SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Advanced Diploma: Security Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
90624	Advanced Diploma: Security 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
Advanced Diploma	Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security		Safety in Society
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Not Applicable	NQF Level 07	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 qualification will provide a career-focused opportunity to all learners across the board and will uphold the spirit of learner centredness. It will contribute to good and responsible security service providers who will be able to cater for the needs of quality security service to communities, private and public organisations. The qualification will provide for lifelong learning and flexibility. This qualification is aimed at learners who wish to pursue careers as security supervisors and security managers and who seek recognition for essential skills needed at the level of middle management.

A qualifying learner will be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required of competent security managers in the private and public security industry. The emphasis, besides additional advanced specialised knowledge and information, will be on the practical application of already acquired knowledge. This qualification will also assist in promoting good governance, professionalism and expertise within this sector of the South African economy.

Rationale:
The South African security industry is of considerable strategic and economic importance. The security industry's strategic role in ensuring safety and security is highlighted by the vast human and material resources it deploys to protect and safeguard people and property in Southern Africa.

South Africa is by no means an exception, as across the globe, crime remains the single largest threat. This is a threat which not only endangers profitability but may also cause the collapse of an economic system. As with worldwide trends for this specific industry South Africa has also experienced rapid growth in its private security industry.

The security services industry in South Africa serves and protects the interests and assets primarily of commerce and industry, in order to maintain profitability, economic growth and job creation and also develops welfare and stability among the various communities.

This Advanced Diploma will benefit South African society as a whole by enhancing the security risk manager's knowledge, expertise, skills and competencies in the field of security risk management.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Learning is predominantly from written material, thus learners should:

Be competent in the language of instruction, i.e. English, and be able to communicate effectively in writing and orally.

Be able to interact effectively with people, individually and in groups.

Have a strong and cohesive knowledge foundation in the security sector.

Have analytical, interpretive and integrative skills that have practical value for the society as a whole.

With guided support, take responsibility for their own progress.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
All admission through RPL must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the institutional RPL Policy.

Assessors should assess and give credit for the evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. Evidence may 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 will be judged according to the general principles of assessment described in the notes to assessors. Lecturers will act as assessors for RPL purposes.

Access to the Qualification:

The learner must be in possession of the Diploma: Security Management, at NQF Level 6.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

The Advanced Diploma: Security Management consists of ten compulsory modules of 12 Credits each, at NQF Level 7, totalling 120 Credits. For award of the qualification, a candidate must successfully obtain all ten (10) compulsory modules.

Modules:

Specialised Security Sectors.

Research Methodology in Criminal Justice.

Current Issues in Security Management.

Advanced Security Management.

Advanced Security Risk Management.

Advanced Security Risk Control Measures.

Advanced Security Technology and Information Security.

Advanced Corporate Investigation.

Strategic Management A.

Strategic Management B.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Assess and evaluate the security needs of selected specialised security sectors.
2. Manage the security service environment.
3. Manage security risks.
4. Manage security technology and information.

Range: Security technology includes access and egress control, lighting, CCTV surveillance, computer based systems and management of control room operations by application of the requisite technology and equipment.
5. Identify contemporary needs of the security service industry.
6. Implement security risk control measures pertinent to personnel that are critical in the security management sector.
7. Conduct investigations in the security service industry.
8. Apply research methodology in the field of Security Science.
9. Implement Strategic Management to advance service in the security industry.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
This qualification enables all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes to be addressed.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

The different sectors within the security industry are identified.

Problems and issues from these sectors are identified and explained.

The nature and impact of issues in various sectors are compared.

Interlinked security systems that apply to most sectors are identified.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

The formulation of a security policy is facilitated.

A policy implementation framework is applied.

The implementation of the Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS) and Minimum Physical Security Standards (MPSS), which are mainly used by security managers in government departments, are applied.

Government tender procedures and the outsourcing procedures of security service providers are developed.

The cost-benefit analysis process is used.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and performance agreements are described.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Project management processes in the security environment (practical work situation) are implemented.

The principles of the Security Risk Management process are employed.

Physical security systems and executive risk management procedures are generated.

Security strategies for a corporate enterprise are formulated from concepts of business continuity and resilience management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Job descriptions, policies and procedures for Control Room Operator and Operations are prepared.

The convergence of CCTV surveillance systems, security and the law are installed.

Technology to coordinate the flow of incident based information is applied.

Security IT developments are implemented.

The prevention of computer related crimes is prevented.

The Minimum Information Security Standards relevant to IT and the Access to Information Act are applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

The current PSIRA regulations, registrations and training skills programmes are explained.

Depending on the security infrastructure, both latest manual and automatic approaches are evaluated.

The legislative requirements on labour disputes, gender/equality are explained.

The roles of latest trends in private security in crime prevention/community safety are identified.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

The principles of corporate governance (King Reports I-III) and the Public Finance Management Act are applied.

Corruption prevention strategies (tenders and appropriations) in a company from a given scenario/case study are developed.

