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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Postgraduate Diploma in Local Economic Development

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
97902	Postgraduate Diploma in Local Economic Development
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal
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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Public Administration
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	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 purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with advanced knowledge and skills in the field of Local Economic Development (LED). A qualified learner will be able to:

Analyse the key challenges facing LED projects in the developmental context of South Africa.

Understand the dynamics of financial reporting within the LED context.

Apply economic concepts and principles in decision making and action plans.

Conduct a literary review of resources and describe the main theories and principles as they relate to LED in South Africa, as well as the regulatory framework governing LED in South Africa.

Rationale:
There is an expressed need globally and locally for research in territorial, regional and local development which has opened the sub-field of Local Economic Development (LED) as a cross discipline which has components parented in the disciplines of economics, development, governance and territorial planning.

LED has a strong policy trajectory in South Africa and is closely aligned with distinctive policy for social development and economic growth. Consequently researchers are currently conceptualising LED and government departments and financial institutions are looking for Higher Education opportunities for the training of LED practitioners to ensure:

An understanding of the governance, economic and development principles embedded in LED policy.

Professional corporate and public management, finance and strategic leadership skills to enact policy.

Thus the Postgraduate Diploma in Local Economic Development is designed to provide learners with knowledge to be able to engage in the field of Local Economic Development (LED). This qualification is designed and intended to provide a platform for professionals who wish to progress from a more technical practice of their profession to positions of seniority and management where a new knowledge platform is required, namely one of organisational leadership. This qualification has significance for their professional and organisational identity. This qualification will enable learners to engage, and equip them with advanced theoretical knowledge in the area of organisational leadership, which will enable them to be able to critically reflect and to prepare them to further their studies to a Master's level in the related fields.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL may serve the following purposes within the institution:

To allow mature-age learners (applicants who are at least 23 years old) without an appropriate qualification access, by accrediting learning obtained through experience.

To allow learners without a relevant undergraduate Degree access to Postgraduate qualifications.

To recognise prior learning by the awarding credits for modules or towards a qualification, up to a maximum of 50% of the qualification.

If a candidate is accepted via the RPL process, the University will be committed to providing an enabling learning environment for such non-traditional learners, and will ensure that appropriate policies, structures, resources and curricula are in place.

Learning that is obtained through experience (for either access or credit) will undergo the following procedures:

Preliminary information and advice (which may be a recommendation not to proceed with RPL) " Preparation of an application (with the assistance of a mentor) to demonstrate appropriate competence in terms of the exit level outcomes.

Evidence must be presented; such evidence may take the form of modules or qualifications completed at another institution, an examination or assignment, a portfolio etc. A portfolio needs to provide documentary evidence in support of the specific RPL application. The candidate may also include any further documentation (in written, visual or aural/oral form, as appropriate for the discipline involved) in support of the application. In addition, an interview may be required.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry to this qualification is a three year Bachelors' Degree or equivalent.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

Modules:

Local Economic Development (LED) and Developmental Government, 16 Credits.

Strategic and Project Management for LED, 16 Credits.

Accounting and Finance for LED, 16 Credits.

Economics for LED Practitioners, 16 Credits.

Sustainability in LED, 16 Credits.

Marketing Management for LED, 16 Credits.

Supply Chain Management for LED, 16 Credits.

Integrative LED Research Project, 16 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Analyse the key challenges facing LED projects in the developmental context of South Africa.
2. Understand the dynamics of financial reporting within the LED context.
3. Apply economic concepts and principles in decision making and action plans.
4. Conduct a literary review of resources and describe the main theories and principles as they relate to LED in South Africa, as well as the regulatory framework governing LED in South Africa.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Knowledge of and engagement with the theories and key concepts of LED to address the challenges of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment in the developmental context of South Africa is demonstrated.

Theoretical frameworks are appropriately applied in the analysis to identify where the plan is divergent or deficient.

The main issues, key challenges and regulatory framework governing LED in South Africa is understood.

The concepts and theories of management and LED are appropriately applied in identifying the main challenges facing LED and these are communicated both verbally and in writing.

Forms and types of partnerships with specific focus on social partnerships involved in LED in the South African Context is discussed and explored.

Brokering issues and challenges relating to social partnerships and stakeholders are debated and evaluated.

The contribution of the public, private and civil sectors partnership enactment is explored.

An understanding of the complexity of challenges facing LED in South Africa is demonstrated and a systems approach is used to develop solutions.

Strategic plans are developed and motivated to address the identified challenges to achieve the objective of sustainable local development.

Practical and interdisciplinary solutions in the pursuit of sustainable local development are developed.

Realistic, creative and flexible strategies are convincingly motivated when presenting solutions for sustainable local development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

An LED project in a case study is analysed in terms of market, product/ service offered, financial and other resource requirements, and a SWOT and CVP analysis is carried out and reasons for investing in the project are given and motivated.

How costs behave in relation to different production and sales activity levels are analysed and this knowledge is applied to classify costs appropriately, and estimate how costs will behave in the future for different LED projects.

Quantitative and qualitative data are analysed to make financially sound decisions.

