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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
118670  Postgraduate Diploma in Supply Chain 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
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Procurement 
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
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered" 		 SAQA 137/22  2022-02-03  2025-02-03 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-02-03   2029-02-03  

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 Postgraduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management is intended to prepare the learners for portability from a pure functional focus to a fully integrated all-rounded supply chain practitioner capable of functioning in complex and uncertain environments without comprising ethics and values of the profession. This qualification will provide learners with the supply chain management skills, capabilities, competencies, and expertise required to manage large, complex, and dynamic supply chains.

The qualification enables the learner to become a fully-fledged supply chain practitioner. It will assist learners to widen supply chain management skills, competencies and capabilities through knowledge acquisition or intends to further their studies in management practice. As such they should develop and hold certain values and be able to integrate generic supply chain management knowledge and skills with specific knowledge regarding understanding legal and legislative frameworks, ethics and governance, strategic procurement and associated contract management options, planning and executing supply chain operations utilising technological innovation, processes and applications to maximising financial and general performance while mitigating risk and maximising stakeholder value. Furthermore, while displaying the desire of becoming a fully-fledged supply chain practitioner, they should show the potential in becoming a C-suite executive with an all-around understanding of how to leverage supply chain performance to deliver on organisational strategic goals.

Learners will learn implementable supply chain management concepts, methodologies and tools based on the world's best practice (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics (CILT), Association for Supply Chain Management (APICS) and related bodies of knowledge (BoK)) and will learn to confidently apply these skills, competencies, capabilities, and knowledge to meet professional and organisational goals.

Rationale:
The qualification is based on the need to mitigate the dearth of appropriately qualified supply chain management practitioners based on the notion that there are many practitioners with no or limited supply chain management qualifications who hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in a variety of cross-functional fields.

Following the engagements with different industry stakeholders and the professional supply chain space, there has been growing consensus that the practice of supply chain is flouted with deficiencies and problems including but not limited to non-compliance to supply chain management (SCM) regulatory and policy frameworks, out-dated SCM systems and delegations, lack of demand management, inadequate procurement planning, lack of monitoring and evaluation, poor contract management, lack of standardisation, inadequate record-keeping and SCM structures. Most personnel in the public and private sector who are employed within the supply chain space lack adequate knowledge and competencies to execute expected deliverables effectively and efficiently. There is a dire need for a postgraduate qualification in SCM which can address existing deficiencies and can cater for personnel who operate in the SCM space but do not necessarily come from the SCM background as is the case currently with most of the employees

The qualification will integrate professional standards into supply chain practitioner practice and incorporate continuing professional development in accordance with leading supply chain management professional voluntary organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, CIPS; Southern African Production and Inventory Control Society, SAPICS, Institute of Supply Management, ISM; Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics - Southern Africa, CILTSA; Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, CSCMP; Supply-Chain Council, SCC; International Association for Contract & Commercial Management, IACCM, State-Owned Enterprises Procurement Forum, SOEPF and any other associated professional organisations' protocols and standards. Furthermore, the qualification will advance the objectives of the NQF by helping to accelerate the redress of past discrimination in education, training and employment opportunities and enhance career progression. It will help to facilitate mobility and progression within the supply chain management career paths in the field of business. Being a step in the development pathway of supply chain management practitioners, and value chain leaders it will also contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
This qualification may be achieved in part or whole through the Recognition of Prior Learning, which includes formal, informal, and non-formal learning and work experience. The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment process involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal and non-formal learning. RPL is applied in terms of the policy and criteria of the institution. The necessary documentary evidence will have to be provided and a formal RPL process will be followed. The institution will apply in this qualification the RPL for both access and credits in line with the National Policy and Criteria for the Implementation of RPL (Amended in March 2019).

RPL for Access:
Learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements of the required qualification may be considered for RPL. There are two options:
  • Advanced Standing, in which case the minimum entry requirements are waived by the admitting institution based on evidence of prior learning, work experience or any other relevant circumstances that may apply to an individual learner. No portfolio is required.
    OR
  • Applicants may provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that the applicant has acquired sufficient relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies to be able to reasonably meet the expectations for learning demanded by the qualification for which they are seeking access.
  • In instances where RPL is applied for the purposes of access, no credits will be awarded for any previous learning. However, the candidate may choose the option of being assessed for credit.

