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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Population and Policy Analysis 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
93789  Postgraduate Diploma in Population and Policy Analysis 
ORIGINATOR
North West 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 07 - Human and Social Studies  People/Human-Centred Development 
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 Purpose of the qualification is to provide middle and senior management level planners and practitioners with advanced understanding and practical skills for interlinking research and policy to gain more improved levels of sustainable human development in South Africa and throughout the African continent. The qualification is aimed at all levels of government and other influential corporate spheres which include business, non-governmental, not for profit, civic and faith based organisations. The intended outcome will be achieved by integrating population and development theory, research and programmes.

Rationale:
The Sub-Saharan Africa region is arguably the only region in the world most likely not to meet the Millennium Development Goals targets. The failure has been attributed in part to:
  • Lack of appreciation of the centrality of population issues in all policies and qualifications and not therefore the responsibility of National Population Offices.
  • Lack of skills in population and policy analysis through research and the implementing of population programmes at sectoral, regional and lower levels of governance. This qualification, through the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the National Department of Social Development (DoSD) will contribute to remedying the skills and capacity gap by:
    > Providing the required training and skills needed by implementers of population policies and programmes in conducting population research and policy analyses needed for an integrated synergistic implementation of population related programmes at the community level.
    > Developing the skills of implementing agencies, sectors and units to more effectively monitor and evaluate population related programmes to their desirable ends.
    > Enabling implementers of population programmes to more effectively and sustainably mobilise community support in the implementation of population policies and programmes.
    > The graduates of this qualification will be called Population and Policy Analysts. These graduates will be in the foreground of implementing population related programmes at sectoral, regional and community levels. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The University subscribes to the principles underlying outcomes-based, source-based and lifelong learning. In this context, considerations of articulation and mobility play an important role. The University endorses the view that Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) constitutes an essential element of the transformation of access and admissions policies to education institutions in South Africa. The transformation of access and admissions policies is intended to increase participation in and broaden access to higher education in order to produce graduates with the skills and competencies necessary to meet the human resource needs of the country.

    The general academic rules of the University state the following regarding RPL:
  • For Access: establishment of a suitable level of study aimed at a qualification, for a learner who does not qualify for admission into that qualification via the ordinary admission requirements of an institution.
  • For Advanced Standing: exemption from certain levels or modules of a course of study on the basis of the learner's experience/learning acquired prior to applying for RPL.
  • For Credit: granting credit for a level or a module of a course of study on the basis of experience gained or learning acquired before applying for RPL.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum admission requirement is an undergraduate Degree in Demography and Population Studies, or an undergraduate Degree in Population Studies or Demography or an equivalent qualification. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises the following modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 120 Credits:
  • Information Systems and Computer Applications, 8 Credits.
  • Statistics, 12 Credits.
  • Understanding Population, 24 Credits.
  • Social Research Methods, 16 Credits.
  • Development Policies and Qualifications, 24 Credits.
  • Introduction to Research Policy and Qualifications Nexus, 18 Credits.
  • Applied Research Paper, 18 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The qualifying learner will be able to:
    1. Demonstrate advanced, systematic and specialist knowledge, understanding and skills to undertake research on individual, community and/or interdisciplinary level by applying appropriate research methods and techniques to identify, analyse and formulate complex real-world research problem(s) in the domain of Demography, Population Studies and Development, and to communicate and defend, orally and in writing, substantial ideas of the core subject matters of the qualification.
    2. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of international and national population related policies with special focus on population and development globally and in South Africa.
    3. Undertake a critical and relevant literature survey, to apply theories and techniques in analysing demographic, population and related data and drawing valid, reliable and relevant conclusions based on the analyses for evidence based policy and programme development.
    4. Communicate results of the research effectively and ethically in a coherent dissertation and present this verbally to a specialist and non-specialist audience by using the resources of an academic-professional discourse, including IT. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Use terminology, concepts, principles and theories in written and/or oral communication.
  • Design comprehensive population and development research to address population and development problems.
  • Develop possible logical, sequenced and sustainable solutions to identified population and development problems, based on theory and evidence with an effective action plan and a sound and adequate budget.
  • Conduct independent research, under supervision, in the field of population and development, in an interdisciplinary context, that uses a range of skills to identify, analyse and address complex development problems.
  • Identify critical factors impacting on practical problems in the field of population and development that need to be investigated.
  • Communicate own research findings to peers and other researchers during oral presentations in a manner appropriate for this level of study.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Describe, explain and compare diverse theories and policies.
  • Analyse international and national population related policies and programmes.
  • Compare and discuss population related policies and programmes.
  • Use theoretical knowledge to design, monitor and evaluate policies and programmes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Locate and critically analyse relevant demographic, population and related literature (including peer reviews, local, state and national strategic plans, relevant area and organisational reports and policies) and apply them to the field of population and development policy.
  • Analyse, evaluate and synthesise recent and relevant research findings.
  • Interrogate multiple sources of knowledge, evaluate the knowledge and processes of knowledge production critically in a variety of contexts particular to the field of population policy and development programmes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Write reports for a variety of audiences and purposes including in house reports, programme plans, programme update reports, submissions and funding applications.
  • Communicate clearly using scholarly discourse and discipline-specific conventions efficiently.
  • Demonstrate scholarly and critical reasoning skills.
  • Know and use different techniques and strategies for communicating results such as electronic media, written and oral formats.
  • Write an ethically accepted dissertation in an accurate, coherent, appropriate, and well motivated way, with respect for intellectual property conventions, copyright and rules on plagiarism.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The institution will use assignments, tests and written semester examinations. The qualification will be assessed through continuous formative and summative assessments to ensure integrated assessment of all Exit Level Outcomes. Continuous formative assessment is required to ensure that learners receive feedback on their progress towards the achievement of specific learning outcomes. Summative assessment is conducted to assess the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. All exit level examinations will be externally moderated to ensure that assessment standards meet international expectations.

