NQF Level 4 with Bachelor Exemption or equivalent.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 6 and 7 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules NQF Level 6, 236 Credits:

Introduction to Work Behaviour, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Economics, 12 Credits.

Concepts of Development, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Politics, 12 Credits.

Structuring and Functioning of Public Administration, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Work Behaviour, 12Credits.

Development and the Environment, 12 Credits.

Democracy, State and Nationalism, 12 Credits.

Introduction to Economics, 12 Credits.

Public Personnel Management and Labour Relations, 16 Credits.

Administrative Law, 16 Credits.

Organisational Behaviour, 8 Credits.

Career Management, 8 Credits.

Global Politics, 16 Credits.

Management of Public Finances, 16 Credits.

Administrative Law, 16 Credits.

Research Methodology, 8 Credits.

Behavioural Measurement, 8 Credits.

Interest Groups and Social Movements, 16 Credits.

Compulsory Modules NQF Level 7, 124 Credits:

Public Administration, 20 Credits.

Human Resource Management, 20 Credits.

Politics, Society and Economy, 20 Credits.

Public Policy Analysis, Research and Consultancy, 20 Credits.

Politics and Administration, 20 Credits.

Consumer Behaviour, 12 Credits.

Labour Relations, 12 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate an integrated knowledge of Public Administration as applied in both private and public management contexts.
2. Use management techniques based on suitable methodologies of enquiry in the field of administration to solve problems.
3. Integrate new knowledge into their administration practice, inclusive of context and systems.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

The ability to apply and evaluate the key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of administration in the public and private sectors.

Contextualise Public Administration practices in the context of public policies in the South African landscape.

Integrated knowledge of Public Administration as applied in the public and private enterprise economies.

Distinguish the functions of government through the identification of the various arms of government.

Knowledge of the role of public administration institutions within the society's policy landscape.

Identify the socio-economic development issues and challenges in South Africa.

Apply the skill of contextualising Public Administration knowledge in the context of political and global challenges.

Distinguish the processes of government through the identification of the various functions and structures of government.

Show comprehension of the debate relating to bureaucracy vs. development administration.

Explain the relationship between Non-governmental Organisations and Development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Ability to conceptualise the concepts such as Local Economic Development; Public Administration theories and development; and Integrated Development Planning.

Propose suitable strategies of enquiry to research challenges faced in specific operational areas of deployment in organisational administration.

Engage in administrative problem solving, demonstrating the ability to identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on, and address complex problems, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments in the field of administration.

Appropriate application of ethics in taking decisions and acting ethically and professionally.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Demonstrate information literacy in respect of validating sources of information, and evaluating and managing information relevant to the field of administration and management.

Communicate effectively in the administrative environment.

Show adaptability to different situational challenges and work environments in unfamiliar and variable contexts.

Apply the fundamentals of public policy making and analysis in generating understanding of the scope and applicability to specific fields of operation.

Integrate theory and practice related to public policy analysis, research and consultancy in different contexts.

Manage their own process of learning while demonstrating accountability for their decisions and actions.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated assessment practices in this qualification are aligned to the qualification modular and exit level outcomes, and core focus areas. Assessment takes place across exit level outcomes, which include:

The ability to demonstrate an integrated knowledge of Public Administration as applied in both private and public management contexts.

The use and development of management techniques based on suitable methodologies of enquiry in the field of administration to solve problems.

The skill to Integrate new knowledge into their administration practice, inclusive of context and systems.

Both Formative and Summative assessments are used with a 60:40 weighting respectively. A combination of tests, assignments and presentations are used to prepare the learners formatively while theoretical exams are used summatively.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualification aligns well with the Bachelor in Public Management at the University of Namibia, with the main difference being that the Namibian qualification is a four-year qualification. Areas of alignment include introductory level studies in Economics, Organisational Behaviour, and Management of Public Finances. Other areas of overlap include a political focus with the Namibian qualification focusing on Namibian national politics and western political philosophy, which is comparable to the Global Politics as well as the Democracy, State and Nationalism modules in the University of Limpopo (UL) qualification. The Namibian qualification prepares learners for careers in the management of business firms, non-profit organisations, and the public service.

A three-year qualification (Bachelor in Public Administration) offered at the University of Flinders, in Adelaide, Australia, offers an orientation in Accounting for Managers, whereas the UL qualification has Management of Public Finances. Modules in Management, People and Organisations compare to the UL Introduction to Work Behaviour, and Public Personnel Management and Labour Relations, and Human Resource Management Modules. The Academic and Professional Communication module is an area that is offered by Flinders University, which is not included in the University of Limpopo (UL) curriculum. An Introduction to Democracy and Government is offered by Flinders and could be compared to Democracy, State and Nationalism module offer by UL; and lastly, an Introduction to Political Ideas and Public Policy is comparable to the focus area on Politics and Administration, Public Policy Analysis, Research and Consultancy offered by UL.

The UL qualification has been compared to the three-year Bachelor's Degree at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, the Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Public Governance. There is overlap in the comparison in that economics, public policy making, political economies, organisational structures and public management are studied in both qualifications. The Tilburg qualification majors in Policy Analysis in Public Administration, Philosophy of Administration and Administrative Law, with the major difference being that there is a Bachelor's Thesis, which is a research module. The UL qualification does not have the thesis requirement but does include research in the curriculum at third level. The UL qualification has third-year majors in Public Administration, Labour Relations, Public Policy Analysis, Research and Consultancy, Consumer Behaviour, and Human Resource Management. The integration of the three core disciplines, namely Public Administration, Law and Economics makes the qualification comparable to the UL Bachelor of Administration in that Public Administration and Policy Analysis form the key focal areas, bolstered by Administrative Law at second and Labour Relations at third level. The foundation in economics culminating in Behavioural Measurement at second level, and Consumer Behaviour in the final year of study completes the comparison of the qualification.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Bachelor of Commerce in Accountancy, NQF Level 7.

Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resources, NQF Level 7.

Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management, NQF Level 7.

Vertical Articulation:

Bachelor of Public Administration Honours, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Administration Honours, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Administration Honours in Human Resource Management, NQF 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.

NONE