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 Information Technology

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
111738	Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology
ORIGINATOR
Central University of Technology, Free State
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences		Information Technology and Computer Sciences
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	2019-09-03	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 Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology is generally multi- and interdisciplinary in nature and serves to strengthen and deepen the learner's knowledge in the Information System discipline and profession. The primary purpose of the qualification is to enable working professionals to undertake reflection and development by means of a systematic survey of current thinking, practice and research methods in an area of specialisation. This qualification demands a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence, as well as the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts in order to undertake professional or highly-skilled work.

The qualification is designed to deepen the learner's knowledge, skills and understanding about Information Technology at strategic level and research related approaches, strategies and methodologies is required where appropriate preparation takes place in a more structured course-work driven qualification.

Rationale:
The National Development Plan 2030 states that South Africa can benefit from rapid growth in developing countries that leads to increased demand for commodities and the expansion of consumer markets. At the same time, these trends pose challenges for middle-income countries because of greater competition in manufacturing and certain IT-enabled services.

The world of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is constantly evolving at a rapid pace. It is vitally important that the University adjust its current qualifications accordingly, to ensure that learners are trained in these cutting-edge technologies.

In addition, the 2012 Free State, South Africa Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) programme emphasised that universities and other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can fulfil a key role in human capital development and innovation systems in their cities and regions.

The 2012 Higher Education in Regional and City Development, Free State South Africa, OECD, further emphasises that the key challenges for the Free State and its higher education and training institutions are:

Developing a more inclusive labour market and education system;

Creating an economy that can absorb both highly skilled and low-skilled people;

Addressing the long-term challenges of poverty, inequity and poor health; and;

Turning the potential of the higher education sector into an active asset for regional development.

Furthermore, there is a high demand, both nationally and internationally, for qualified IT Experts. Today, every business makes use of computer hardware and software - a statement that is confirmed by the Scarce Skills List of the Department of Labour (DoL), as well as the Industry Advisory Board. Quality IT professionals are also included in the list of critical skills shortages contained in the National Development Plan 2030 (South African National Planning Commission (NPC), 2013). This qualification will address this critical skills shortage as there is a need for developers that can analyse a problem and suggest and develop a software solution.

The rationale of the qualification is to replace the current B Tech: IT (Software Development). This qualification will enable learners doing the current qualification to further their studies. The qualification promotes mobility and articulation through a system of credits. The qualification will also articulate to the Masters in Information Technology.

The qualification is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at learners who will progress from the Advanced Diploma in Information Technology and who wish to continue with their studies with the aim to do further research before exiting in preparation for employment in the business and industry sector. The qualification makes provision for learners who are working in the business and industry.

The qualification will enable Information Technologists to continue with their studies with the aim to do research and pursue qualifications such as a Masters and Doctoral.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Selection of such learners will be conducted on an individual basis in accordance with the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy of the institution. A functional system for RPL is in place at the institution for admission or for granting credits to qualifying learners. RPL applications for the institution are received by the Centre for Assessments and Graduations. The learners are required to complete a 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 Faculty of Management Sciences RPL Committee for assessment. The faculty's RPL committee will assess the learner's portfolio thoroughly against the relevant learning outcomes.

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

Advanced Diploma in Information Technology, NQF Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 138 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 8, 66 Credits:

Advanced Software Development, 18 Credits;

Operating System Programming, 18 Credits;

Advanced Research Project, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules at Level 8, 72 Credits (Choose four):

Advanced Information Security, 18 Credits;

Computer Architecture, 18 Credits;

Ethical Hacking, 18 Credits;

Introduction to Cloud Computing Platforms, 18 Credits;

Advanced Information Systems Security, 18 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply appropriate techniques and strategies to perform a security risk assessment.
2. Apply appropriate techniques and strategies to successfully build interactive, data-driven sites.
3. Understand trends in computer technology, high-level design concepts, evaluate computer performance, write better programmes, and design hardware.
4. Demonstrate adequate understanding of the core concepts of the cloud computing paradigm: the delivery models, characteristics and services by discussing hardware, network and storage virtualisation and outline their role in enabling the cloud computing system model.
5. Apply appropriate techniques and strategies to develop system programs with unrestricted access to system resources and that are fundamental to correct operation of the programming platform presented to users.
6. Understand and know how to look for weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems and uses the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker, but in a lawful and legitimate manner to assess the security posture of a target system(s).
7. Analyse the different research approaches, strategies, methodologies and sampling methods and apply these by completing a research project.
8. Draw up a solution for Security and Risk Management, which includes asset security. Implement identity and access management.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Relevant strategies to perform risk management on different case studies are applied effectively.

Efficient technologies and products are successfully identified for mitigation activities for risk management.

Security controls are successfully applied to maintain confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

The Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern are used to organise code.

Interactive data-driven sites are successfully tested and debugged.

Successfully work with form data.

Cookies and sessions are successfully used.

Successfully work with regular expressions, exceptions handling and validating data.

Static vs. Dynamic Websites are successfully compared.

Dynamic Content from Databases are retrieved successfully.

Dynamic Internet Applications are developed successfully.

Client-Side Scripting vs. Server-Side Scripting are compared.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

An overview of computer organisation and computer architecture are given.

Data representation and numerical operations in digital computer are understood.

Boolean Algebra and Digital Logic Basic circuit configurations are understood.

A simple computer is introduced.

Instruction set architectures are successfully understood.

Memory concepts are understood.

Different Input/output and storage systems are understood.

Alternative architectures multi-processors and multicomputer systems are used.

Embedded systems are understood.

Performance measurement and analysis are executed.

