SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Postgraduate Diploma: Public Health

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
79887	Postgraduate Diploma: Public Health
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Promotive Health and Developmental Services
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 "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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
111554	Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health	Not Applicable	NQF Level 08	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:

To enhance the capacity of people working in the health field to practice Public Health in order to improve the health status of the people of South Africa and other developing countries. Successful candidates will provide the skills and expertise to assess, plan, monitor and implement and manage relevant health programmes at district, regional and provincial levels.

The focus of the qualification is on health measurement to enable students to assess the health status of populations, plan appropriate interventions and monitor the outcomes of intervention strategies. Important determinants such as infectious disease, including HIV and Aids and populations trends will be an integral part of the programme. A module on the principles and theory of health research will ensure that students will obtain the skills to provide evidence-based solutions to health priorities.

Rationale:

The morbidity and mortality profile of diseases in South Africa and other African developing countries are clearly related to public health-related issues such as infectious diseases, HIV and Aids, demographic and population changes, poverty and lack of infrastructure. The relevance of public health in terms of realising the millennium development goals and health priorities in South Africa is evident. The number of applicants for the currently offered Masters degree in Public Health in excess of 400 per year, is an indication of the need for this qualification in Africa.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

It is assumed that learners are competent in:

Language, Writing and Communication skills at NQF Level 6.

Numeracy at NQF Level 4.

Computer Literacy in the use of a word processing package and spread sheets at NQF Level 3.

Learners should also have been exposed to public health and health programme policy, planning and management issues.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

Recognition of Prior Learning will be applied on an individual basis and will be in accordance with institutional Recognition of Prior Learning policies. Recognition of Prior Learning will be applied on the basis of agreement between UNISA and the student concerned.

Access to the qualification:

Students with a health related degree at NQF Level 7 will have access to the programme.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

The programme will consists of five compulsory modules at NQF Level 8, each with a value of 24 credits giving a total of 120 credits.

No elective modules are offered.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Interrogate and critically review multiple sources to access essential health information and health related statistics in order identify and prioritise health needs within populations.

2. Design, implement and monitor appropriate and cost-effective strategies to address priority health needs.

3. Relate and understand the impact of infectious diseases, both current and emerging, as well as population dynamics on the health systems, on health service delivery and on the addressing of important international criteria such as the Millennium Development Goals.

4. Identify ethical issues relating to the provision of appropriate health services which will benefit populations and reason and account for ethical decisions and strategies taken in that regard.

5. Function effectively as a member of a health and inter-sectoral health team.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

All the critical Cross-field outcomes can be addressed in this qualification.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

In-country available health statistics and other information are accessed and utilised to provide evidence based reports.

Discussion forums and peer reviewed interaction are participated in using accessed and evaluated information.

Practical ways to obtain information in cases where relevant health information is not available are proposed.

Practical ways to implement health information systems are proposed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Knowledge and skills are integrated at an advanced level within the health systems of own country so as to submit a feasible, practical and cost-effective intervention strategy for priority diseases in own country context.

Expert reviews, group discussions are participated in and reports of intervention strategies of own and other learners on the programme are analysed in terms of their effectiveness, and cost-efficiency.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Detailed written reports on the inter-relationships between the factors impacting on the health of populations are drawn up.

The impact that current and emerging infectious diseases have on population dynamics, health systems and health service delivery are discussed in detail.

The impact that infectious diseases have on international strategies and health criteria such as the Millennium Development Goals are shown.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Ethically-based case studies on the provision of health services are critically analysed in terms of the ethical issues impacting on them.

Discussion forums on ethical issues and problems are participated in.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Various tasks and roles are performed as part of a health or inter-sectoral health team according to relevant legislation and regulations taking into account ethical norms and the applicable code of conduct.

Reports and reviews are drawn up giving evidence of functions performed, team participation and ethical decision-making.

Integrated Assessment:

The assessment of knowledge, skills, attitudes and ability for ethical reasoning and social responsibility will be assessed through written submissions of reports and discussion papers as well as through assessment of learner participation in on-line discussions through the electronic on-line myUNISA portal. External experts form part of these discussions and are also used as external moderators.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The Degree Master's of Public Health (MPH) is offered throughout the world and at all Universities in South Africa with a Medical Faculty. The University of South Africa based the contents and level of the current MPH programme on National and International best-practices. Participation in national and international public health related conferences, meetings and discussions ensures relevance and a high quality of course content. Regular on-line discussions occur with the team leader offering the MPH at the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA and these discussions have helped structure this qualification.

Within Africa, UNISA is the leader in the field of on-line offering of programmes in Public Health. The high demand to register for this programme serves as evidence.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical articulation is possible with a research master's degree in the field of public health.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Assessment is moderated by second internal as well as external moderator. Colleagues with specific expertise in the field, both from academia and practice are included as external moderators.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Assessor for the qualification should at least have a Master's degree in Public Health.

Proof of completion of assessors training is currently a strong recommendation but will in the near future be a requirement.

Appointments of assessors are made in terms of the UNISA assessment Policy.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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 South Africa