Vetting of contract companies/personnel integrity testing/personnel screening/background checks and polygraph are administered.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Confidential investigations, insurance investigations, investigating corruption in the public and private sector and due diligence investigation are practiced.

Analyses of the problems and issues reflect a purposeful and critical application of advanced theory, current knowledge and expertise in the security service industry.

Interventions and/or recommendations reflect purposeful and creative plans to seek solutions based on theory and proven methods within the sector.

Discussions and/or interventions reflect advanced application of appropriate skills, strategies and techniques in accordance with corresponding theoretical assumptions in the security service industry.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Different research approaches, different data collection methods, data analysis methods and writing of a research-based report are selected.

The research inquiry is planned and conducted on the basis of a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques and technologies for the specific research problem.

Research themes are appropriately identified and demarcated.

Research reports display skill in extrapolating key findings, justifiable conclusions and making feasible recommendations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:

A vision statement, mission statement, goals and objectives are generated.

Strategic issues are identified and scenario analysis is applied.

Integrated Assessment:

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to engage in the security risk management environment in a selected and integrative way, dealing effectively with divergent and 'random' demands related to these work operations. Evidence is required that the candidate is able to achieve the purpose of the qualification as a whole at the time of the award of the qualification.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This qualification compared with qualifications from the following countries: Australia, United States of America and the United Kingdom. However an Advanced Diploma in Security Management qualification was not available from these countries. The closest qualifications available were Bachelor's Degrees in Security Management. The Advanced Diploma articulates horizontally with Bachelor Degree at Level 7. The qualifications that are used for comparison focus on Security Management in government, private and public organisations, taking into consideration areas such as financial sector, business and strategies.

Edith Cowan University, (Perth, Australia):

Edith Cowan University (ECU) offers a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Security Management. The Bachelor of Science Degree contents offered by the ECU School of Computing and Security Science is similar and closest to the proposed Advanced Diploma in Security Management in that It develops multidisciplinary knowledge and skills in security management and security technology, necessary for employment in such areas as: government security, private sector security, strategic facilities security, computer and network security, retail security, financial institutions security, corporate security and major security organisations. This course emphasises the function and management of security in the protection of assets.

Bachelor of Science (Security). This Bachelor of Science develops knowledge and skills in security management, risk management and security technologies necessary for employment in such areas as: government security, private sector security, strategic critical facilities, security consultancies, retail security, financial institutions security, corporate security and major security organisations. It emphasises security risk and the function and management of security technology in the protection of assets.

City University of New York (CUNY), United States of America (USA):

Bachelor of Science in Security Management is offered by the Department of Public Management, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, with a focus on the analysis of security vulnerabilities and the administration of qualifications designed to reduce losses in public institutions and private corporations with core security courses (modules) on the following: Level 1: Introduction to Security; Level 2: Methods of Security; Security Management; Law for Security Personnel; Security of Computers and Their Data; Level 3: Emergency Planning.

Michigan State University (USA):

The University offers a Bachelor of Administration with Specialisation in Security Management. This Bachelor's Degree is offered by the School of Social Science and concentrates on the following: business and technical aspects of protecting private and government assets; administrative, management, technical, and legal problems of asset protection and loss prevention; concepts related to protecting personal and personnel rights, proprietary information, facilities, and other assets of an organisation.

University of Leicester, United Kingdom:

The University of Leicester offers a Foundation Degree in Security and Risk Management. This foundation degree is a two-year 12 modular distance learning qualification offered by the Department of Criminology, with the following security-related modules being offered: Level 1: Understanding Risk and Security; Understanding Leadership and Management; Safety, Security and Crime; Crime Prevention; Information Technology and Security. Level 2: Security Management and Business Continuity; Managing Security in the Workplace; Crime in Context; Developing Skills for Managing Security.

Conclusion:
The modules from these qualifications compare favourably with the Advanced Diploma in Security Management. These qualifications are an indication of the growing global demand of the industry for security professionals who are both highly skilled and educated.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification articulates horizontally with:

Bachelor of Technology: Security Management at NQF Level 7.

The qualification articulates vertically with qualifications at NQF Level 8 with management courses in different fields such as Postgraduate Diploma: Management Practice or Bachelor of Public Management Honours.

This articulation can be within the institution or with other institutions offering similar qualifications.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Moderation is conducted internally through a system of second examiners. Second examiners act as moderators for examination purposes. These are senior academics. All the modules will have, senior academics from other universities as external examiners/moderators.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The Higher Education Quality Committee does not require the registration of assessors but evidence must show that the institution has training in place for assessors and moderators. An appeals process including criteria for re-marking must be in place.

Lecturers act as assessor-practitioners to carry out the assessment of candidates for the core modules that make up this qualification. 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 outcome and in the design and development of assessments.

Subject matter experience must be well developed within the field of security risk management.

The assessor must have a qualification relevant to security risk management with a minimum of 24 months security risk management experience.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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