SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
118443	Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management
ORIGINATOR
IQ Academy
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Public Administration
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Not Applicable	NQF Level 05	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2021-11-18	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 Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management aims to equip learners with both theoretical knowledge, applied competence and professional skills in the field to meaningfully participate in the management and governance of public sector institutions in South Africa. The qualification will enable learners to fulfil the roles and responsibilities of administrators or entry-level managers, public officials or other employees involved in government affairs who aspire for a managerial capacity. The qualification addresses the continental, national and regional labour market and socio-cultural needs and thus contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030.

The government remains the single largest employer in South Africa. Once qualified, learners are ideally placed to take up a position in any of the three spheres of government or arms-length agencies, including the public service and the broader public sector, such as state departments, local and provincial departments, public entities and public enterprises. Learners will be ideally placed to be fast-tracked into managerial roles within government, given the preparation that they will have in dealing with complex and specific mixes of cognitive skills. They will also be able to join non-profit organisations as well as public affairs and other select divisions within private sector companies. The
specialised modules allow learners to explore possible career options.

Career directions include:

Government officials

Managers and advisors in Government Departments

Public Sector Administrators

Public Sector Human Resource Officer

On completion of this qualification the qualifying learner will be able to:

Utilise the required academic knowledge and skills to function optimally at the entry-level of higher education learning.

Explore the meaning, nature, scope of the state and government as well as the different stakeholders in the public sector.

Explain the theoretical underpinnings of Public Administration and Management (PAM) that impact the executive arm of government responsible for policy implementation.

Critically discuss the requirements for effective public sector management which are relevant to management applications, skills and competencies.

Address the dynamic nature of service delivery in government and types of machinery to successfully render essential services.

Explain the significance of sound labour relations and healthy human resource management in the public sector to improve productivity, teamwork, and the quality of supervision.

Identify ethical issues and critically analyse ethics management and a code of conduct within the public sector.

Analyse and apply theories and principles in public organisational design and development to optimise service delivery objectives in the public sector.

Rationale:
The qualification aims to equip learners with basic vocational, theoretical and applied competencies that are vital in today's dynamic and competitive environment. It aims to develop basic vocational, theoretical and applied competencies of the interpretation and application of National and Provincial Government sector legislation and policies as well as good governance, and public management principles and methods at National and Provincial Government levels.

It further develops the intellectual and professional skills set out in the NDP and the National Scarce Skills List. The qualification prepares learners to meaningfully participate in the management and governance of Government sector institutions in South Africa and Africa and thereby contribute to the National Development Plan: Vision 2030 (NDP).
The qualification is intended for public officials and elected political leaders involved with the service delivery activities and objectives of the public sector at a strategic level to communities. It contributes to the development of management skills of political executives, strategic executive managers (senior, middle and line managers) and other role-players contributing to the development of improved service delivery in the public sector. The qualification will equip learners to function in the highly complex and dynamic public arena where state, market and civilians interact in the shaping of society.

The government remains the single largest employer in South Africa. Once qualified, learners are ideally placed to assume positions in any of the three spheres of government or arms-length agencies, including the public service and the broader public sector, such as state departments, local and provincial departments, public entities and public enterprises. Learners will be ideally placed to be fast-tracked into managerial roles in the government, given the preparation that they will have in dealing with complexity and their specific mix of cognitive skills. They will also be able to join non-profit organisations as well as Public Affairs and other select divisions within private sector companies. The optional specialisations that are offered allow for the closer targeting of prospective careers.

Based on the popularity and the demands to skill individuals in the Public sector in terms of a professional educational pathway, the qualification is in line with the overall learning pathways that the National School of Government is seeking to create for its learners, both employed and unemployed. The learning pathway indicates a variety of learning opportunities for any learner embarking on a qualification within the public sector context and this particular qualification initiates an opportunity for public servants in an administrative capacity to be more intricately exposed to the government workings. Learners can pursue a learning pathway in governmental operational functional areas. Further, this qualification can also provide the learner with a springboard into a career and learning pathway in the public sector.

The qualification is offered online which promote access for learners to satisfy the growing need in the public sector for professionals with both governance and management knowledge. This is also the trend internationally as well.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
This qualification may be achieved in part through the Recognition of Prior Learning, which includes informal, formal learning and work experience. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be applied in accordance with the institution's RPL Policy. The policy focuses on two main forms of RPL which are RPL for access and RPL for credits.

