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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Advanced Diploma in Information Resource Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94672  Advanced Diploma in Information Resource 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
Advanced Diploma  Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Information Technology and Computer Sciences 
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:
Qualifying learners will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge to the management of Information Communication Technology (ICT) services in an organisation, in a holistic approach to managing services, from end-to-end, where all aspects of a service (and not just the individual technology silos) are delivered within a determined timeframe, properly secured, and available when necessary to the business customer, where Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is used in conjunction with other good practices to manage information technology (such as COBIT). This qualification aims to improve the level of training for new entrants as well as practicing service managers and supervisory staff. In addition, it will provide a solid theoretical basis for staff who have undergone on-the-job training without the benefit of being exposed to the underpinning theory and best practices provided by any ITIL based theoretical training at tertiary level. Both entry level staff and experienced staff with relevant practical experience will benefit.

Rationale:
There is a severe skills shortage in South Africa at the moment. Information Technology and Information Resource Management are considered scarce skills by the Department of Labour (DoL). The qualification addresses objectives of the National Qualification Framework (NQF) by providing a crucial link between the ITIL guidelines for ICT Service Management and the underpinning theory. The qualification is beneficial to the economy and society as it addresses some of the training needs for the successful operation of ICT systems in the organisations. Skilled ICT Service Management personnel are required to meet the developmental needs of the country in the wider application and use of advanced ICT systems in support of business as well as government and other mission critical operations. This qualification will deliver learners to satisfy the growing need in industry for professionals with both IT and business knowledge. Learners that complete the qualification can successfully pursue a career in ICT Operations Management, Change Management and Control, ICT Asset Management, User Liaison and Account Management, ICT Help Desk Management and ICT Security Management to mention a few. This has become the trend internally as well. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the University accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to the institution's qualifications to promote lifelong learning.

Therefore recognition may be granted for non-formal prior experiential learning. The RPL process will be conducted according to institution's RPL policy and may involve, among other things, the submission of portfolios with evidence of prior learning, challenge examinations, and interviews with assessment panels.

Learners who already work in the Information Technology (IT) industry and believe they possess competencies which will enable them to meet some or all of the ELOs listed in the qualification will be able to present themselves for portfolio assessment.

Entry Requirements:
Learners are required to have the following in place in order to be considered for admission.
  • An appropriate Diploma or Bachelor's Degree. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification consists of 10 modules at NQF Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.
    Modules:
  • Principle concepts of ITSM, 12 Credits.
  • Service Management Functions (Service Desk), 12 Credits.
  • Development Software, 12 Credits.
  • Networks, 12 Credits.
  • IT Ethics, 12 Credits.
  • Service Operation Processes, 12 Credits.
  • Software Project Management, 12 Credits.
  • Research Report, 12 Credits.
  • Database Systems, 12 Credits.
  • Incident and Problem Management, 12 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Understand and utilise fundamental concepts of IT Service Management and the service lifecycle.
    2. Manage the lifecycle of all incidents, using incident management procedures with a stated primary objective clearly applying problem management principles.
    3. Understand and promote Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) ethics and understand the role of ethics in complex organisations.
    4. Explore the principles and challenges in designing and developing applications for mobile devices and critically analyse and evaluate research scripts of existing ontologies in order to apply appropriate techniques to develop, update, or adopt simple ontologies.
    5. Implement plans, manage and direct IT operations, access and review protocols and Event Management activities, with a focus on day-to-day short term activities to operate and support IT activities. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The purpose, objectives and scope of service strategy, service design, service transition, service operation and of continual service improvement are summarised.
  • The value that service strategy, service design, service transition, service operation and continual service improvements provides to the business is justified.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The service operational processes and how they fit into the overall ITIL architecture are understood.
  • The ability to capture knowledge about the problems encountered and the resolution found by means of a knowledge base of problems is demonstrated.
  • The techniques and methodologies for identifying, diagnosing and resolving incidents and problems are appropriately tested.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Functions of and relationships among laws, regulations, and professional organisations in information security are assessed.
  • Compliance and how it helps to promote the right behaviours and discourage undesirable ones is explained.
  • Jobs, equipment and working conditions are designed to avoid negative health effects.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Best practices for smartphone development are described.
  • Suitable design patterns to solve commonly occurring problems in software design are identified.
  • The lifecycle of an application is described.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • A proposed information technology project based on appropriate scientific enquiry is evaluated and initiated.
  • Fundamental planning principles to develop a proposed software project using different approaches and techniques are applied.
  • An appropriate project approach and process model are selected.

    Integrated Assessment:
    For the award of the qualification, a learner must successfully complete all the modules. Applied competence - that is, the integration of foundational, practical and reflective competence - will be assessed in a variety of ways during the course of the qualification. For example, learners will be asked to propose practical solutions to field-specific problems and to evaluate their own proposed solutions and their learning in the process, thus involving knowledge, the application of knowledge, as well as reflection.

    In the various modules of the qualification, learners will be required to provide evidence of integrated knowledge, skills and values. A variety of formative and summative assessments will be used during the unfolding of the qualification, including written activity assignments (of reflections, summaries of key aspects, applications in a variety of scenarios and contexts, practical tasks, examinations, and a portfolio which collects evidence if required. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    New Horizons Certification and Training Institute in Dar-es-Salaam offers the Diploma in Network Administration, Server Administration and Software Development Tracks. This qualification will teach learners how to align the company's business needs and goals with the IT services.

    Learners will learn procedures and best practices drawn from years of experience in both public and private sector organizations. Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a series of books and concepts which help guide an organization in IT best practices in order to provide quality IT services.

    The qualification will provide learners with knowledge on:
  • How to reduce IT costs.
  • How to improve IT services through proven best practice processes.
  • Improving overall customer satisfaction.
  • Implementing ITIL standards.
  • How to improve IT productivity.

    Conclusion:
    Although the title of the international qualification may not be the same as this qualification, but the international qualification has a similar qualification purpose as well as similar skills are being developed in learners as this qualification. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This is a flexible qualification designed for usability and articulation within and across the sub-frameworks of the NQF. It articulates horizontally with most of the NQF Level 7 registered qualifications with Information Technology as a major subject such as Advanced Diploma in Business Information Technology at NQF level 7.

    The qualification will also articulate vertically with most of the NQF Level 8 registered qualifications with IT as a major subject such as Bachelor of Commerce Honours: Information Systems 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.