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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Social and Behavioural Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94623  Postgraduate Diploma in Social and Behavioural Studies 
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
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
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 primary purpose of this qualification is to provide a specialised Multi, Inter and Trans disciplinary (MIT) qualification on the social and behavioural perspectives to HIV and AIDS for practitioners and professionals with a formal Degree qualification on NQF Level 8.

The qualification will also give learners the opportunity to undertake critical reflection on current social and behavioural interventions towards HIV-prevention and healthy lifestyles within an African and global context to draw upon good practices, lessons learned and to make practical recommendations on how to enhance these interventions to mitigate and reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on sustainable development and quality of life. The qualification will draw also on the experiences of the students to encourage a more practice-orientated learning environment.

Rationale:
The AIDS pandemic is directly affecting sustainable development and the quality of life throughout the world, but especially across the African continent and the Southern African regions.

This is also evident in the psychosocial and economic impact of HIV and AIDS on the individual, on households, communities, workplaces and society. (UNAIDS 2010) Although there have been significant responses to this pandemic from different countries and regions, these responses have occurred mostly within a biomedical framework rather than from a social and behavioural response framework focusing on healthy lifestyles and HIV prevention. HIV is still mostly transmitted through social behaviour among socially vulnerable groups such as women, young adults and children. It is also at the social and behavioural level that the AIDS pandemic interconnects with other pandemics such as TB, Malaria and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs), and with social issues such as gender violence, poverty, the elderly, orphans and vulnerable children, and social diversity.

Any prevention strategy against HIV infection and the other pandemics the aim for addressing these social issues should be determined from a social behavioural perspective at all levels of society: the micro, exo, meso and macro levels of social change.
The field of HIV and AIDS requires that people choose career paths such as social programme management, donors, researchers and caregivers. Many of these people need advanced MIT knowledge and skills to implement social and behavioural interventions towards HIV prevention and to be able to promote healthy lifestyles.

They need a more practice-orientated postgraduate qualification which can help them to acquire the in depth and theoretical knowledge and skills within their own or new working environments; they also need to be able to apply problem-solving and action research techniques to enable them to respond to HIV prevention programmes.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Social and Behavioural Studies will also encourage learners to be critical of current social and behavioural interventions across Africa, thus enabling them to design good practices, adopt lessons learnt and make valuable contributions to mitigate and reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on sustainable development and the quality of life.

It is recommended that learners should be working within an HIV/AIDS environment through either their own workplaces or by volunteering at a non-governmental organization. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Leaners may be admitted if they, through a Recognition of Prior Learning process, can show that they have the requisite level of knowledge and skills. Learners who are judged to have an insufficient grounding in research skills may be required to complete one or more research-related modules. The RPL process will be conducted according to UNISA's RPL policy.