RPL for access:

Learners who do not satisfy the formal admission requirements, but who can demonstrate comparable previous learning, may be granted access to the qualification.

RPL includes recognition of the content knowledge that the learner has gained in the area of study for which he/she seeks admission.

RPL for credits:
RPL for credits recognises that a learner has sufficiently mastered the content of sections of a course of study through prior formal, informal or non-formal means, and therefore will exempt those sections of the course of study and replace them with an equivalent number of alternatives.

Awarding of Credits:
Should a learner have achieved at least 50% or more of the outcomes of a specific module/s, credits will be awarded to the learner. In addition, when transferring learners from other institutions, the institution will recognise credits, up to a maximum of 50% of the total credit value, for a particular qualification. Where a learner wishes to move from another institution with equivalent credits, such credits may be awarded.

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

National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
Or

Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, with endorsement.
Or

National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
or

Further Education and Training Certificate in a cognate field of study, NQF Level 4.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and/or elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5,120 Credits:

Academic Literacy, 10 Credits.

Government in Focus, 20 Credits.

Foundations of Public Administration, Public Management and Governance, 15 Credits.

Selected Public Management Applications, Skills and Competencies, 15 Credits.

Service Delivery Excellence, 15 Credits.

Public Sector Human Resource Management, 15 Credits.

Ethics Management in the Public Sector, 15 Credits.

Public Organisational Design and Development, 15 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Utilise the required academic knowledge and skills to function optimally at the entry-level of higher education learning.
2. Provide knowledge and insight regarding the meaning, nature, scope of the state and government as well as the different stakeholders in the public sector which include power relationships, functions, systems, structures and processes within the state and government.
3. Explain the theoretical underpinnings of Public Administration and Management (PAM) that impact the executive arm of government responsible for policy implementation.
4. Critically discuss the requirements for effective public sector management relevant to management applications, skills and competencies.
5. Address the dynamic nature of service delivery in government and types of machinery to successfully render essential services.
6. Explain the significance of sound labour relations and healthy human resource management in the public sector to improve productivity, teamwork, and the quality of supervision.
7. Identify ethical issues and critically analyse ethics management and a code of conduct within the public sector and propose ways to strengthen ethical practices and evaluate a code of conduct accordingly.
8. Provide knowledge and insight regarding the theories and principles in public organisational design and development so that public sector organisations can be effectively utilised to optimise service delivery objectives.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Participate effectively in an online learning environment.

Utilize and apply the required academic knowledge and skills to function optimally.

Evaluate and apply the principles of logic and critical thinking in problem-solving.

Explore and apply reading and writing skills in an academic context to support learning.

Apply good referencing practices to communicate academic and discipline-related information.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Explain the meaning, nature, and scope of government.

Identify respective governance mechanisms and organisational arrangements in government with particular reference to processes of departmentalization and decentralization.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Analyse and apply appropriate theories, approaches and principles to study the functioning of the public sector as a policy implementation instrument of the state.

Interpret the nature and scope of the public service as state machinery to implement national policies, strategies and qualifications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Apply basic management applications, skills and competencies for effective public sector management.

Explain the phases of strategic management applicable to the public sector institutions.

Apply the principles of systems thinking to comprehend the dynamic nature of the governance environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Apply the value chains from policy-making to policy implementation via programmes and projects.

interpret and apply the Batho Pele principles in various scenarios to improve service delivery in the public sector.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Explain the nature and significance of sound labour relations in government.

Describe healthy human resource management in the public sector.

Discuss the importance of teamwork in the public sector.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Identify and solve ethical issues in the public sector.

Explain and apply different theories of ethics applicable to public administration, management and governance.

Identify existing codes of ethical conduct and evaluate them for efficacy and sustainability.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Analyse, evaluate and apply concepts, processes and principles of organisational design and development to solve defined, routine and new problems within a familiar context.

Apply management principles in a work-based context.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualification has been compared with the following international institutions, Each country is explored hereunder, with specific reference to qualifications considered to be top-ranking qualifications in Public sector management and administration within a variety of institutions.

Country: Australia
Institution: Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Qualification: Graduate Certificate in Policy and Governance
Qualification structure:
The qualification covers the following Public sector administration modules.

