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 Digital Business

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
122231	Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business
ORIGINATOR
MANCOSA Pty (Ltd)
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Generic Management
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
Registered		EXCO 0922/24	2024-03-07	2027-03-07
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-03-07		2031-03-07

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 Digital Business qualification is to address the pressing problems on a national level in terms of the National Development Plan (South African Government, 2022). This qualification is designed for professionals in the corporate world, middle and senior managers and entrepreneurs with digital business skills that are needed in the digital business transformation process.

The qualification prepares learners to meaningfully contribute to the National Development Plan. This includes the scaling of subject matter experts in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), ethical business practices and the use of technology to enhance business performance, personal development, self-management, soft management, and critical thinking in the digital business environment. This specialist knowledge will not only advance learners' careers but also keep them relevant and provide various articulation possibilities.

The emphasis is on principles and theory for further development in the business environment, professional training, postgraduate studies, or professional practice in a variety of occupations. The qualification will familiarise learners with the implementation of digital business principles and strategies using different information technologies.

Learners would be able to pursue a career in the evolving business environment with the qualification, which would allow them to use technology to communicate and conduct business activities in a developing digital business world. Learners will be able to build knowledge on their traditional business methods and strategies and be able to fulfil their business functions for a company, as well as use technology to enhance their business duties and make them more effective and efficient.

Furthermore, the qualification is designed to ensure that learners have a thorough understanding of the business environment, including digital marketing, management, finances, and project management, for them to make sound business decisions and confidently grow and develop in their careers.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:

Understand the relevant digital marketing principles, business strategies, concepts, and processes.

Examine relevant digital business, conceptual and analytical frameworks to analyse problems within different business and development management conditions.

Apply digital financial models in a digital business environment.

Apply systems thinking to adapt to challenges within the digital economy.

Interpret digital technology fundamentals and techniques to inform digital strategy development in an ethical and professional manner.

Critically analyse digital transformation and change management in a digital business environment.

Learners will possess the following attributes:

Be digitally literate.

Communicate and collaborate effectively in digital space.

Develop and grow organisations to evolve into the digital business environment.

Manage digital identity, reputation, and well-being of the organisation.

The qualification aims to develop the knowledge and skills needed to meet the outcomes that have been recognised as vital for a career in this field both locally and globally. Learners will be well-positioned to provide value to the company where they work, pursue more education in this sector, or work as entrepreneurs, or consultants in the industry.

Rationale:
According to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (2020), South Africa's workforce will require elevated levels of digital skills and 21st-century life skills, including scientific, digital, financial, and cultural fluency. This contributes to the growing demand for scarce digital skills in the field of digital business and aims to address and allow learners to adapt to a digitally evolving environment.

Digital business focuses on enhancing organisational competitiveness by using innovative digital technologies to achieve business sustainability and growth (Chaffey, Hemphill, Edmundson-Bird, 2019). In a data-driven world, it becomes imperative for businesses to employ individuals who can conceptualise digital technologies and apply them meaningfully (Harvard Business Review, 2019). In Africa specifically, there is a need for more digitally driven innovation across varied sectors (Harvard Business Review on the Rapid Growth of Digital Business, 2019). This growing demand for digitalisation in business supports the need for suitable qualifications that will equip graduate learners with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to design robust, sustainable solutions.

The qualification is a business qualification that focuses on the outcomes, effectiveness, and administration of digitalisation in organisations. The qualification is intended for young, entry-level, or middle-level managers who wish to progress in their careers, as junior managers with demonstrated leadership ability who wish to expedite their professional advancement into general digital management positions. The qualification is intended for learners from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds who wish to get a deeper understanding of how digital processes impact daily life and transform the general management of businesses.
Digital technology is constantly evolving and is one of the fastest-growing industries creating significant career opportunities for learners. This qualification will ensure that skills remain relevant in the evolving technological world and create significant opportunities for learners to advance their careers. The range of typical learners will include executives and professionals in the e-commerce field and interested in developing their digital business skills. Additionally, it will also include entrepreneurs dealing with e-commerce solutions.

This qualification will be beneficial to individuals in these fields and those who want to find employment as listed below:

Automation Manager

Digital Marketing Specialist

Digital Platform Managers

Project Managers

Business Manager

The qualification responds directly to the rapidly evolving needs of the corporate environment in the digital world. According to the National Development Plan: Vision for 2030, the e-strategy collaborations between state, industry and academia will also create innovation systems, including software and applications incubators, local content and multimedia hubs and research and development networks (South African Government, 2022). The Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business qualification's learning outcomes are in line with the National Development Plan. It will allow learners and entrepreneurs to have the relevant skills to contribute to their success in their careers and to have a positive impact on the economy.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications.

RPL for access:

Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.

To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations.

RPL for exemption of modules:

Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit:

Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.

Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

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

Advanced Diploma in Business Management, NQF Level 7.
Or

Bachelor of Business Administration, NQF Level 7.
Or

Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, NQF Level 7.
Or

Bachelor of Commerce, NQF Level 7.
Or

A relevant qualification in the related field, NQF Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

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

Compulsory modules, Level 8, 100 Credits:

Business Strategy for a Digital Environment, 20 Credits.

Digital Technologies, 20 Credits.

Digital Marketing for Business, 20 Credits.

Entrepreneurship for Digital Business, 20 Credits.

Digital Transformation and Change Management, 20 Credits.