Entry Requirements:
For entrance to the qualification:
  • Learners must have completed a Bachelor Degree in Human and Social Sciences or a NQF Level 7 equivalent with an average of 55%. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Postgraduate Diploma in Social and Behavioural Studies consists of 5 compulsory modules at NQF Level 8.
  • Psycho-social wellbeing in the HIV/AIDS context, Credits 24, NQF Level 8.
  • Social Responses to HIV/AIDS in Africa, Credits 24, NQF Level 8.
  • Religious discourse and practices surrounding HIV/AIDS, Credits 24, NQF Level 8.
  • Social Behaviour in Health and Nutrition, Credits 24, NQF Level 8.
  • Designing Social Programmes for Social Sciences, Credits 24, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Critically engage with current and new research and theories on the social and behavioural aspects of HIV/AIDS.
    2. An ability to use wide range of specialised skills in identifying, conceptualising, designing and implementing social and behavioural interventions towards HIV-prevention and healthy lifestyles.
    3. Manage learning within an individual and team to sustain and promote independent learning and professional development. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Appropriate and relevant information related to the social and behavioural field of HIV and AIDS is identified.
  • The current research and theories on the social and behavioural aspects of HIV and AIDS towards HIV-prevention and healthy lifestyles are critically analysed and evaluated.
  • The appropriateness and applicability of existing social and behavioural research and theories within the African context is debated.
  • Basic literature research on existing information on the social and behavioural aspects of HIV and AIDS within an African and global context using on-line search modes and UNISA Library are conducted.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Advanced and practical skills on social response framework development are acquired.
  • Specialised skills are applied by using a wide range of applied research methods to address the social and behavioural aspects of HIV and AIDS within a community and/or workplace environment.
  • Existing social and behavioural interventions towards HIV-prevention and healthy lifestyles to draw upon good practices and lessons learned are critically reviewed.
  • Complex social issues in relation to the social and behavioural aspects of HIV and AIDS within an African and global context are analysed, using specialised knowledge and practical skills acquired.
  • Opportunities for relevant social and behaviour interventions towards HIV-prevention and healthy lifestyles are implemented.
  • Gender and cultural sensitivity across a range of social contexts is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Participation in a team to inform and communicate learning and assessment activities is displayed.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Learners will be assessed through:
  • Formative Assessment.
    > Learning activities in every unit of each modules.
    > Self-help question at the end of each and every unit.
    > Written assignments.
    > On-line group discussions.
    > On-line searches.
    > Peer evaluation.
    > Case studies.
    > Experiential Learning.
  • Summative assessment:
    > E-portfolios.
    > Small scale action research projects. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The purpose of conducting an international comparability study between the United Kingdom's and South African Qualifications is to evaluate whether the qualification, Postgraduate Diploma in Social and Behavioural Studies will be seen as credible and robust nationally and internationally. As well as whether it will contribute to the education sector's priorities by increasing international understanding, comparability and recognition of this qualification for both study and employment. However, it was very difficult to find similar qualifications in order to conduct a comparative analysis as this qualification focuses on the AIDS pandemic, the good practices, adopted lessons learnt in order to contribute to the mitigation and reduction of the impact of HIV and AIDS on sustainable development and the quality of life on South Africans.

    The closest qualification that could be located for comparison is the HIV and Sexual Health Advanced Diploma being offered by Middlesex University which is based in London. This qualification develops the knowledge and skills so as to enable effective delivery of healthcare to clients with HIV and sexual health concerns. The course will equip the students with the theories and skills to deliver effective care to a diverse range of clients with HIV and sexual health issues. Also as part of the course students will also examine a variety of debates surrounding the prevention and transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV, with particular focus on issues of race and cultural diversity.

    Armed with these contemporary insights and advanced skills students will not only enhance their practice and career prospects for the future but also obtain 60 Credits at Level 6 to put towards further undergraduate or postgraduate study if you wish. This course is also a valuable opportunity to promote your their career advancement.

    The structure of the course:
  • Epidemiology.
  • Diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections.
  • Legal and ethical issues in sexual health care.
  • Sexual health promotion.
  • Psychology of sexual health.
  • Current and developing trends in sexual health care provision.
  • Pathophysiology of HIV/AIDS.
  • Testing for HIV.
  • Pharmacology of HAART.
  • Nutritional perspectives.
  • Health education.
  • Debates in prevention of transmission of HIV.
  • The Western perspective.
  • The African perspective.
  • Chronic illness management.
  • Bereavement issues.

    Entry Requirements:
    Nurses who hold an effective registration with the health care professionals employed in an associated field where client contact is possible and evidence of successful completion of study at Level 5.

    Conclusion:
    The qualifications compare in terms of the similarity of content, as both the qualifications will equip the learner with the necessary content so as to be able to do solve problems and learn about the techniques that can be used for action research to enable them to respond to HIV-prevention programmes. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The following qualification with an additional 36 Credit research project and an overall average of 60% will enable vertical articulation to the Master of Arts in Social and Behavioural Studies and horizontally with Bachelor of Arts Honours in Social Work at NQF Level 8 and Bachelor of Community Development at NQF Level 8. 

    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 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.