Policy planning.

Implementation and evaluation.

Ethics.

Social justice and government systems.

Research method.

Comparison:
The qualification covers Public sector administration modules similar to the proposed qualification. The qualification is thus driven towards the nature and scope of government functions and policy development.

Country: New Zealand
Institutions: Victoria School of Government and Victoria University of Wellington
Qualification Title: Certificate in E-Government, Public Sector Reform and Good Governance
Purpose:
The overall goal is to focus on public sector reform and good governance with specific emphasis on how e-governance is a key platform for achieving this. Whilst regulatory frameworks, policies and practices are explored, it looks more at e-governance as a means of transformational governance.

Country: United Kingdom
Institution: Open University
Qualification Title: Institutional Development
Entry requirements:
The qualification requires a Bachelor's degree as an entry-level.
Comparison:
This qualification is not equitably comparable in content but touches on some of the content covered in the proposed qualification including exploring public-sector theory and institutional landscapes, policy and practice, inter-organisational relationships and extends this to all sectors so a more generic qualification.

Country: United Kingdom
Institution: King's College
Qualification Title: Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Governance
Duration: It is a one-year full time or two-year part-time qualification.
Qualification structure:
This qualification explores public sector policy around the world and looks at theories and practical applications in the effective provisioning of public services and evaluating real-world policies and lessons learned in new public management.

Country: Kenya
Institution: Maseno University
Qualification Title: Certificate in Public Administration
Qualification structure:
A basic certificate qualification that looks at an introduction to public administration, basic concepts of government, public financial administration and public personnel administration. It also focuses during the second semester of this three-semester qualification on public policy, ethics in public administration, local government and comparative civil service systems. Semester three focuses on sustainable development, business management, customer relationship management, service quality management, project planning and risk management and financial resource management. These latter topics appear to be more generic and less public sector focused.

Country: Malawi
Institution: Mancosa
Qualification Title: Higher Certificate in Public Management
Qualification structure:
Whilst the qualification seems to be equitable comparable to the proposed qualification this qualification covers more generic elements of management and does not specialise as much in public sector contextualisation, particularly in communication, management principles and technology. The qualification focuses on management principles applied in a work-based context, utilising technology to communicate effectively, developing operational plans, public finance terminology, analysing the political, social, economic and legal environments of public sector organisations, acquiring skills in written communication, planning, budgeting, decision-making and collaboration and ethical issues in public sector management.

Country: Botswana
Institution: The University of Botswana, under the auspices of Mancosa
Qualification Title: Certificate in Public Administration and Management
Qualification structure:
This qualification examines how to transform human capital to effectively manage resources for inclusive development, industrial relations, employee engagement and involvement, conflict resolution, public-private partnerships, strategic Human Resource management, outsourcing and procurement, project management and implementation, ethics, governance and financial administration, cultivate the political-administrative interface, citizen engagement in service delivery, public policy and programme monitoring and evaluation, public service transformation for excellence in service delivery. Some of the topics appear more generic and it is not clear to what extent it is contextualised to the public sector, for example, outsourcing and procurement, project management.

Comparison:
The comparison revealed that the proposed qualification compares favourably with similar qualifications offered by the international institutions. The international qualifications cover similar content areas but few of the international institutions offer Higher Certificates and those that do within SADC regions, do not offer as comprehensive and specialised content. The New Zealand qualifications focus more on e-governance which is not addressed in the proposed qualification structure. However, the qualification offers greater accessibility in terms of entry-level, where many of the international qualifications require a Bachelor's degree and working experience to enter the Higher Certificates that are available or are part of a Degree or Diploma qualification.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation:

Higher Certificate in Local Governance, NQF Level 5.

Higher Certificate in Public Management, NQF Level 5.

Vertical Articulation:

Advanced Certificate in Municipal Governance, NQF Level 6.

Diploma: Public Administration and Management, NQF Level 6.

Bachelor of Administration: Public Administration, NQF Level 7.

Bachelor of Administration in Public Management, NQF Level 7.

Bachelor of Public Administration, NQF Level 7.

Bachelor of Public Management, NQF Level 7.

Bachelor of Arts in Public Management and Governance, NQF Level 7.

Bachelor of Arts in Public Leadership and Local Governance, NQF Level 7.

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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