SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Advanced Diploma in Explosives Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
112563	Advanced Diploma in Explosives Management
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Advanced Diploma	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Manufacturing and Assembly
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Not Applicable	NQF Level 07	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2019-10-30	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 Advanced Diploma in Explosives Management is designed to integrate the technical know-how of explosives with managerial skills on a tactical level. The qualification ensures that learners will comply with and manage all regulatory competence requirements set by Occupational Health and Safety and Explosives legislation. Thus the learners will apply for certification as explosives managers or responsible persons.

The qualifying learners will have the competence to apply explosives technologies, sound safety, health and environmental principles as well as management skills. These skills are appropriate for the cost-effective management of products and processes in an explosives related environment.

Rationale:
International explosives and defence industry initiatives such as the EUExert projects (establishing common standards of explosives competence) and the SAFEX-international drive for advancing explosives safety (SAFEX comprises 250 explosives manufacturing companies) together with South African regulatory bodies (OHS Directorate of Department of Labour) and industry advisory forum of NIXT (National Institute for Explosives Technology) are continuously addressing the education and training challenges for explosives competence. In the context of these initiatives comprehensive national surveys covering the stakeholders of the entire explosives industry were conducted (Unisa/Nixt, 2009), (Verster/NWU, 2014), (DOL/Unisa, 2015) confirming the specific industry need for technically and managerially qualified staff in the explosives manufacturing, mining, military, SAPS and explosives user's sectors of the industry. The needs for managerial skills in an explosives environment combined with an explosives technology background is of the utmost importance for the optimal, effective and safe function of the explosive industry. The importance of having well-trained personnel with managerial skills who understand the material they are working with is nowhere else more important than in the explosives industry.

Learners of this qualification will manage and lead people in manufacturing, product and process development, manage quality systems and contribute to the strategic management of the organisation. The explosives and armaments manufacturing industry, as well as the various branches of the Department of Defence, employ learners from this qualification.

The planning of the qualification ensures learners, once qualified, will contribute to making the industry safer and more environmental friendly. The qualification is further intended to prepare learners for managerial positions in the manufacturing, product and process development and quality assurance environments in the explosives field.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
All admission through RPL will be following the principles laid down in the institution's RPL Policy.

The University acknowledges that all learning has value, and the University will assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to the qualification to promote lifelong learning. The University will recognise non-formal experiential learning. The RPL process will be conducted according to the institution's RPL policy and may involve, among other things, the submission of portfolios with evidence of prior learning, challenge examinations, and interviews with assessment panels. Certified copies of documents confirming the number of years, and nature of, work experience will have to be submitted, as well as certified copies of any qualifications obtained where applicable.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be used to demonstrate competence for admission to this qualification.

Evidence of prior learning will be accessed through formally recognised RPL processes to recognise achievement thereof.

Learners applying for RPL will be thoroughly briefed before the assessment and will be required to submit a Portfolio of Evidence in the prescribed format to assess for formal recognition. While this is primarily a workplace-based qualification, evidence from other areas of learning may be introduced if pertinent to any of the Exit Level Outcomes (ELOs).

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

Diploma in Explosives Management, NQF Level 6.
And

Proof of current relevant employment in the Explosives industry (letter from employer).

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits:

Control of Explosives and Activities A, 12 Credits.

Control of Explosives and Activities B, 12 Credits.

Advanced Explosives Management A, 12 Credits.

Advanced Explosives Management B, 12 Credits.

SHE Management III A, 12 Credits.

SHE Management III B, 12 Credits.

Explosives Research Project, 24 Credits.

Strategic Planning III A, 12 Credits.

Strategic Implication and Control III B, 12 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Apply the concepts of strategic management on all management levels to cope with environmental challenges.
2. Test and evaluate explosives and explosive-filled items.
3. Apply Safe, Health and Environmental (SHE) management principles when providing leadership and managing staff.
4. Apply appropriate skills and knowledge to conduct a limited research project.
5. Apply safe handling principles during explosives processes throughout the life cycle of explosives products and to ensure that learners can control explosives and explosives related activities safely in a practical environment.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Plan strategically to give direction to the enterprise in a dynamic environment.

Implement goals and strategies successfully.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Apply and use the elementary explosive technologies during manufacturing processes and material handling techniques, control static electricity and electrostatic discharge and the day-to-day principles and practices in the use of equipment in the manufacture of explosives and explosives-filled items.

Understand and apply the types of tests and evaluation to measure the physical and detonation properties of explosives, determine their deflagration properties, supervise limited manufacturing processes, apply quality assurance principle, and solve management problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Interpret and apply related environmental requirements as well as environmental management system requirements in an explosives workplace environment.

Interpret and apply environmental-related legal requirements in an explosives workplace environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Perform a limited research project.

Identify a work-related problem on a tactical level.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Demonstrate an understanding, identify and explain Explosives Classification, to mark and Packaging Requirements.

Explain, calculate, demonstrate and conduct inspections of Explosives Storage Legislation and Regulations.

Identify, explain, conduct inspections and process applications for permits for Explosives Transportation Legislation and Regulations.

Identify, explain and demonstrate an understanding of the legislation for Control of Explosives.

Demonstrate an understanding, analyse and prepare for the Control of Explosives Tasks.

Integrated Assessment:
Formative and summative assessment will be conducted in line with the guidelines of the institution's assessment policy and will include the following:

The formative assessments will comprise a series of compulsory assignments (not less than two) per module, and the summative assessments will consist of at least a two-hour venue based examination. In the case of the Explosives Research Project, the summative assessment is in the form of a research proposal and submit a report on a predetermined date.

The learner's final mark will comprise a year mark (20%) after completing a specified number of compulsory assignments. A written examination in each module shall consist of 80% of the total final mark.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The comparison of the curricula of the Advanced Diploma in Explosives Management (and the Diploma in Explosives Management provides access to this qualification) with the UK's National Occupational Standards for Explosives Substances and Articles (NOS ESA). The UK's National Occupational Standards for Explosives Substances and Articles forms the basis of the European knowledge requirements and competency needed in the industry. These standards are mapped by the EUExcert initiative to develop an integrated European standard for explosives training and education. The Advanced Diploma is comparable to the UK Ofqual regulated NOS ESA qualifications such as the HSQ Diploma Explosives Management Q00-D4-003 and Diploma Planning and Management of Munition Clearance Operations Q12-D4-001 and the Postgraduate Certificate qualifications offered by the Defence Academy of Cranfield University, Shriven ham.

Various fora have documented the extensive collaborative initiative between provider, industry and professional body (National Institute for Explosives Technology) stakeholders in establishing internationally comparable curricula for the South African Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Explosives Management.

In the Australian context, comparability relates to GSA Defence Training qualifications aligned to AQF levels (from Certificate to Graduate Diploma level) with specific reference to DEF72215 Diploma of Explosive Ordnance Manufacture and DEF82115 Vocational Graduate Diploma of Explosive Ordnance.

In the USA, mining qualifications and explosives engineering integrate Epolsives Management. Universities of Science and Technology (e.g. Missouri University of Science and Technology) offer these qualifications. The USA has career-focused vocationally oriented explosives qualifications such as the Associate Degree of Applied Sciences. These USA qualifications comply with the standards of explosives technology set by the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE).

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal and vertical articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Advanced Diploma in Management/Business Management, Level 7.

Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management, Level 7.

Vertical Articulation:

Postgraduate Diploma in related fields, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor Honours Degree in related fields, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business 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.

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