Storage systems and interfaces are selected successfully.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

The fundamental concepts of provisioning cloud services (virtual machines, storage, etc.) are illustrated and their use in a current and popular cloud platform such as Windows Azure or Amazon Web Services is demonstrated.

The fundamental ideas behind Cloud Computing, the evolution of the paradigm, its applicability; benefits, as well as current and future challenges are described successfully.

A current cloud computing platform are used and explanation and demonstration of different CPU are measured, memory and I/O virtualisation techniques that serve in offering software, computation and storage services on the cloud are successfully explained.

A current cloud computing platform are used to describe and demonstrate cloud storage technologies and relevant distributed file systems, NoSQL databases and object storage.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Advanced operating system concepts and Web Server environment are understood.

Operating system concepts, and review the operating system and environment by explaining the structure and organisation are successfully recalled.

A command of the operating system environment, including advanced commands and utilities are developed.

System administration and user management skills are successfully learnt.

Systems programming skills are successfully learnt.

Shell configuration and programming are successfully implemented.

Successfully become familiar with socket programming and socket API is demonstrated.

Successfully become familiar with both the theory and practice of making Remote Procedure Calls in operating systems is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Possible entry points that exist in computer systems or computer networks to finally enter into these systems were found successfully.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Appropriate scientific research methodologies to critically analyse and solve complex concrete and abstract problems are used.

Different types of research, research paradigms, philosophies, ontology, and epistemologies are critically analysed and differentiated.

Knowledge on how to conduct a literature reviews are demonstrated.

The different types of research design, qualitative, quantitative, experimental and non-experimental research design are differentiated.

Various methods are applied about reliability and validity in quantitative research.

Different types of qualitative research designs are applied, including narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case study.

Triangulation in research are applied successfully.

Reliability and validity in qualitative research are applied successfully.

A research proposal by applying a specific research paradigm, strategy, methodology and sampling methods are drafted.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Knowledge on Security and Risk Management, asset security, security engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, software development security is demonstrated.

Security assessment and testing, along with software development security is applied.

Integrated Assessment:
Provision is made for integrated assessment in its entirety. The underpinning principle for the achievement of integrated assessment is ensuring that all work and assessments are directed at enabling learners to commence with situations and required decisions in a real world environment. Both formative and summative forms of assessment practices are accommodated.

Furthermore, as the qualification is practice-oriented, the theory acquired is put into practice. This synergy between theory and practice are achieved via:

Addressing a number of Exit Level Outcomes together;

Clustering a number of Associated Assessment Criteria together;

Promoting and raising awareness of the connections and relationships between the knowledge, processes and skills inside the different modules; and;

Using a combination of several different assessment methods, instruments and tools to achieve outcome(s).

Finally, work done in the module Research Project will specifically integrate all the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification, by means of learners submitting a mini dissertation on research done.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

A comparison was conducted to inform the content and structure of the qualification. Similar qualifications were found in New Zealand and Australia. The discussion below outlines the specific qualifications about the aforementioned countries.

In New Zealand the Eastern Institute of Technology: The Eastern Institute of Technology offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology. It is a one-year full time qualification. The qualification structure is very similar to this qualification at the institution. These areas include:

A sound knowledge of the information technology environment and its effective management.

The ability to analyse the needs of business and make recommendations for IT services and systems.

The ability to advise on, develop and implement innovations leading to a more efficient use of resources within a dynamic information technology environment.

The ability to relate to and communicate effectively with personnel and clients having diverse backgrounds.

The motivation for continued learning and self-development to cope effectively with change.

An understanding of the legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks of the IT sector.

Modules include Advanced IT Project Management, Strategic IT Management, Cloud Based IT Solutions, Advanced Mobile and Wireless Technologies, Research in Information Technology, Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, Enterprise Content Management, Digital Learning Technologies, Information Technology Management and E-Business Strategies.

In New Zealand, the Whitireia is a tertiary institute of technology that offers a one-year full time qualification. The qualification structure is very similar to this qualification at the institution. Modules include Data-Mining, Cloud Computing, Business Analyst, Business Intelligence, ICT Infrastructure, Information Management, Mobile Devices, Network Design and Management, Security and Forensics, Quality Assurance and System Architecture.

New Zealand Qualification Framework:
Outcomes: A graduate of a Postgraduate Diploma is able to:

Show evidence of advanced knowledge about a specialist field of enquiry or professional practice.

Engage in rigorous intellectual analysis, criticism and problem-solving.

In Australia, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT offers a Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours). It is a one-year full time qualification. The qualification structure is very similar to this qualification. Modules include, Enterprise Systems Management, Business in the Cloud, Fundamentals of Business Process Management, Information Retrieval, Emerging Technologies for Information Practice, Advanced Network Management, Computer System Security, Data Mining Technology and Applications, Enterprise Business Process Management, Programming Language Theory, Mobile and Pervasive Systems, Enterprise Systems and Applications, Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence, Advanced User Centred Design, Immersive Game Level Design and Game Engine Technology.

Australia Qualification Framework:
The purpose of the Bachelor Honours qualification type is to enable individuals to apply a body of knowledge in a specific context to undertake professional work and as a pathway for research and further learning. Bachelor Honours qualifications are located at Level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework. Bachelor Honours qualifications must be designed and accredited to enable learners to demonstrate the Exit Level Outcomes expressed as knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills specified in the Level 8 criteria and the Bachelor qualification descriptor.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Information Systems in Information Technology, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Information Technology Management, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Science Honours in Computer Science in Information Technology, NQF Level 8

Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology, NQF Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Information Technology, NQF Level 9.

Master Science in Information Technology, NQF Level 9.

Master of Philosophy in Information Technology Governance, NQF 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.

NONE