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: International Communication

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
3837	Postgraduate Diploma: International Communication
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language		Communication Studies
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 7	NQF Level 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 091/21	2021-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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

The (first) purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with post-graduate level knowledge of the theories, dynamic and substantive aspects of global telecommunications and information technology and policy and the way they impact on society.

The (second) purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa with highly qualified graduate who will become leading professionals and researchers in the ever-growth telecommunications and information policy professionals in the public and private sectors.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

A National First Degree (NQF 6) or equivalent.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The M. Soc. Sc. (Communication Policy) graduate is competent to

1. Identify, understand, analyse, review and resolve fundamental telecommunications and information policy problems creatively and innovatively.

2. Recognise the import of and make use of research skills in the study and understanding of telecommunication and information policy problems

Application of fundamental and specialist knowledge

The Post Graduate Diploma graduate is competent to

1. The demonstrate graduate - level knowledge and critical understanding of telecommunication and information policy in the global, African and South African contexts as well as the extent and impact of the global information economy on business and society

2. Apply knowledge of the fundamentals of telecommunication and information policy and the information economy in the analysis of the communication strategies and problems of African and developing countries with special reference to South Africa

3. To demonstrate graduate-level knowledge of the social, political, cultural and economic variables affecting telecommunications and information policy formulation and implementation and the information economy

4. To demonstrate graduate-level knowledge and understanding of the impact of telecommunications and information technology on the mass media, organisations, information flows, business and society in general

5. Apply the acquired research skills in writing a communication policy research proposal, carrying out the research project and writing it up in line with academic writing standards

Professional and General Communication

The Post-Graduate Diploma graduate is competent to

1. Communication effectively, and professionally, both verbally, non-verbal and in writing, with or without communication and information technology, in interpersonal, group and mediated communication context

2. Read and understand communication research reports of others and communication own research findings in line with academic writing standards

Impacts of communication on people and general society

The Post- Graduate Diploma graduate is competent to

1. The import and impact of policy framework on telecommunication and information activity in various contexts, group and organisational management and society at large

2. The import and impact of telecommunication and information technology on group and organisational contexts and society at large

3. The import of research and research literature in understanding the impact of telecommunications and information policy frameworks on people, organisations and the general society

Team and multi-disciplinary working

The post-graduate diploma graduate is competent to

1. Work effectively as an individual, in teams and in complex multi-disciplinary environments showing leadership and performing critical (especially communication policy) functions

Lifelong Learning

The post-graduate diploma graduate is competent to

1. The requirements to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of up-to-date telecommunications and information policy and research technology and techniques

and is competent to

2. Engage in lifelong learning through well-developed learning skills

Professional ethics and practice

The Post Graduate diploma graduate is competent to

1. The need to act professionally and ethically and to take responsibility within own limits of competence

and is competent to

2. Exercise judgement commensurate with knowledge and experience

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Integrated assessment

Students write individual assignments to demonstrate and illustrate their understanding of the fundamental telecommunications and information policy concepts, theories, and dynamic that have been learned

During group discussions and seminar preparation and presentation, students develop creative thinking plus analytical and problem-solving skills

Students demonstrate a healthy curiosity and enthusiasm to communicate their acquired communication knowledge and skills to their peers in a variety of modes are able to assess the performance of others in this regard

Students demonstrate their basic research competence by writing under close supervision, a research proposal, carrying out a research project and writing it up in line with academic writing standards.

Integrated assessment methods

Assignment essay and seminar papers for which students do individual and group library work shall be used to test comprehension of subject matter plus referencing, citation and academic writing skills.

Seminar and group work (presentation and discussion) assessed by Lecturers and peers. These shall be used to test various analytical, critical and presentation skills.

Practical assignments and projects shall be used to test learners' competence, teamwork and creativity.

Formal universities examinations shall be used and these will weight half of the final results in each module.

A completed research project of limited scope will be used to assess the learner's basic research competence.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Students with this qualification plus the requisite results may enroll for the Masters Degree in Communication by research in this or any other university

Students with this qualification plus the requisite results may enroll for the coursework Masters Degree in Communication Policy Studies offered by this university and for the Masters in International Communication offered by UNISA.

MODERATION OPTIONS

External examiners will moderate all examination scripts and research projects
The Faculty examinations committee will be the final moderating body.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Lecturing staff appointed as internal university examiners, and duly appointed external examiners, shall be assessors in line with the quality assurance and management systems of this university. At this level a Master's degree with several years' teaching experience is required for internal examiners. External examiners will have a Master's degree plus teaching and research experience.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

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.	University of Fort Hare