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: 

Advanced Diploma in Business Project Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
93998  Advanced Diploma in Business Project Management 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Project Management 
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:
To educate and develop entry-level project managers and project team members who work in the business sector. Candidates should preferably be working as a project manager or in a project team. The Diploma provides students with a broad but in-depth introduction to the project management discipline with a strong business focus.

Learners will demonstrate how project management integrates with management theories and organisation theories which will ensure the learner understands the context of a project in a business setting. Learners will be exposed to a variety of knowledge from the professional bodies and project management research journals which will allow them to develop an understanding of knowledge sources and academic rigour.

Project management consists of both hard skills and soft skills. Learners will be able to combine different approaches to managing complex problems in projects.

A key competency for project managers, learners will develop skills in problem-solving through their assignments and case studies.

Learners will develop ethical knowledge appropriate to project management. Decision-making based on a variety of information is a key competency of this course and learners will develop this skill to an advanced level.

Learners will produce business reports for different stakeholders relating to the project management lifecycle.

Rationale:
The purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Business Project Management is to provide specialised academic and professional studies for candidates who hold a Degree qualification or a Diploma qualification. The Diploma opens up new markets for University of Cape Town (UCT). This is the first of several proposals to provide distance and blended learning courses in business-related subjects to South Africa and in due course, to southern Africa and the African continent.

South Africa, like many other developing countries, requires well-equipped project managers to deliver new services and products. Given the shortage of project management skills in South Africa and across the continent, this programme will enhance the University's contribution to addressing these scarce skills.

There is a pressing and urgent need for well-educated project managers across the different sectors in South Africa. The field of business is a fundamental discipline central to the economy; and many professionals find themselves managing projects without a thorough grounding in the discipline. Research has shown that there is significant demand for a distance learning qualification in Project Management. It is anticipated that this programme will fulfil a vital need in meeting scarce skills. The programme offered in this mode significantly widens access to students who would not be able to attend an on-campus version.

Low university enrolment rates in many African countries is a factor that limits the continent's innovation and growth potential, and UCT is well-situated to contribute to providing access to tertiary studies for students across the continent. This qualification proposes to assist in fulfilling our Afropolitan mission. It also advances our transformation agenda, through minimising or eliminating existing constraints of time and place applicable to the classroom experience. Financial, family or distance-related constraints are partly mitigated, allowing for the student pool to be more diverse than is currently the case.

The social media platform to be used also promotes interaction between students who might otherwise never have encountered each other in a classroom. Strategic partnerships, friendships and more generally, cross-cultural interaction and understanding will be facilitated, allowing for UCT to serve as a meeting-point for a diverse group of individuals, enhancing the graduate attributes of UCT's students, in line with our strategic goals.

The economies of scale available with a blended-learning/distance model allow us to capitalise on the need for affordable tertiary education in Africa, playing a direct role in meeting the developmental needs of the continent through building capacity. Staff will experience a range of research opportunities they might otherwise not have, through interaction with students from across Africa.

The proposal opens up and exploits a significant source of new revenue.

It is a matter of urgency for UCT to establish itself in the blended-learning/distance market. Other institutions (South African and international) are emerging to compete in this area, and we need to demonstrate that we can offer high-quality blended-learning products in order to leverage our brand value into capturing a share of that market. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Applicants who do not have a Degree or relevant Diploma but have at least 5 years' experience in project management may apply and will have to pass an entry examination. RPL will also be applied to learners for credits into modules completed in the field.

Entry Requirements:
Learners must have either of the following to qualify them entry for the Advanced Diploma in Business Project Management:
  • Diploma or equivalent.
    Or
  • Bachelor's Degree. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification consist of one module worth 120 Credits.
  • Business Project Management, 120 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Define a business project and its business, social and political environment, building a suitable business case.
    2. Understand the various bodies-of-knowledge and their relevance to the local setting.
    3. Understand the complexities of the project environment in a local and international setting.
    4. Develop advanced communication skills relevant to the project environment.
    5. Resolve issues of challenges emanating during the project.
    6. Develop a detailed project plan of a suitable business project.
    7. Conduct a human resource audit of an organisation and explore the strategic implications.
    8. Conduct financial resource analysis. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit for Level Outcome 1:
  • The importance of studying the environment of the organisation is explained.
  • The main environmental influences on the organisation and the Degree of change to prescriptive and emergent strategic approaches are outlined.
  • The political network of an organisation is analysed and its strategic implications are assessed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit for Level Outcome 2:
  • Various project management knowledge areas are described (e.g. project quality and project risk) and specific activities needed to manage them are developed.
  • Decision-making is based on a variety of information as key competency.