    RPL for credits:
    Learners who do meet the necessary entry requirements for admission to a qualification may be awarded some or all the credits towards the qualification. There are two possibilities:
  • Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from a module or some modules by providing sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that a level of competency, equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module or modules, has been achieved. Credits will be awarded for such modules.
    OR
  • Learners may apply for RPL to be awarded all the credits required for the qualification. Sufficient evidence must be provided that demonstrates a level of competency equivalent to all the learning outcomes of the qualification.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Advanced Diploma in Supply Chain Management, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • Bachelor of Business Science in Supply Chain Management, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

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

    Compulsory Modules, Level 8,120 Credits:
  • Ethics, Governance and Sustainability in Supply Chain Management, 24 Credits.
  • Advanced Strategic Procurement and Contract Management, 24 Credits.
  • Advanced Supply Chain Operations, 24 Credits.
  • Supply Chain Technology, Performance and Risk Management, 24 Credits.
  • Strategic Project Management, 24 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Critically analyse the supply chain ecosystems to determine optimal supply chain strategies in a globalised environment.
  • Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of key supply chain management principles, standards, and practices.
  • Demonstrate an ability to utilise project management methodology to execute supply chain strategies through mentoring and coaching approaches
  • Think critically about theory and practice and conceptually map key theoretical supply chain management frameworks and apply them to a range of supply chain scenarios, taking into consideration social, cultural, environmental, and economic factors.
  • Demonstrate the ability to integrate the end-to-end supply chain processes to optimise performance
  • Critically analyse organisational contexts, governance, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements and risk management when applying fundamental supply chain management principles in real-life situations.
  • Work in a self-reliant, independent manner, while showing leadership and taking initiative where appropriate, particularly in a diverse team environment to drive supply chain performance.
  • Integrate professional standards into their practice and incorporate continuing professional development in accordance with leading contemporary professional voluntary organisations protocols and standards. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manner to the Exit Level Outcomes
  • Review, critique and evaluate current research and multiple sources of scholarly or professional literature in an intellectually independent manner and sound theoretical judgements are made by using well-reasoned, theory-driven, and evidence-based arguments.
  • Identify the needs and opportunities in real-life situations related to supply chain management and devise appropriate strategies for solutions.
  • Identify, critically review, evaluate and interpret complex problems related to supply chain management by taking into consideration the economic, socio-political and legal contexts, including governance and ethics.
  • Apply standard procedures, processes, or techniques to theoretically deal with or empirically investigate unfamiliar complex, abstract or real-life world problems in supply chain management appropriately.
  • Conduct the analyses and interpretation of theoretical, quantitative, and qualitative data and information independently and demonstrate coherent and critical insight by means of well-rounded, theory-driven, and evidence-based arguments and critical self-reflection.
  • Communicate judgements and conclusions clearly based on information and data using the resources of an academic/professional discourse appropriately, reliably, and accurately.
  • Critical self-assessment reflects an awareness of taking responsibility for the learner's own activities, ethical behaviour and continued personal development in the field of supply chain management.
  • Reasoning, viewpoints, insights, and ideas reflect an acceptable social sensitivity in the learner's relationship and interaction with others and work in the scholarly and professional supply chain management environments. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This institution forms part of an internationally recognised accreditation system whereby institution qualifications are evaluated against international comparators and accredited; accordingly, for example, the institution's qualifications are accredited in the International Handbook of Universities and in the Commonwealth Universities' Yearbook.

    This qualification has been compared with similar international qualifications in India and Dubai.

    Country: India
    Institution: MIT School of Distance Education
    Qualification Title: Postgraduate Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
    This qualification is comparable to the qualification offered by the above country in terms of the following:
    Purpose:
    The qualification develops learners' expertise in Logistics and Supply Chain Management across multiple industry sectors.
    Qualification structure:
    The qualification comprises the following compulsory modules which are similar to the new qualification.
  • Legal Aspect of Supply Chain Management
  • Enterprise Resource and Planning.
  • Supply Chain Management.
  • Technology and Operations Management.
  • Risk Management.
  • Management Information Systems.
  • Qualitative Methods.

    Country: Dubai
    Institution: Manipal Academy of Higher Education
    Qualification Title: Post Graduate Diploma
    Purpose:
    The qualification is intended to enhance the career of working professionals in Logistics and Supply Chain by up-skilling them in Sourcing and Procurement; Material and Inventory Management; Operations Strategy; Ethics, Governance and Risk in Supply Chains as well as Cargo Management so that they can compete more effectively in career advancement

    Conclusion:
    The South African qualification compares very well with the two qualifications cited above in that they are all equipping learners with advanced and comprehensive knowledge base and applied expertise in the Supply Chain Management and Operations profession. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Supply Chain Management, Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Marketing and Supply Chain Management, Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and Supply Chain Management, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Management in Supply Chain Management, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Business Leadership, 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 


    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.