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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Document Analysis and Design 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
85166  Postgraduate Diploma in Document Analysis and Design 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch 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
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Information Studies 
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
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 competencies captured in this qualification will capacitate learners as document design specialists in multiple environments, both in the public and private sectors, and will expose them to the latest insights in this interdisciplinary activity. Further, they will be afforded the opportunity of participating in projects regarding the quality of different text genres in a variety of sectors.

Learners successfully mastering these competencies will be able to contribute to the broader society by being able to scrutinise, evaluate and produce documents relevant to their sector or field.

The qualifying learner will be capable of:
  • Critically analysing the quality of different types of documents by means of text-focused and reader-focused evaluation methods.
  • Designing documents for a range of socio-cultural contexts by selecting and applying appropriate techniques.
  • Incorporating text and graphics in different types of documents by selecting and applying appropriate techniques.

    Rationale:

    Effective communication within the modern society has become critical, especially in terms of the large amount of written communication currently produced by many different sectors.

    This qualification is intended to address the competencies relevant to the written form of communication by developing document design specialists for the many different sectors of society and fields of business.

    This qualification allows working professionals or academic scholars to undertake advanced reflection on current specialised practices and methods in document analysis and design using high level theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The knowledge, skills and cognitive ability demonstrated in a Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 7.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    This qualification may be achieved in part or completely through the Recognition of Prior Learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. Care will be taken that the mechanism used provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence and is not so onerous as to prevent learners from taking up the Recognition of Prior Learning option towards gaining a qualification.

    Recognition of Prior Learning may also be used to grant access to the qualification to those learners who do not meet the admission requirements.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Learners registering for this qualification should already have achieved a Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 7 or 8, or an equivalent qualification. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    To be awarded the qualification learners are required to obtain a minimum of 120 Credits at NQF Level 8.

    The following modules at NQF Level 8 are compulsory:
  • Introduction to Document Design, 15 Credits.
  • Intercultural Communication. 15 Credits.
  • The interaction between text and graphics, 20 Credits.
  • Quality assessment methods for business documents, 30 Credits.
  • Document analysis and document genre, 40 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Critically analyse the quality of different types of documents by means of text-focused and reader-focused evaluation methods.

    2. Analyse documents for a range of socio-cultural contexts by selecting and applying appropriate techniques.

    3. Incorporate text and graphics in different types of documents by selecting and applying appropriate techniques.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    This qualification develops all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

    1. Demonstrate knowledge regarding different approaches to document analysis, with a focus on functional text analysis.
    2. Demonstrate knowledge regarding a selection of business document genres.
    3. Use the relevant analytical skills related to the different aspects of document design to analyse documents and critically assess the quality of documents on the basis of these analyses and propose revisions to increase the quality of the documentation.
    4. Design or assist in the design processes of different kinds of business documents.
    5. Demonstrate knowledge about text-focused, expert-focused and reader-focused methods of quality assessment.
    6. Critically assess the quality of documents on the basis of a set of text-focused and reader-focused quality assessment methods and revise documents on the basis of these critical assessments.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

    1. Demonstrate knowledge of different approaches to the study of intercultural communication.
    2. Assess the relevance of intercultural communication dimensions to effective design of different types of documents.
    3. Carry out research to analyse the effect of intercultural communication dimensions on the effectiveness of a document.
    4. Demonstrate a broad understanding of the field of document analysis and design, the history of the field and the most important contributions of the field.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

    1. Demonstrate basic knowledge regarding the principles governing the choice of effective graphics, the relationship between text and graphics and principles of effective typographical design.
    2. Demonstrate analytical and assessment skills regarding the choice of effective graphics, specifically the relationship between text and graphics and effective typographical design.
    3. Interact with graphic designers in the process of document design.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Formative assessment will be applied continually throughout the learning pathway of the individual learning outcomes and/or modules. Summative assessment will be applied to ensure the achievement of each learning outcome and/or module. Integrated Assessment will be applied extensively across the modules of learning so as to ensure the integrated achievement of the Exit Level Outcomes. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This type of knowledge and skills are mainly taught in short courses with an increasing focus on webpage design. This Postgraduate diploma in document design and analysis is believed to be necessary in the South African context. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:

    This qualification may articulate horizontally with any relevant cognate qualification at NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:

    This qualification may articulate vertically with any relevant cognate qualification at NQF Level 9. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal and external moderation must be conducted by moderators appointed by the provider. Both internal and external moderators must be in possession of an appropriate qualification at least one level above the level of this qualification, as well as relevant and current experience. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    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 Stellenbosch 


    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.