    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit for Level Outcome 3:
  • An understanding of techniques used to control and monitor a project is demonstrated.
  • Organisational and people factors that affect the successful implementation of a project are identified.

    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit for Level Outcome 4:
  • Relevant communications requirements in a project are applied.
  • Communications distribution channels and frequency are determined.

    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit for Level Outcome 5:
  • Solve problems by means of exploring and critically evaluating abstract, personal situations and work related problems.
  • Appropriate techniques and strategies to manage project conflict are utilised.
  • Demonstrate competency in communicating and using language in writing and orally.

    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit for Level Outcome 6:
  • Key issues and success factors in a project are described.
  • Approaches required in successfully managing self; key stakeholders and a project team are applied.
  • Project planning frameworks in line with recognised standards are used.
  • Effective estimating techniques are used when developing project plans.
  • A detailed work-based project plan of a relevant project is developed using own knowledge and skills.
  • An understanding the context of a project in a business setting and the current thinking when moving to a project-based organisation is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit for Level Outcome 7:
  • Strategic management implications of four major types of human resource approaches to strategy development are explained.
  • An understanding of basic types of financial management decisions and the role of the financial manager is demonstrated.
  • Implications of the different forms of business organisation are outlined.

    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit for Level Outcome 8:
  • Sources of funds available to an organisation are identified.
  • An analysis of an organisation's current financial resources is carried out.
  • An organisation's potential for further funding and the costs of risk involved are assessed.
  • Financial benefits of strategies and their cash flow implications are identified and quantified.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Each module will have formative assignments and there is a final summative exam. During the year the results of the assignments held during the year will constitute the year mark for the course.
    Year mark - 45% (based on weekly assignments, project plan presentation).
    Final Examination - 55%.
    The policy for student authentication for assignments is as follows:
  • Where applicable all submissions will be submitted through Turnitin to identify the extent of plagiarism if any.
  • The nature of blended/distance learning is that the extensive lecturer engagement and review supported by extensive data analytics will enable changes in style or pattern of submissions to be identified.
  • The nature of formative assignments is such that without that individual preparation there is little chance of success in the summative assessment. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The following institutions were considered to compare the Advanced Diploma in Business Project Management globally.

    Dublin Business School offers a Diploma in Advanced Project Management. The qualification equips learners with current principles and keeps them up to speed with practices of project management.

    The Open Polytechnic in New Zealand offers a Diploma in Management Advanced. This qualification is a management oriented course and is cross-disciplinary. It is for students who wish to manage projects in the business, management, construction and the Information Technology environments. The course will enable students to propose, plan and control all aspects of a project from proposal to completion. It will include contractual, financial, report generation, risk management, closing and review issues. The course will provide the skills to apply project management techniques and ideas as part of a process that is standard, repeatable, predictable and consistent.

    Northland Polytechnic, also in New Zealand, offers a graduate Diploma in Business at Level 7.
    The qualification provides specialist knowledge in business management. Specialisations include: Accounting and Business and learners should have to complete the following modules:
  • Project Management.
  • Event Management.
  • Sales and Marketing.
  • Business Transformation and Change.

    The Sydney Technical and Further Education (TAFE) offers an Advanced Diploma in Information Technology - Project Management. This qualification provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to manage a range of information and communications technology (ICT) projects to meet customer requirements.

    The Centre for Business at Kangan Institute, Australia, offers an Advanced Diploma of Project Management. The qualification address a range of project management functions relevant to the level of work performed across areas such as time management, finances, quality management, human resource management, communications, procurement and risk management in the context of projects and programmes.

    Conclusion:
    The qualification compares favourably to the qualifications from these institutions in terms of the focus of the outcomes. Some of the qualifications have their focus on Project Management in the IT sector but still deeply rooted in the main principles of Project Management. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Graduates from this qualification will be eligible to apply for various Postgraduate Diplomas offered by the Faculty of Commerce within the institution or other institutions for which they meet the entry requirements.

    Horizontally the qualification may articulate with:
  • Advanced Diploma in Project Management.

    Vertically the qualification may articulate with:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management. 
    		•

    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. University of Cape Town 


    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.