Elective modules, Level 8, 20 Credits: (choose one from the elective modules)

Systems Thinking in the Digital Economy, 20 Credits

Finance for Digital Business, 20 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Understand the relevant digital marketing principles, business strategies, concepts, and processes.
2. Examine relevant digital business, conceptual and analytical frameworks to analyse and solve problems within different business and development management conditions.
3. Apply digital financial models in a digital business environment.
4. Interpret digital technology fundamentals and techniques to inform digital strategy development in an ethical and professional manner.
5. Critically analyse digital transformation and change management in a digital business environment.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Examine the origins and impact of digital business and business communication to understand the foundations that underpin concepts in Digital Business.

Investigate principles, concepts, and processes of digital business communication to understand the integrative nature of the digital business and marketing processes.

Explore roles, purposes and benefits of digital marketing to highlight the key principles of digital marketing.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Analyse and solve complex and ambiguous problems.

Apply digital business concepts and frameworks to different business and development management conditions.

Contextualize digital business concepts and frameworks to other areas or functions of the organisation.

Analyse and solve divergent leadership and managerial problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Understand and evaluate digital business models.

Explore digital financial models to enhance the digital business environment.

Apply digital financial models to remain relevant in the digital economy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Apply digital technology fundamentals and techniques to inform digital strategy development.

Analyse and evaluate digital technology fundamentals of digital business activities.

Contribute to the development of ethical and responsible practices in digital business and organizational contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Contextualize digital transformation and change management of other areas or functions of the organisation.

Apply digital transformation and change management in a digital business environment.

Successfully plan, monitor, and execute models to implement changes effectively.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Country: New Zealand
Name of Institution: Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)
Qualification title: Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business
Duration: One year full-time
New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF): 08
Credits: 120

Purpose of Qualification
The Digital Business suite of Postgraduate qualifications focuses on providing a management perspective on contemporary and emerging technologies. Learners of the qualifications will be equipped with the ability to harness digital technologies that will enable them to manage technology for businesses and effect digital transformation for organisations.

Entry requirements

An NZQF-listed undergraduate degree or equivalent in Computing, Information Technology, Business or Management.
Or

An undergraduate degree in a related field with a minimum of the equivalent to a B average.

Qualification structure
Modules

The contemporary global business environment compares with Business Strategy for a Digital Environment.

Global strategies in business

Cloud-based IT solutions

Information Security in the enterprise

E-commerce and e-business

Digital marketing

Digital Entrepreneurship and innovation, compares with Entrepreneurship for Digital Business.

Management of emerging technologies compares with Digital Technologies.

Qualification progression: Master's degree.

Similarities:

Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and South African (SA) qualifications require learners who completed NZQF/NQF Level 7 relevant qualifications in the related field.

EIT and SA qualifications are at NZQF/NQF Level 7 with 120 Credits.

EIT and SA qualifications are offered over one year full-time.

EIT and SA qualifications share similar modules such as Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation, The Contemporary Global Business Environment, and Management of Emerging Technologies.

Both EIT and SA qualifications share a similar purpose which is to enable learners to manage technology for businesses and effect digital transformation for organisations.

Both EIT and SA qualifications articulate vertically to a master's degree.

Country: Hong Kong
Institution: University of Hong Kong (UHK)
Qualification title: Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management for Digital Transformation
Duration: One year full-time
Credits:60

Purpose
The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management for Digital Transformation aims to equip current and potential business leaders with the knowledge and competencies to lead the digital transformation of their organisations. The qualification adopts a practical approach to prepare learners with the skills to develop digital strategies for their organisations as well as address common issues that may arise with the transformation.

Entry requirements

Applicant shall hold a bachelor's degree award from a recognized institution.
Or

If the degree or equivalent qualification is from an institution where the language of teaching and assessment is not English, applicants shall provide evidence of English proficiency,
Or

An overall band of 6.0 or above with no subtests lower than 5.5 in IELTS.

Qualification Learning Outcomes
On completion of the qualification, learners should be able to:

Critically evaluate established and emerging concepts, principles, theories, and philosophies underpinning the broad area of digital transformation.

Apply the knowledge of digital business models and strategies to a range of diverse business situations.

Analyse and apply emerging and established methodologies to solve organisational problems associated with the transformation to a digital business.

Apply knowledge in data analytics during the managerial decision-making process.

Apply psychology and people management principles to engage employees to perform in the direction of the organisation's goals.

Qualification structure
Modules:
Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management for Digital Transformation comprises six (6) modules with a total of sixty (60) credits:

Building the Business Strategy for Digital Transformation, compares with Business Strategy for a Digital Environment.

Designing the Organisation for Digital Transformation, compares with Entrepreneurship for Digital Business.

Creating Value through Platform Business Models

Innovative Practices and Techniques

Business Analytics for Managers

Leading and Managing Change for Digital Transformation compares with Digital Transformation and Change Management.

Similarities:

University of Hong Kong (UHK) and South African (SA) qualifications require learners who completed a bachelor's degree in the related field.

UHK and SA qualifications are offered for one year full-time.

UHK and SA qualifications share similar modules such as Leading and Managing Change for Digital Transformation, Designing the Organisation for Digital Transformation and Building the Business Strategy for Digital Transformation.

UHK and SA qualifications share similar qualification outcomes which will allow learners to evaluate, analyse and apply the knowledge of digital business models and strategies to a range of diverse business situations.

Differences:

The University of Hong Kong (UHK) qualification is offered with 60 Credits, while the South African (SA) qualification is offered with 120 Credits.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Horizontal Articulation:

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Business Administration Honours, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Commerce Honours, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business Management, NQF Level 8.

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

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Business Administration, NQF Level 9.

Master of Business Leadership, NQF Level 9.

Master of Management, NQF Level 9.

Master of Business Administration General, NQF Level 9.

Diagonal Articulation:

Diagonal articulation options are not available.

MODERATION OPTIONS

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.

1.	MANCOSA Pty (Ltd)