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:

Master of Social Work: Social Development and Planning

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
84630	Master of Social Work: Social Development and Planning
ORIGINATOR
Nelson Mandela University
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Rehabilitative Health/Services
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2018-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31		2022-12-31

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

Learners will be equipped with advanced knowledge, skills and competencies that enable them to play a meaningful role in promoting social development in South Africa, irrespective of the specific context in which they work.

Learners will have a solid knowledge base and understanding of development, development-related policies and development challenges in South Africa and a range of competencies with which, within a team context and from a holistic perspective, to assess situations and plan, execute, manage and evaluate appropriate intervention strategies and programmes.

Learners will be prepared for employment in both the public and private sectors.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Obtained a four-year Bachelors degree in Social Work or an Honours degree in Social Work.

Registered with the Council for Social Service Professions.

Met the selection requirements set out by the Department of Social Service Professions of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Specific Exit Level Outcomes

Over and above the specific exit-level outcomes at Honours level, as set out above, the graduates of the Masters programme - Social Development and Planning - will be able to work effectively in a range of contexts, within which they will be able to:

Practical competencies

1.1 Establish, work with, manage, lead, promote the development of and facilitate change within organisations.
1.2 Manage, lead and facilitate the development of staff, volunteers, community members and other professionals (as appropriate).
1.3 Act as a consultant in their chosen area of research.
1.4 Communicate research findings through publication and other means.
1.5 Execute policy practice, including the analysis of policy and contributing to the development and influencing of social and organisational policy.
1.6 Develop, manage and evaluate needs based developmental programmes and projects.

Fundamental competencies

In addition, the graduates of the Masters programme will be:

1.7 Professional: They will have confirmed their commitment to the values and ethics of social work practice in general and to a developmental approach to social welfare in general and social work practice in particular. They will have a clear theoretical framework of developmental social work practice and a commitment to excellence in service delivery and on-going striving for the improvement thereof.
1.8 Knowledgeable and research-orientated: They will have the ability to manage information using appropriate technology; be aware of the social, cultural, economic and political environment in South Africa and of the impact of the global environment on the country. They will have clarity on the contribution of key role players in the field of development, including other disciplines and professions. They will know how to gain further knowledge, how to add to the knowledge base of the social work profession, how to keep up with developments in the field of social development in general and social work in particular and how to obtain data for the improvement of their professional practice.
1.9 Tolerant, flexible and responsible: While being able to take a stand on issues and argue their point of view, graduates will be open to other points of view and will be able to manage diversity. They will have socio-economic awareness, a sense of personal integrity and will exercise ethical behaviour. They will not discriminate on grounds of class, gender, ethnicity or any other factor; they will not carry fixed partisan viewpoints; and they will not only be able to cope with uncertainty, but be able to manage change processes both at organizational and community levels.
1.10 Reflexive, critical and analytical: They will be critical thinkers with a broad view, able to develop and modify their own philosophy, to review their own performance and will be aware of their role and contribution in the social service sector and to social development. They will be aware of technological and other change processes and their implications and be capable of strategic thinking and informed decision-making. They will be aware of international trends and events, particularly in relation to social development and will be able to contribute to social development in South Africa, mindful of the broader, global context.
1.11 Managers (or leaders) and creative planners: Graduates will be creative planners, entrepreneurial, with the ability to manage organisations and programmes, to define goals and set priorities, solve problems and take risks. They will demonstrate vision and have the capacity to build, work in and lead teams with interpersonal and cross cultural skills.
1.12 Politically aware advocates: Graduates will be aware of and will understand the dynamics of processes of change in society and at organisational levels. At societal level, they will be able to identify the underlying (im)balances of power and the barriers which impede social development in South African society. They will understand and be able to execute advocacy and lobbying, as one strategy to influence change and promote development.

Reflexive competencies

1.13 The graduates will be able to demonstrate: their capacity for independent study through the submission of a dissertation; appropriate academic and professional values; leadership and management skills; the ability to think creatively and analytically and take calculated risks; the capacity to be flexible; and the ability to reflect both on professional growth and practice.

2. Critical Cross-field Outcomes

Creative, critical thinking within the context of problem solving is a critical outcome that links with outcomes 1.1 - 1.6, 1.9 and 1.11 above. Developing competencies in creative, critical thinking is a fundamental component of learning about organisational management and change, human resource management, consultancy work, research and policy practice. This competency is also fundamental to the processes involved in learners reflecting on their own philosophy, their work performance and work role; and developing their capacity to manage and lead.

Teamwork: this critical outcome links with outcome 1.11 above. Their capacity to lead, manage and plan is approached from a participative, teamwork perspective.

Self-organisation: Part of the professional development of the learner (see point 1.7 above) relates to capacity building in respect of ability to organise self and workload. This capacity will be developed through organisation of self to cope with the requirements of the programme, both theoretical and practical.

Information processing: This critical competency will be fundamental to all the practical competencies listed above (see points 1.1 - 1.6 above).

Communication: The development of both verbal and written communication competencies features in all the practical, fundamental and reflexive competencies listed above. In the absence of communication competencies, the specific competencies will not be demonstrated.

Use of technology: this critical outcome forms part of the practical outcomes in general (see points 1.1 - 1.6 above) and the specific outcome related to knowledge and research (point 1.8 above).

Systematic thinking: This level of thinking is critical to reaching all specific outcomes, particularly those related to planning, managing, leadership, research organisational development, and policy practice (see points 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.11 and 1.12 above).

Cultural sensitivity: The development of capacity to be tolerant, flexible and responsible (see point 1.9 above) includes the development of the critical outcome of sensitivity to and ability to deal constructively with cultural diversity.

On-going self-development: This capacity forms a component of professional competency development (see point 1.7 above) and development of the competencies related to being tolerant, flexible and responsible (point 1.9 above).

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The criteria for assessing learners are based on the learning outcomes listed above, whereby, in order to qualify, learners must be able to:

1. Plan, implement and evaluate a theoretically sound, needs based intervention directed towards organisational change and development;

or

2. Demonstrate competency in the development, implementation and evaluation of a needs-based development programme in the field of health / welfare.
3. And demonstrate selected and appropriate leadership and management competencies at an organisation (employing body or other).
4. Plan, implement and evaluate a theoretically sound and needs based knowledge / skills development programme for staff, volunteers, community members or other professionals.
5. Demonstrate the ability to act as a consultant in their chosen area of research.
6. Demonstrate well-developed research skills through conducting a study in the field of social services.

Strategies for Integrated Assessment

The learner will be assessed through building up a portfolio comprising written assignments, practical assignments / work, class presentations on combinations of written and practical assignments, and written tests for each module.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Horizontal level

On the successful completion of modules the learner can within NMMU articulate to the Masters degree in Health and Welfare Management.

Vertical level

This qualification is recognised by other South African universities and will allow the graduate to enter doctoral studies at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University or other universities in South Africa, subject to the admission requirements of those programmes.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Coursework modules and the programme as a whole will be moderated both internally and externally. Options for moderation include the following:

The South Africa Council for Social Service Professions - and the Board for Social Work of this Council (the latter is still being established).

Involvement of the assessors listed above.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Assessors will:

Have a minimum of a Masters qualification in social work or a Masters qualification in a field related to the qualification (e.g. Development Studies) or

Have at least ten years of practical experience relevant to the field concerned (e.g. (organisation) development work or management of an agency).

In respect of the research study and report (including supervisors, co-supervisors and external examiners) be in possession of a Masters degree in Social Work.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 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.	Nelson Mandela University