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:

Master of Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
9251	Master of Management
ORIGINATOR
University of Witwatersrand
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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Office Administration
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	180	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered		EXCO 0733/25	2024-06-30	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

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

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to train and enable graduate to critically engage and apply a range of analytical and interpretive lenses to complex issues with the broad reach of the state and civil society in their roles as social change and development agents. The qualification will train graduates where they can demonstrate critical knowledge of the discipline, conceptualize and create new knowledge or practice of the public policy and management field.

The successful learners will be able to demonstrate ability to contribute to scholarly debates around theories and processes of knowledge production in public policy development and administration. They should be able to provide critique and/or develop new methods and techniques and processes appropriate to complex public management contexts, in creative, original and innovative ways.

The successful candidates will demonstrate ability to ethically apply specialist knowledge and theory to address practical and theoretical problems. Also, the qualification seeks to enable successful candidates to make independent judgements about managing inconsistent information through a process of analysis and synthesis, to develop significant original insights into new, complex or abstract ideas.

Rationale:
The qualification is of relevance to the new civil services of Africa and related Non-Governmental Organisations, where graduates will be able to critically and systematically reflect and research on complex issues applicable to the public service. There is a critical need for high quality policy makers, policy analysts, policy advisors, and civil society policy researchers and activists.

The qualifying graduates will contribute specialized skills to identify, conceptualize, design and implement processes and procedures to complex practical and theoretical problems in a variety of public administration contexts.

The qualifying students will be able to produce, independent, in depth publishable work which meets international standards, and it is considered new or innovative by peers. The qualification will equip students to demonstrate intellectual independence, leadership, management, and development in public policy and governance research.

The qualifying learner will be able to proceed to the Doctoral studies.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Learners who fall outside of the normal admissions process who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the institution that they have a suitably cognate qualification and/or experiential-or work-based learning which has taken the learner to an equivalent level of a qualification may be considered for admission and/or for the recognition of prior accredited and/or prior experiential learning.

Learners who, after such assessment, are deemed to have sufficient potential but need further academic development, may be required to broaden their curriculum to include preliminary programmes prior to admission or parallel programmes after admission.

Applicants without degrees will be considered if they are currently working in a high-level management position and have extensive management experience in the relevant sector.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Relevant Bachelor Honours, NQF Level 8.
Or

Relevant Postgraduate Diploma in the related field, NQF Level 8.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory Module, Research only, 180 Credits:

Dissertation, 180 Credits

Coursework:
Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 150 Credits:

Governance and Policy, 10 Credits.

Qualitative Research Methods, 15 Credits.

Quantitative Research Methods, 15 Credits.

Research Proposal, 20 Credits.

Research Report, 90 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 9, 30 Credits (Select 3 modules):

Approaches to public policy, 10 credits

Institutions and policy management, 10 credits

Approaches to peace and security, 10 credits

Security sector reform, 10 credits

Systems Thinking for monitoring and Evaluation, 10 credits

Monitoring and evaluation data generation, analysis and management, 10 credits

Public service ethics, 10 credits

Decision making in public institutions, 10 credits

Political economy of development, 10 credits

Public finance, 10 credits

Foundations of social security, 10 credits

Social security financing, 10 credits

The political environment of public policy, 10 credits

Social Policy and Social Change in Developing Countries: The Case of South Africa, 10 credits

Economics and Public Policy, 10 credits

Development, 10 credits

Cyber Security, 10 credits

Humanitarian Assistance, 10 credits

Environmental Security and Peacebuilding, 10 credits

National Peace and Security Policy, 10 credits

Theory-based Planning and Evaluation, 10 credits

Impact Evaluation, 10 credits

Qualitative Data Analysis, 10 credits

Comparative Social Security Systems, 10 credits

Public and Development Sectors Results-Based Management, 10 credits

Monitoring and Evaluation Planning and Management, 10 credits

Selected Topics in Quantitative Research, 10 credits

Selected Topics in Education, Skills, Economy and Development, 10 credits

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Complete a dissertation or research report.
2. Engage with the concept of governance as a contested concept.
3. Apply qualitative research methods.
4. Apply quantitative research methods
5. Demonstrate specialist understanding of theoretical frameworks, key concepts, approaches and processes to management in their specialist area, and their applicability in an authentic context.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Identify and formulate a research problem

Perform a critical and relevant literature survey

Execute and critically review research using an effective methodology in order to demonstrate research mastery

Assess the significance of research findings

Write the dissertation or research report in acceptable structure, style and language.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Analyse policymaking and implementation.

Explore the role of governance as an instrument to engage wicked policies issues.

Critique conventional approaches to addressing complex and multi-dimensional social problems to governance and public policy.

Appraise alternative models to governance and policy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Appraise approaches to analysing and presenting qualitative data in response to the research question.

Justify appropriated qualitative data analyses approaches used

Present and interpret analysis results using qualitative techniques conventional to the field.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Produce a research design that meets the technical quantitative protocol requirements

Utilise appropriate sampling techniques in line with conventions

Apply appropriate quantitative data analysis and results presentation techniques in context

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Use applicable theoretical and concepts in the specialist in line with appropriate conventions.

Analyse, evaluate and apply the fundamental terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of management.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT:
Research reports or dissertations serve as the medium for integrated formative and summative assessment.

Formative assessment is undertaken on a continuous basis, incorporating seminar presentations and papers, coursework assignments and tasks, as well as reports on research plans. Such methods assess students' progress towards the professional and academic competencies set out in the exit level outcomes listed above.

The summative assessment instruments are designed to integrate practical, theoretical and reflexive competence in research. These assessment practices, aligned with intended learning outcomes, will take diverse forms, including inter alia, diagnostic, formative, and summative assessment.

In order to promote, monitor and measure student learning throughout a course, no
single assessment may count for more than 40% of the final mark unless there are
special circumstances, in which case the permission of the Dean is required.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualification is comparable to the following international qualifications:

Country: Ireland
Institution: Dublin College University
Qualification: Master in Public Policy

Similarities: Both qualifications aim to develop an understanding of the political, ethical, social and economic factors which influence policymaking along with the challenges associated with effective policy implementation and regulation. The qualifications introduce participants to the key concepts, theories and analytic techniques which underpin public policy analysis.

Differences: The Dublin College University qualification has a much wider choice of options, on targeted topical areas - 8 streams to choose from, for the course work and is worth 90 credits which differs from the South African qualification.

Country: New Zealand
Institution: Victoria University of Wellington
Qualification: Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Similarities: Both qualifications aim to prepare 'think tanks' in public policy development in implementation at all levels of government, as well as in non-profit organizations. The qualifications cover topics including public policy analysis, program evaluation, policy implementation, and public management. Students also have the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of public policy, such as health and well-being, education, or environmental policy. Both qualifications are worth 180 credits.

Differences: The Victoria University of Wellington qualification leads professional degree endorsed by a professional body which differs with the South African qualification.

Country: India
Institution: National Law School of India University
Qualification: Master's Programme in Public Policy

Similarities: Both qualifications are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to work in public policy and governance roles. They cover a wide range of topics, including public policy analysis, program evaluation, policy implementation, and public management. They also prepare students for careers in public policy at all levels of government, as well as in non-profit organizations and think tanks. Both qualifications also provides students with the foundation to pursue a PhD in public policy or a related field.

Differences: The National Law School of India University qualification is through Coursework and research report only which differs with how the South African qualification is offered.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Master of Business Administration, NQF Level 9.

Vertical Articulation:

Doctor of Philosophy in Management, NQF Level 10.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

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 2006; 2009; 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 Witwatersrand