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: 

Diploma: Public Administration and Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
83467  Diploma: Public Administration and Management 
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
Diploma (Min 360)  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Public Administration 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  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   2033-06-30  

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 primary purpose of the qualification is for learners to demonstrate vocational knowledge, skills, applied competence and the necessary attitudes in the field of public administration and management to become lifelong learners, employable workers and contributors to public administration in various institutions. A second purpose of the qualification is for learners in public administration to widen the vocational leadership and managerial base of innovative and practice-based public administration and management.

Qualifying learners could follow a variety of careers within the Public Sector:
  • Financial Services.
  • Administration.
  • Management.
  • Human Resources Management.
  • Knowledge Management.

    Rationale:

    The public officials in South Africa operate in a wide variety of roles within the Public Administration and Management structures. Often they work in diverse operating and service delivery circumstances.

    The sustainability of South Africa's democratic process and developmental governance are strongly linked to capacity building within the three spheres of government, i.e. the national, provincial and local spheres of government. It is of great national importance that public officials receive a relevant and respected Public Administration and Management qualification that recognises the knowledge and skills which South Africa's public sector require. To fulfil their roles public sector officials need to have excellent awareness and understanding of the changing needs of today's public service delivery systems.

    Upon completion of the Diploma: Public Administration and Management, the qualified student would have been actively engaged in becoming a well-rounded, educated person, specifically preparing for further, more specific study and/or the work environment as an employer/manager in an administrative section. He or she has a theoretical foundation that will guide him or her in the work environment to act as a functional level manager. As such he or she develops and holds certain values and integrates general administrative knowledge and skills, the function of management and the application of the theory of administration and management to achieve his or her goals. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Students should have good reading and writing skills in English.
  • Students should be able to analyse and respond to a variety of texts.
  • Students should be able to learn independently in an Open and Distance Learning context (ODL) with minimum support.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Recognition of Prior Learning can be used to obtain admission to the qualification by those learners who do not meet the entry requirements and may be used to gain credits for up to 50% of the qualification. All applications of Recognition of Prior Learning must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the Unisa Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

    The Unisa Recognition of Prior Learning office can supply full details of processes relating to the assessment and accreditation of learning from prior experiences. Evidence can be presented in a variety of forms, including international or previous local qualifications, reports, testimonials mentioning functions performed, work records, portfolios, videos of practice and performance records.

    All such evidence should be judged according to the general principle of assessment described in the notes to assessors. Unisa lecturers will act as assessors for Recognition of Prior Learning purposes.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Access is open to learners who are in possession of a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with:
  • An achievement rating of 3 or better (an E symbol on Matric Certificates), in four recognised National Senior Certificate 20-credit subjects containing English, at either Home, or First Additional, or Second Additional Level selected as a recognised 20-credit subject for the National Senior Certificate.
    Or
  • An achievement rating of 3 (an E symbol on Matric Certificates) or better for English, at either Home, or First Additional or Second Additional Level selected as a recognised 20-credit subject for the National Senior Certificate.
    Or
  • An achievement rating of 3 (an E symbol on Matric Certificates) or better for Mathematics or an achievement rating of 5 or better for Mathematical Literacy as recognised 20-credit National Senior Certificate subjects.

    Access is also open to learners with an appropriate Higher Certificate at NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification has a total of 360 credits.

    All the modules are compulsory, and have 12 credits each.

    NQF Level 5 modules:
  • Public Resource Management I.
  • Public Information Services I.
  • End-user computing.
  • Public Service Delivery I.
  • Public Decision-making I.
  • Public Office Management I.
  • Management IA.
  • Self Management I.
  • The nature, content and scope of public administration.
  • Public Supply Chain Management.

    NQF Level 6 modules:
  • Public Financial Management II.
  • Public Financial Control II.
  • Public Human Resource Management IIA.
  • Public Human Resource Management IIB.
  • Public Procurement and Logistics Management II.
  • Public Information Practices II.
  • Project Management IIA.
  • Project Management IIB.
  • Fundamentals of Public Administration Research II.
  • The structuring and functioning of public services.
  • Policy Studies III.
  • Public Management Practice III.
  • Intersectoral Collaboration III.

    NQF Level 7 modules:
  • Public Financial and Procurement Management IIIA.
  • Public Financial and Procurement Management IIIB.
  • Public Human Resource Management III.
  • Management of Information III.
  • Management of Information Systems III.
  • Approaches to Programme Management III.
  • Aspects of Programme Management III. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate a practical and functional understanding of the public administration world of work.
  • Use a range of specialised skills to identify, analyse and address functional and/or real-life problems in the workplace, drawing systematically on own knowledge of ethical standards, theory, research methods, techniques and technologies.
  • Manage and self-assess learning tasks autonomously, professionally, responsibly and ethically with due consideration of their continued professional growth and development.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in this qualification. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria are used in an integrated manner to assess the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Standard procedures, processes or techniques to theoretically deal with or empirically investigate functional or real-life world problems in a particular area of study are appropriately applied.
  • The analyses and interpretation of theoretical data and practical information are independently conducted.
  • Practical and functional insight by means of well-rounded, theory-driven and evidence-based arguments and self-reflection is demonstrated.
  • Judgements and conclusions, based on information and data, are clearly communicated to specialist and non-specialist audiences using the resources of an academic/functional discourse appropriately, reliably and accurately.
  • Self-assessment reflects an awareness of taking responsibility for own activities, ethical behaviour and continued professional development in the field of public administration.
  • Insights and ideas reflect an acceptable social sensitivity in the student's relationship and interaction with others and work in the public administration work environment.
  • Ethical decisions which affect functional public sector work environment issues are made with social sensitivity and awareness of consequences in an autonomous manner.

    Integrated Assessment:

    All assessment will integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes and applied competence.

    Formative assessment:

    Learning and assessment are integrated. The study guides contain self-assessment tasks with feedback. The scheme of work includes a combination of written and multiple choice assignments based on the learning material which students have to submit and for which they earn a semester mark. Students are given feedback in the form of written comments in the assignments and suggested solutions and mark plans presented in a formal tutorial letter. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and a limited number of outcomes.

    Assignment marks contribute 10% towards the student's final mark.

    Summative assessment:

    Examinations of a representative selection of outcomes practiced and assessed in the formative stage. Summative assessment also tests the student's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module:
  • One two-hour examination per module per semester.
  • Unless otherwise stated, a subminimum of 40% must be obtained in the examination.
  • The mark obtained in the examination contributes 90% to the student's final mark.

    Supplementary examinations are available for students who obtained at least 45% as a final examination mark. 
    		•

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

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This Qualification articulates horizontally with:
  • Any cognate Diploma at NQF Level 6.

    The Qualification articulates vertically with:
  • Any cognate Advanced Diploma at NQF Level 7.
  • Any cognate Bachelor Degree at NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Moderation is conducted internally through a system of second examiners. All Exit Level Modules will have in addition an external examiner from another higher education institution. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The following criteria are specified for assessors concerning the core aspects of the qualification:
  • Assessors need experience in interpersonal skills, subject matter and assessment.
  • Assessors need to be competent in the planning and conducting of assessment of learning outcomes and in the design and development of assessment.
  • Subject matter experience must be well developed within the field of Public Administration and Management.

    Qualifications:

    The assessor must at least have an appropriate honours degree or postgraduate diploma. 
    		•

    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 South Africa 


    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.