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 Health Promotion

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
111502	Postgraduate Diploma in Health Promotion
ORIGINATOR
University of Limpopo
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Promotive Health and Developmental Services
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 qualification aims to enhance the knowledge skills and competencies of Health, Social Work, Agriculture, Education and related workers at district, regional, provincial and national levels and those who will have the responsibility for planning, implementing and evaluating health promotion qualifications in order to enhance the well-being of the population. The qualification is mainly aimed at professionals working to advance the upliftment of the population in general to acquire a broad understanding of the many facets which impact on promoting health and wellbeing, and to develop skills necessary for improving communication between service providers and communities, identifying needs, priorities, design appropriate educational materials, advocate and negotiate policies to strengthen community action, and implement empowering educational processes.

Rationale:
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (World Health Organization (WHO), 1986) defined Health Promotion as the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health. This founding document of modern health promotion practice allowed for a specialised discipline in health promotion and identified five key areas; building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills and re-orienting health services. Health promotion is necessary to achieve South Africa's development and the global agenda for social progress. Mounting evidence has identified that the gap separating the rich and the poor is widening between and within countries all around the globe, which has led to many health issues and adverse social circumstances. In order to develop and enact policies that support and maintain the societal infrastructure that promote health, a cadre of people that understand the health and social problems within the developing countries is required in order to promote health through viable strategies and interventions in order to improve the well-being of all individuals. The qualification is mainly aimed at professionals already working in various public-related sectors to provide them with the theories and practices associated with promoting and advocating for the improvement of the general health of all individuals. By so doing, the economics and social welfare of individuals would also improve thus enabling the Country to forge ahead towards the ideas of the National Development Plan.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be used to access the qualification where the applicant has been working within a related health promotion context and can clearly demonstrate that they have met the exit level outcomes of a first Bachelor Degree. In addition, learners that have completed a Bachelor Degree in an unrelated area, but have been working in a health promotion context can apply for admission through RPL. This qualification may be achieved in part through the Recognition of Relevant Prior Learning and experience as per the University RPL policy in general, which outlines the structure and processes that must be followed to RPL an applicant when the need arises. Appropriate assessment tasks and tools are designed to assess individual candidates against the requisite outcomes on a case-by-case basis, with detailed records maintained. The institution has trained RPL in various disciplinary fields to facilitate this process.

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

Bachelor's Degree in Health or related disciplines, Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits:

Introduction to Health Promotion, 20 Credits.

Needs assessment for health promotion, 20 Credits.

Planning and implementation of Health Promotion with individual focus, 20 Credits.

Planning and Implementing Health Promotion strategies with Social or community focus, 20 Credits.

Evaluation of Health Promotion Programmes, 20 Credits.

Individual Project, 20 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Integrate prior knowledge with that of concepts, principles and values of health promotion to provide balanced opinions on health promotion and well-being of the population.
2. Apply Health Promotion concepts, theories and strategies to enable individuals, groups, communities and organisations to build capacity for health promotion action to improve health and reduce health inequities.
3. Communicate health promotion action effectively, using appropriate techniques and technologies for diverse audiences.
4. Plan, implement, and evaluate measurable goals and objectives based on assessment of needs and assets/resources in partnerships with stakeholders.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Describe the different scope of practice within health promotion within clearly defined as well as undefined contexts.

Evaluate the current models, theories and principles of health promotion within a local and national context.

Relate health promotion theories and practices to various settings within a local and national context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Capacitate individuals and communities with knowledge of their rights as they relate to health and social wellness.

Empower communities to question and challenge the social justice of their health situation and to take necessary actions to advance change in their society.

Assist the communities to develop relevant programmes to improve their own health.

Design an advocacy strategy with or on behalf of individuals, communities and organisations to improve health and well-being.

Use advocacy strategies and techniques, which reflect health promotion principles to implement a community-based strategy.

Foster appropriate collaborations across disciplines, sectors and partners to enhance the impact and sustainability of health promotion.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Use appropriate negotiation skills to mediate between two entities to improve the health status of a community.

Engage with individuals and communities effectively by using culturally appropriate communication methods and techniques for specific groups and settings to improve health and reduce health inequities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Conduct health and social wellness needs assessments and analysis within various contexts.

Use formative research that involves the audience in the design of interventions.

Plan health promotion programmes using evidence based interventions.

Monitor and evaluate the implementation of health promotion interventions.

Integrated Assessment:
Learning and assessment are integrated throughout this qualification. Continuous formative assessment is required to ensure that learners get feedback on their progress towards the achievement of specific learning outcomes. Assignments are designed to meet the requirements of integrated assessment are such as to achieve: Although each module is assessed independently, an integration of the achievement of exit-level outcomes is assessed comprehensively across modules. Evaluation of learner performance is designed to demonstrate applied competence; Criterion-referenced assessment, which is clearly explained to and understood by the learners, is used in all assessment strategies. The integrated project module provides an opportunity for integrated assessment across exit level outcomes in terms of knowledge, competencies and application.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Flinders University in Australia offers a Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion. The qualification prepares Graduates for employment in public health policy, management and practice. This is a six-month programme that prepares learners who have completed a Bachelor's Degree to analyse theory of the determinants of health and wellbeing, understand models of public health in a range of real-world and workplace problems, appreciate multidisciplinary approaches in health and human services for promoting and improving health, and apply principles of health promotion to clinical or community practice. Topics covered in the qualification compares well with those in the University of Limpopo qualification, with a focus in developing countries. Although the qualifications differ a little in structure, and credit allocation, the outcomes and purpose of the qualification is similar. The proposed qualification also offers learners a module in which a project should be done equipping them with basic skills in research and enquiry.

The University of Auckland, New Zealand offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences in Health Promotion to professionals with Degrees working in health promotion and to Graduates of relevant Degrees. The purpose of the qualification is to develop academic and practitioner skills to allow Graduates to engage with the theories and models of public health, and to skill them to teach and practice health promotion within various contexts to address the complexity of future health issues and social problems. The qualification differs from the University of Limpopo course in that it provides learners with diverse module options to choose from depending on their particular interests, and includes research methods courses. Graduates of the qualification are expected to find employment in sectors that include developing local and national health policy in health services, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and community groups.

The University of Swansea in the United Kingdom (UK) offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health and Health Promotion. The qualification purpose and outcomes are similar to the proposed qualification in that it aims to prepare graduates of a relevant Bachelor's Degree for careers influencing public health policy and in applying health promotion theory in practice. The qualification is a highly structured taught qualification of eight modules, which includes a small research component, offered to learners on a full time basis over the course of a year, or over two years on a part time basis. The qualification includes engagement on the background, current developments, and potential future directions of public health and health promotion, alongside key theoretical and philosophical perspectives. The qualification differs from the University of Limpopo qualification in that graduates achieve this after exiting early from a Master's Degree by not completing the dissertation component. This is a common practice with similar qualifications across the United Kingdom.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Health Promotion, Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Public Health, 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.

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