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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Disaster Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94673  Master of Disaster Management 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  242  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  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 this qualification is to provide disaster management practitioners, or those who may have future disaster management responsibilities, training in a holistic approach towards disaster management to enable them to manage all kinds of disasters by implementing proactive disaster management strategies in terms of relevant legislation, policies and directives, and effectively co-ordinate relief and recovery programs.

Rationale:
The Master of Disaster qualification aims to educate and train Postgraduates that have a theoretical and/or practical experience in disaster management. These graduates can apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods in the field of study. They are equipped with the required skills and expertise to contribute to the expansion of the disaster management sector in the broad as well as contribute to the body knowledge. Graduates will demonstrate knowledge, skills and applied competence in this field of study that provide opportunities for continued postgraduate activities as well as preparing them for a professional career. Many students enrolling in this programme are from the African continent where a general lack of efficient research based support exits to support en develop disaster management programme. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Admission to the Master of Disaster Management is subject to the General Institutional Rules and Regulations for Advanced and Postgraduate Qualifications. A prospective candidate may apply for admission if they adhere to the following criteria:
  • An appropriate three-year degree plus appropriate practical experience and/or preparatory studies.
    Or
  • Any other relevant Degree, e.g. four-year and/or Honours Degree or a relevant professional qualification equivalent with practical and/or preparatory experience will also allow candidates to read for the Masters in Disaster Management Degree.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:
    Recognition of Prior Learning will be applied according to institutional policy. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This programme consists of nine compulsory modules, including a research project in an extended research essay format and two minimum electives selected from seven. All nine modules need to be completed successfully to be awarded the qualification.

    The Degree can be offered over a minimum period of one year (full time). Students will be allowed to take the Degree over a two-year period (part time).

    Learning programmes:

    Year One:
    Compulsory:
  • Research Methodology, 15 Credits.
  • Hazards and Disaster Management, 15 Credits.
  • Strategic Disaster Management, 15 Credits.
  • Disaster Management principles and practices, 15 Credits.
  • Disaster Risk Management, 15 Credits.
  • Information Technology in Disaster Management, 15 Credits.
  • Public Health, 15 Credits.
  • Management of natural and human-made disasters, 15 Credits.

    Year Two:
    Compulsory:
  • Dissertation, 90 Credits.

    Elective (choose any two):
  • Trauma Management, 16 Credits.
  • Political Strategic Planning, 16 Credits.
  • Information Management, 16 Credits.
  • Ethnic and Cultural Conduct, 16 Credits.
  • Management of media relations, 16 Credits.
  • Environmental risk and impact assessment, 16 Credits.
  • Disaster vulnerability and risk assessment, 16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    After successful completion of the Master of Disaster Management the graduate would be able to:
    1. Apply a holistic, integrated approach when solving complex problems in relation to disaster management.
    2. Conduct and evaluate assessment in relation to disaster management processes.
    3. Identify, interpret and apply the theory and applied knowledge to suite assessment tools, procedures and methods.
    4. Make informed decisions, guided by ethical standards, scientific evidence and societal needs within the context of disaster management.
    5. Communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, including those from the academia, private and public sectors.
    6. Demonstrate the ability to conduct research on a disaster management-related problem. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Students are required to submit a research component to successfully complete the qualification. Assessment is done according to the Guidelines for Master's and Doctoral Assessments of the UFS. For most of the modules presented in the qualification evaluation of the student's academic progress will take place on a continuous basis. Assessments will include technical problem-based projects and field work.

    Assessment documents are moderated to ensure that they conform to the scope and context of the competency as stipulated in the qualification as well as constructed in such a way that the Assessor assesses the outcomes applied, during the Learner's activity performances, towards achieving an outcome.

    Candidates will have three formal contact sessions of five days each year. During the first contact session, candidates will be orientated and will receive all module material for the first year. The programme consists of eight compulsory modules, two electives and a research project reported in an extended research essay format. The programme is structured in modules and requires practical assignments to be completed by candidates and submitted at predetermined dates. Assignments will be marked and graded by the lecturers, who will give candidates feedback in a written format and also orally during contact sessions. Assignments will be part of a continuous evaluation process. Apart from the assignments a formal evaluation (written or oral) will take place at the end of each semester, normally during June and November. Practical examination in second year is compulsory. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Master of Disaster Management is a specialist qualification preparing students for advanced professional practice. The development of this standard also involved the following:
  • The SAQA Level Descriptors for NQF exit Level 9 were used to design this qualification standard. These Level Descriptors are internationally benchmarked criteria based upon published work of the National Quality Assurance bodies in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.
  • This qualification employed the Qualification Descriptors for the Professional Master's Qualification, as outlined in the HEQSF. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    After successful completion of the Master of Disaster Management, graduates may articulate horizontally into other relevant cognate Master's or equivalent NQF exit Level 9 qualifications for deepening of knowledge and competencies. In terms of vertical articulation, students may progress to Doctoral qualifications or equivalent qualifications on NQF exit Level 9 in a relevant cognate field. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences' policy prescribes that all test and examination papers must be internally moderated (before it is submitted to the examination department). The approved moderation form must be completed and filed in the applicable module file. According to UFS policy, ten percent (10%) of all marked examination scripts must be internally moderated using the applicable standardised moderation form. This form is also filed in the applicable module file and used for developmental and remedial purposes. The exam scripts will be kept for at least 3 years.

    External moderation is also done in accordance with the procedures of the University of the Free State. Ten percent (10%) of all exam scripts (as well as all exam papers) will be externally moderated by appointed external moderators. Feedback on the internal and external moderation of papers and scripts are also used for developmental purposes to improve the programme and to rectify possible deficiencies in the delivery of the programme, as well as to identify at-risk situations in the delivery at off-campus sites that might arise.

    Continuous evaluation and portfolios: External moderation will be conducted twice a year for all continuous evaluation modules. Relevant people from industry, government and academia will be invited to moderate the modules presented in the programme. The study guide and a selection (based on UFS policy) of tests/exam papers will also be moderated. A specific template will be given to each moderator for feedback.

    Research project: at least one external assessor will be appointed to assess the project in addition to an internal assessor, or two external assessors may be appointed. In all other cases an independent external examiner will be appointed. With written examinations a selection of tests/exam papers will be moderated. A specific template will be given to each moderator for feedback. In the case of oral examinations the lecturer and an external examiner will examine each student. 

    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 2012; 2015. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.
     
    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 the Free State 


    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.