Financial statements of a business are analysed regarding the financial performance and viability of the business.

The commentary on the financial performance of the business is provided and the financial implications for management decisions is accurately interpreted.

The importance of working capital management is explained, especially with regards to cash flow and appropriate techniques are applied to ensure effective and efficient management of debtors, stock and creditors.

The importance of accounting and finance within the context of local economic development is explained.

Financial management techniques are selected, how they can be used in the context is analysed and applied to add value to an LED project.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Macro-economic and micro-economic concepts and tools are correctly applied to measure the performance of the national and local economy.

A clear understanding of economic concepts and principles is demonstrated, and the appropriate tools are used to analyse and appropriate and economically sound decisions within an LED context are made.

The meaning of key economic concepts is described using practical examples.

The support for the venture is convincingly motivated and substantiated with appropriate statistics derived from the analysis.

A realistic evaluation of the implications of the government's economic vision and goals for LED are taken into consideration when analysing the viability of the venture.

The alignment of LED priorities to government's vision and goals are clearly described.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Theoretical concepts are clearly described; a clear understanding of academic research is shown and the main steps in conducting practitioner research are followed.

The research proposal is formulated in accordance with relevant theory and research methodology.

The proposed research methodology is appropriately selected in accordance to the research question and includes the analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative critical perspective.

The proposed research methodology is appropriate to the research question.

The requirements for practitioner research are adhered to in the data collection and in the use of the analytical method(s).

The research findings and recommendations are derived from the analysis of relevant qualitative and/or quantitative data, and analytical as well as critical thinking are reflected.

Integrated Assessment:
Each module will be assessed through an integrated individual written assignment, in addition to a range of oral and written, group and individual class assignments and tests in order to give learners the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies. The final assignment requires a learner to apply their learning in an integrated way to analyse a specific area related to their work context in a work-based assignment and to apply the theoretical frameworks to recommend solutions to identified problem areas. The research project will assess the ability of learners to integrate themes from different modules appropriately to a real scenario.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) is an international centre of the School of Economics (ESE) and the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) of the Erasmus University Rotterdam in Netherlands.

The institute offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Local Economic Development. The Rationale for offering this qualification is that Regions in Netherlands are faced with two major trends in opposite directions: internationalisation and decentralisation. Internationalisation creates a need for regions to compete in order to attract and retain business, people and finance. Decentralisation is a means to cope with this complexity and a reaction to growing demands for greater responsiveness and sustainability by citizens, clients and consumers. Due to decentralisation, competitiveness of a region can be improved by local actors. The central concern for sustainable local economic development is to create synergies between the policies and interventions of firms, farms, the state and civic actors such as business associations, NGOs and the Chamber of Commerce. Thus upon qualifying learners will have increased knowledge about local firms and farms and their role in the local economy. Learners will be able to analyse the competitiveness of the local economy, especially looking at entrepreneurship, business development support, incubators, value chains, clusters and innovation systems. They will be able to analyse policies and recommend instruments and strategies that support local firms and farms.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Local Development and Innovation is also offered by the Economic Development Distance Learning Consortium (EDDLC). The EDDLC comprises the following:

The IED Education Trust (the associated organisation of the Institution of Economic Development, responsible for the Institution's professional education and training provision).

Coventry University (through the Coventry Business School and the Centre for Local Economic Development) .

The University of Dundee (through Town Planning).

Sheffield Hallam University (through the Faculty of Development and Society).

The purpose of the qualification is to enable learners to develop an understanding and the necessary skills needed in both the design and management of empirical research for answering social science and policy research questions- with a focus on the broad field of Local and Regional Economic Development. Upon qualifying learners will be able to:

Commission and manage the research design and data collection for Local and Regional Economic Development.

Understand the effectiveness of spatial and economic policy interventions.

Have a thorough understanding of the "big picture" of property development including stakeholder analysis; linkages between the economy, land policy, property markets, finance, infrastructure, marketing and management of the development process.

An understanding of development appraisal and discounted cash flow analysis and the related criteria used by the private sector to make investment decisions.

An ability to make development decisions in uncertain environments using scenario and sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion:
This qualification compares favourably with both qualifications offered in United Kingdom and Netherlands. All the qualifications equip learners with analytic and critical skills. Learners are taught about challenges facing the local economics. Creative problem solving skills are encouraged for learners to undertake research in order to complete their studies.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

The qualification offers specific articulation possibilities with other qualifications offered by University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. They are:

Horizontal Articulation:
Bachelor of Business Science in Economics, Level 8 (ID 81065).
Bachelor of Business Science in Management, Level 7 (ID 81070).

Vertical Articulation:
Master of Commerce in Economics, Level 9 (ID 81293).
Master of Commerce in Project Leadership and Management, Level 9 (ID 81296).

There is also systemic articulation possibilities with qualifications offered by other institutions provided they meet the minimum entry requirements. They are:

Horizontal Articulation:

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Development Studies, Level 8.

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Public Economics and Development, Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Commerce in Local Economic Development, Level 9.

Master of Economic Science, Level 9.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

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 KwaZulu-Natal