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 Administration in Human Settlements Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94622  Bachelor of Administration in Human Settlements 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
National First Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Public Administration 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  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   2033-06-30  

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 educate human settlements practitioners of governments at national, provincial and municipal spheres and in public entities. Qualifying students will be able to work effectively in any human settlements environment but also specifically in any position in human settlements in the public sector. Qualifying students will be able to demonstrate knowledge, specific skills and applied competence within opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and ethical conduct and leadership in the fields associated with public administration and human settlements management.

This qualifying student will be able to perform public administrative functions and be able to apply the following:
  • Perform public administration functions as a basis for managerial decisions for human settlements management.
  • Apply fundamental aspects, principles, and procedures of financial accounting.
  • Manage policy implementation of human settlement projects adhering to compliance applicable to housing laws and regulations.
  • Perform Human recourse duties/responsibilities within the administration on human settlements.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental principles of ethics in a comparative multidisciplinary perspective.
  • Investigate the role that government plays in environmental affairs at national, provincial and local level.

    This qualification lays the foundation for career advancement and further studies in the fields of Public Administration and Human Settlements Management. Candidates that obtain this degree will also be able to contribute to the theory of human settlements management when they articulate to Higher Degrees or a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration.

    Rationale:
    This Bachelor's Degree arose from a specific need of the South African Government Department of Human Settlements for a formal qualification in the field of human settlements management through distance learning in order to promote the professionalisation of public servants working in this field at central government, provincial and regional levels. This Bachelor's Degree provides the basic qualification that allows access to a higher qualification such as an Honours Degree or Postgraduate Diploma. Students are exposed to a wide variety of subjects in public administration and management and related issues in human settlements management which present them with the opportunity to operate at the aforementioned levels of government where public administration and management skills are required. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Recognition of Prior Learning will be applied in line with the regulations of the Quality Council for Higher Education and the RPL Policy and the procedures of the University of South Africa.

    Entry Requirements:
    Learners must have the following in order to be considered for admission:
  • National Senior Certificate (NSC) granting admission into Bachelor's Degree studies.
    Or
  • Senior Certificate (SC) with endorsement for Bachelor's Degree studies.
    Or
  • Certificate of Exemption from the exemption requirements of HESA.
    Or
  • National Certificate Vocational (NCV) granting admission into Bachelor's Degree studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Bachelor of Administration in Human Settlements Management consists of 30 modules at NQF Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 360 Credits.

    NQF Level 5 (8 modules totalling 96 Credits):
  • Introductory Financial Accounting, 12 Credits.
  • Sustainability and Greed, 12 Credits.
  • Business Management 1A, 12 Credits.
  • The Nature, Content and Scope of Public Administration, 12 Credits.
  • Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions, 12 Credits.
  • Economics 1500, 12 Credits.
  • Civil Engineering Administration 1, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to Law, 12 Credits.

    NQF Level 6 (12 modules totalling 144 Credits):
  • The Structuring and Functioning of Public Services, 12 Credits
  • Human Settlements Management 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Business Management 1B, 12 Credits.
  • People and the Natural Environment: Use and Impact, 12 Credits.
  • Human Settlements Management 2A, 12 Credits.
  • Creation of Wealth, 12 Credits.
  • Civil Engineering Administration 2, 12 Credits.
  • Human Settlements Management 2B, 12 Credits.
  • General Management, 12 Credits.
  • Environmental Affairs, 12 Credits.
  • Foundations of Public Administration, 12 Credits.
  • The African Challenge: People and Environment, 12 Credits.

    NQF Level 7 (10 modules totalling 120 Credits):
  • Human Settlements Management 3A, 12 Credits.
  • Public Management Skills, 12 Credits.
  • Land and Housing, 12 Credits.
  • Empowerment and Popular Initiatives, 12 Credits.
  • Public Human Resource Management, 12 Credits.
  • Public Financial Administration and Management, 12 Credits.
  • Human Settlements Management 3B, 12 Credits.
  • Public Policy, 12 Credits.
  • Ethics in Public Administration and Administrative Justice, 12 Credits.
  • Reflective Public Administration, 12 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Perform public administration functions as a basis for managerial decisions for human settlements management.
    2. Apply fundamental aspects, principles, and procedures of financial accounting.
    3. Manage policy implementation of human settlement projects adhering to compliance applicable to housing laws and regulations.
    4. Perform Human recourse duties/responsibilities within the administration on human settlements.
    5. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental principles of ethics in a comparative multidisciplinary perspective.
    6. Investigate the role that government plays in environmental affairs at national, provincial and local level. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Competence and skills related to general management principles are applied.
  • Sound knowledge of the public sector environment is applied, specifically with the management and handling of public resources that incorporate finance, human and physical resources.
  • Suitable land for housing development purposes is identified.
  • Systematic and fundamental knowledge in the field of public human resource management is applied more particularly within the South African context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Financial accounting data of an entity is collected, processed and recorded.
  • Role players in public financial management are identified as per Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and provisioning administration management.
  • Existing processes and procedures are analysed to identify shortcomings and thereafter improve them.
  • The relationship between public finances and the realisation of management goals is identified and explained.
  • Information pertaining to funding options for social housing is collected, analysed and critically evaluated.
  • The importance of budgeting systems is outlined.

    Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Policy and legislative requirements to access land at the provincial and local spheres is applied.
  • The complexity of policy-making, the approaches to policy-making, the forces that impact on the policy process, and the components of the policy-making process are analysed.
  • A well-rounded and systematic knowledge and insight in methodological issues in Public Administration is demonstrated.
  • The nature of the relations and interaction between various role players in the state are identified.
  • Basic knowledge, insight and skills for the analysis and solutions of elementary problems relating to some of the underlying principles of South African law in general are applied.

    Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The ability to apply basic knowledge, skills and competencies to provide solutions to the challenging operational issues facing the HR field is demonstrated.
  • Key HR functions such as strategic human resource planning, recruiting, selection, development of public officials and remuneration are managed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Systematic knowledge and insight into the norms and values that promote democratic public administration is demonstrated.
  • Ethical issues in public administration are identified and analysed and solutions to these are developed with professionalism.
  • Principles underlying administrative justice such as fairness, reasonableness and lawfulness are interpreted and applied.
  • Contribution as a result of principles to transparency, accountability and active participation in public administration is interpreted.

    Associated Assessment Criteria of Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • The impact of human activities on the physical environment on the global, regional and local scales are identified and explained and measures that can be taken to reduce environmental degradation are developed.
  • Challenges facing human settlements in developing countries with special focus on South Africa are identified.
  • Possible sustainable development remedies or solutions in the provisioning of houses are identified and applied.

    Integrated Assessment:
    For the qualification to be awarded, a candidate must have successfully achieved the outcomes of each of the compulsory modules that constitute the qualification.

    Evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills, attitudes and expertise) and of the candidate's ability to achieve the purpose of the qualification as a whole at the time that the qualification is awarded is required by means of comprehensive and integrated assessment (constituting a range of formative and summative assessments). Continuous formative and summative assessment methods are used in the form of written assignments and exams.

    Formative and summative assessment will be conducted within the guidelines of the Unisa Assessment Policy. The student's summative assessment mark will comprise a year mark (20%) that will be gained from the specified number of compulsory assignments and a written examination in each module which comprises 80% of the total summative assessment mark. The pass mark shall be a minimum of 50% acquired from both formative and summative assessment in a proportionate ratio; 75% shall constitute a pass with distinction.

    Assessors should assess and give credit for evidence of learning that has already been acquired through learning and experience.

    Lecturers responsible for the module and external markers (assessors) will act as assessor practitioners in accordance with the Unisa Assessment Policy. Formative and summative assessment will be conducted within the guidelines of the Unisa Assessment Policy. Student support will be provided in accordance with Unisa ODL and Learner Support policies and guidelines. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Due to the nature and structure of the qualification offered by the University of South Africa (UNISA) a comparative analysis was conducted by focusing on qualifications pertaining to Public Administration at Ashford University in Canada and Florida University in Miami. It was not possible to find similar qualifications at international universities, however, due to the focus of the qualification, offered at UNISA,being more related to the field of public administration and management, that a comparison of similar public administration qualifications were selected.
    Ashford University in Canada offers the Public Administration Degree which covers several relevant topics, from public budgeting and finance to political science and intergovernmental issues.

    Modules:
  • Management for Organisations.
  • Leadership for Organisations.
  • Principles of Public Administration.
  • Finance for Public Administrators.
  • Budgeting for Public Administrators.
  • Intergovernmental Relations and Issues.
  • Urban Management.
  • Administrative Law.
  • Public Policy Formation.

    At Florida University in Miami the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration is offered.
    Course structure:
  • Introduction to Public Administration.
  • Introduction to Urban and Regional Studies.
  • Policy Development and Implementation.
  • Applied Statistics for Policy and Management.
  • Applied Research Methods for Policy and Management II.
  • Government and Administration of Metro Areas.
  • Communication Skills.
  • Values, Ethics and Conflict Resolution.
  • Citizen Participation and Community Involvement.
  • Public Sector Budgeting.
  • IT and E-government for Public Managers.
  • Integrative Seminar.
  • Applied Economics for Public Managers.
  • Intro to Management of Public and Nonprofit Orgs.
  • Introduction to Fiscal Analysis.
  • Planning, Performance and Accountability.
  • Public Relations for Public Managers.

    Conclusion:
    From the above information, it can be clearly stated that the qualification offered at UNISA compares favourably with the international qualifications in terms of the modules relating to public administration and management. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Graduates may articulate to the Bachelor of Administration Honours in Public Administration (BAdmin Honours in Public Administration) or an appropriate Postgraduate Diploma in a related field.

    The qualification articulates horizontally with:
  • Bachelor of Housing offered by the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

    It articulates vertically with the following qualifications:
  • Honours Degree in Public Administration.
  • Master Degree in Housing. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    1. Perform Public Administration functions as a basis for managerial decisions for human settlements management.
    2. Apply fundamental aspects, principles, and procedures of financial accounting.
    3. Manage policy implementation of human settlement projects adhering to compliance applicable to housing laws and regulations.
    4. Perform Human recourse duties/responsibilities within the administration on human settlements.
    5. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental principles of ethics in a comparative multidisciplinary perspective.
    6. Investigate the role that government plays in environmental affairs at national, provincial and local level. 

    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 


    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.