SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
83226	Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 11 - Services		Hospitality, Tourism, Travel, Gaming and Leisure
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	180	Not Applicable	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction		EXCO 0324/24	2024-07-01	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

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.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:

The purpose of the Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management is to develop the ability of the student to question, analyse and interpret tourism and hospitality management issues within a global context, with a focus on industry-specific sectors.

This purpose is achieved through the delivery of a research-based dissertation at the Master's Level where the student will show evidence of scientific research and the ability to reflect on issues in the context of tourism and hospitality management. The programme therefore assists in the continuing professional development of managers.

The Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management provides postgraduate students with the opportunity to develop and enhance their intellectual competencies and practical skills required to effectively manage tourism and hospitality systems, cognisant of changes in its external and internal environments. Students are therefore equipped to reflect on the changes in strategic requirements of tourism and hospitality organisations and the implications thereof in local, national and international contexts.

Rationale:

The remarkable growth of the South African tourism industry over the years drove the industry towards being structured into tourism and hospitality sectors and sub-sectors. Differences between these sectors have become evident at the operational level. The demand for differential operational competence is now sufficiently covered by undergraduate programmes.

The increased demand for higher level career development through tourism and hospitality postgraduate programmes is evident in that:

Industry has grown in complexity and competitiveness over the years. This change in life cycle is verified by international peer-reviewed conference papers and journal papers in the field of tourism and hospitality showing diversification in scope and depth. As a result, the demand for postgraduate competence to support complex strategic decision-making at the industry-wide level has grown.

Government and industry demands that postgraduate programmes should focus on strategic issues generic to both sectors in order to promote the broad South African tourism experience. This demand is explained by most postgraduate candidates being positioned in high level tourism and hospitality leadership and managerial positions where tourism and hospitality strategy is interpreted as an integrated system.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

It is assumed that the learner is able to develop a research proposal for the intended research project.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

The Faculty of Management and the School of Tourism and Hospitality (STH) accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the STH accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to STH programmes to promote lifelong learning.

The STH manages Recognition of Prior Learning according to the University of Johannesburg's Recognition of Prior Learning policy. The Recognition of Prior Learning process is guided by a Recognition of Prior Learning application, selection and assessment form. Applicants are guided by the Recognition of Prior Learning information brochure and student assessment preparation guidelines, and assessors by the manual for Recognition of Prior Learning implementers.

Access to the Qualification:

Access to this qualification is open to learners in possession of Bachelor degrees in Tourism Management or Hospitality Management or an equivalent qualification in tourism and hospitality management.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This is a research-based qualification requiring the production of a dissertation at the appropriate level for a Master's Degree.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Identify a suitable research topic in the environment of the tourism and/or hospitality industry.

Select an appropriate research approach.

Conduct research using a range of quantitative/qualitative methods and a variety of analytical techniques and information technologies.

Produce and present a research dissertation to advance knowledge in tourism and/or hospitality management, in an acceptable format.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The following associated assessment criteria are applicable to the Exit Level Outcomes:

The research topic is relevant to tourism and/or hospitality management in South Africa.

Appropriate research methodology is applied and data and information are sourced, analysed and synthesised in a meaningful and accurate way for the purposes of the research and, where applicable, reference is made to overseas practice.

Appropriate language and correct terminology is used in research documentation and in the dissertation.

Recommendations are made in the dissertation based on the research done that can inform tourism and/or hospitality management and related aspects of tourism.

The dissertation meets the necessary standard in terms of quality standards in terms of both format and content.

Integrated Assessment:

Assessment of the qualification's learning outcomes forms an integral part of the teaching and learning process of the Master's programme. In achieving these learning outcomes students are required to comply with six steps.

Prospective STH postgraduate students are required to submit a three-page preliminary research proposal for evaluation by the STH Research Committee. The committee serves to evaluate the viability of the project and to allocate STH resources. Based on the student's research interest, the STH Research Committee allocates a supervisor to the student.

The student develops a final research proposal for approval by the STH Research Committee under the guidance of the STH appointed supervisor. As part of the approval process, the student presents a research proposal to a departmental research panel. Based on the recommendations of the research panel, the student finalises the proposal, after which the title and the external examiners are approved by the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee and appointed.

The student and the supervisor establish a schedule against which progress may be monitored by the supervisor and the STH Research Committee.

After finalisation of the research output, the research dissertation is submitted to the previously appointed examiners. The student needs to attain the supervisor's approval to submit the dissertation for external assessment. The student is responsible for incorporating the recommendations of the external examiners in collaboration with the supervisor.

The final mark of the dissertation is calculated in accordance with the requirements determined by the Faculty Board, approved by the Senate and contained in the relevant faculty rules and regulations. The results are considered by the relevant Faculty Board for approval and sent to Senate for noting in accordance to the University's Higher Degrees and Postgraduate Studies Policy.

The student, in collaboration with the supervisor, publishes the results in an accredited journal according to UJ and STH policy and procedure.

Formative and Summative Assessment:

In terms of the research component of the proposed qualification, the supervisor will be responsible for the diagnostic and formative assessments of the product in order to provide feedback in terms of the final evaluation criteria. Teaching and learning of research methodology topics are promoted in this manner and is also a way of monitoring student progress.

Internal and external moderation/examination:

External moderators are appointed to ensure the quality of the proposed Master of Tourism and Hospitality Management programme.

The University of Johannesburg requires that moderators should be experienced assessors with knowledge of the learning field, in whom other assessors have confidence and who are experienced Moderators or have undergone training in moderation.

Students' research products are finally evaluated by a suitably qualified, internal examiner and by two suitably qualified external examiners on a Master's Degree level. The process of using two external examiners ensures that internal examination procedures are externally verified.

Students receive written and/or oral feedback on all assessments from the assessor. The date, time and place of feedback are communicated in writing to students as part of the assessment plan.

Where practical, students receive feedback within two weeks of assessment submission. Feedback is provided by one or more of the following methods:

A written assessment feedback report

Marking checklist

One-on-one interview

Verbal feedback

In line with the University of Johannesburg Assessment Policy, assessment results are confidential. An individual student's assessment results are not disclosed to fellow-students or unauthorised staff members. Class lists on notice boards include only the relevant student numbers and the results. Constructive feedback which takes the purpose of the assessment into account is provided.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualification is comparable to Master's degrees presented at other leading international tertiary Schools of Tourism and Hospitality in terms of approach and dissertation and research demands.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical articulation is possible with a Doctorate in any cognate field.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Recommendation of a moderating body or bodies (internal and external):

At NQF Level 9 assessors and moderators are appointed by the institution (provider), internally and examiners externally.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The University of Johannesburg requires that moderators should be experienced assessors with knowledge of the learning field, in whom other assessors have confidence and who are experienced Moderators or have undergone training in moderation.

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:

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 Johannesburg