    Assessments are aimed at ensuring that learners have achieved the Exit Level Outcomes; evaluating learner competencies and that learners have acquired appropriate knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes required by the qualification. The research dissertation will be externally assessed by subject specialists in the field for which the dissertation is written. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification is internationally comparable, it was developed after a thorough review of similar and related qualifications by an international team of subject experts. The Postgraduate Diploma in Population Policy Analysis was developed by a team of subject experts of international repute in Africa, contracted by the United Nations Population Fund. The qualification is therefore comparable to similar qualifications on policy analysis from around the world with regard to content, outcomes and assessment criteria.

    The Postgraduate Diploma compares well with, for example, the postgraduate diplomas delivered at the University of Colombo and the IPA, a recognised college of the University College Dublin (UCD). The IPA and UCD are part of the wider National University of Ireland (NUI) network.

    At the University of Colombo the qualification in Population Studies is an interdisciplinary subject, and the qualification is primarily directed towards academics, professionals and officers who work in the field of population and related disciplines. The qualification comprises course work and a dissertation. The learners are required to do course work consisting of eight course units (modules) spread over two academic terms offered at four course units (modules) per term. These course units (modules) include subjects such as Population and Development, Population Projections and Theoretical Population Models, Statistical and Research Methods, introductory Statistics, Migration and Urbanisation.

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Analysis delivered at the IPA is a one year, part-time qualification that focuses on improving the policy analysis skills of Irish public servants. It responds to a palpable need for greater understanding of project management, economic and financial analysis, social policy analysis, cost benefit analysis and data analysis, research methods and policy evaluation.

    Conclusion:
    The rationale for the qualifications, the duration, level and module competencies of the international qualifications above make this qualification internationally comparable. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification provides learners with both horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities.

    This Qualification articulates horizontally with:
  • A Postgraduate Diploma in Population Studies.
  • A Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Public Policy.
  • A Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Policy and Development Studies.
  • A Bachelor of Science Honours in Population Studies.

    The Qualification articulates vertically with:
  • A Master of Population Studies.
  • A Master of Arts in Public Policy.
  • A Master of Philosophy in Public Policy.
  • A Master of Philosophy in Population Studies. 
    		•

    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 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. North West University 


    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.