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: 

Bachelor of Public Administration Honours 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
86346  Bachelor of Public Administration Honours 
ORIGINATOR
MANCOSA Pty (Ltd) 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Public Administration 
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 primary purpose of the qualification is to provide learners with systemic knowledge, specialised skills and attitudes relating to the fields of development and public administration, to become employable workers/entrepreneurs and contributors to the development of public administration in various public and civic contexts and to encourage lifelong learning.

Secondly, the qualification aims to provide South Africa (and other countries) with graduates in development and public administration, who have in-depth knowledge and the ability and confidence to identify and define complex public administration problems and to be able to offer solutions to overcome them. The qualification should widen the leadership base of people in terms of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity.

The qualification also aims to provide South Africa (and other countries) with people who can play a constructive role as change agents in the field of development and public administration.

Rationale:

Due to a shortage of qualified personnel in public administration and the transformation of traditional administration, there is a need to respond to a new democratic order in the country and to the changing needs of society. This involves a move away from a narrow focus on public administration towards a broader, more professional and more dynamic focus on governance and public management. The Honours Degree in Public Administration offers the relevant professional skills to prepare the learner for a career in public administration. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognised relevant experience in public administration is recommended.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

This qualification may be obtained wholly or in part through the Recognition of Prior Learning. Recognition of Prior Learning may also be used to grant access to the qualification to those learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements.

Access to the Qualification:

Applicants will be admitted to this qualification on the basis of one of the following qualifications:
  • Bachelor of Public Administration, NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, NQF Level 7.
  • Any appropriate Bachelor's Degree at, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    All six NQF Level 8 modules are Compulsory:
  • Theory and science of public administration, 20 credits.
  • Planning and policy analysis in the public sector, 20 credits.
  • Politics in the public sector, 20 credits.
  • Management of public and municipal finance, 20 credits.
  • Strategic management and the public sector, 20 credits.
  • Research, 30 credits.

    Total; 130 credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Identify, analyse and solve complex, concrete and abstract problems facing public administration.

    2. Reflect on own knowledge and practice in the light of the theory and practice of public administration.

    3. Conduct research using appropriate technology.

    4. Communicate research findings according to academic requirements.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    The Critical Cross Field Outcomes are all addressed by the qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Assessment Criteria 1:
  • Identify significant problems and problem-areas in a relevant discipline/field of study.
  • Describe and analyse the main issues involved.
  • Take an academically reasoned position on such issues.
  • Assess the impact of public sphere policy (including legislation) on society.
  • Assess the impact of institutional structures on society.
  • Identify and understand issues of reconstruction and development in developing states.
  • Apply management theories to practical situations in the public and non-governmental spheres.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Assessment Criteria 2:
  • Apply theories and models in the analysis and interpretation of public administration.
  • Take cognisance of divergent viewpoints and critically evaluate their relative merits to arrive at own viewpoint.
  • Formulate sustained and coherent arguments in response to a variety of discipline-related issues.
  • Formulate responses to resolve concrete and abstract problems in public and non-governmental contexts.
  • Apply learning from individual experience and academic disciplines to political, social, cultural, technological and economic realities, locally and globally.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Assessment Criteria 3:
  • Document researchable problems.
  • Demarcate the scope of research, for a limited project, under supervision.
  • Conceptualise a research topic within an existing field of discourse and literature.
  • Compile a research design in relation to a research problem.
  • Conduct an independent search for relevant sources such as journals, specialist bibliographies, websites, official publications, file systems and archives.
  • Review and integrate the most important literature.
  • Identify, define and distinguish between the various research methods in the social sciences (e.g. quantitative, qualitative and participatory action).
  • Choose and apply the most applicable research methods and strategies for research problems in their field of research.
  • Make reasoned theoretical judgements.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Assessment Criteria 4:
  • Communicate material according to standard academic conventions of presentation (e.g. structuring, referencing, bibliographies).

    Integrated Assessment:

    Integrated Assessment is used to measure the extent to which the learner has achieved competence in the Exit Level Outcomes. The assessment methods include:
  • Case studies.
  • Report writing.
  • Interpretative and analytical problem solving in the written examination.
  • Work based assignments.
  • Self assessment activities in the course material.

    Formative Assessment: The scope of work includes assignments based on the learning material and learners are given feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the wok and limited number of outcomes.

    Summative Assessment: Examinations or equivalent assessment such as a research essay or portfolio in order to determine a representative selection of the outcomes practised 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.

    Integrated Assessment: All assessment will integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes and applied competence. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification was compared with the following international qualifications whose components are similar:
  • George Washington University, United States of America - Bachelor of Public Administration Honours.
  • University of Phoenix, United States of America - Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:

    This qualification articulates horizontally with any cognate Honours Degree or Postgraduate Diploma at NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:

    This qualification articulates vertically with any cognate Master's Degree at NQF Level 9. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    External examiners and moderators are appointed to validate the students' examination and final assessments. MANCOSA Examinations Board is the final decision making body that is responsible for the awarding of the qualification. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    To qualify as an assessor an individual must:
  • Have a relevant Higher Education qualification at least one level higher than this qualification.
  • Be a tutor responsible for that particular module.

    External examiners and moderators must:
  • Be experience in examining this type of programme or equivalent.
  • Be an expert in the subject area.
  • Be a scholastic contributor to the field.
  • Have a cognate qualification at least on level above this one. 
    		•

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

    NOTES 
    This qualification replaces qualification 79206, "Bachelor of Public Administration Honours", Level 7, 130 credits. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. MANCOSA Pty (Ltd) 


    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.