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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Emergency Medical Care 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
99022  Master of Emergency Medical Care 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Curative Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  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 the Master of Emergency Medical Care is to enable learners to use a wide range of specialised skills to identify, conceptualise, design and implement methods of enquiry to address complex Emergency Medical Care issues within a global context, with a focus on the South African Pre-hospital Emergency Care Environment. Through their research, learners will also develop the ability to make ethical contributions toward the improvement, development and management of the pre-hospital Emergency Medical Care profession.

Rationale:
The National Department of Health required the content and standards of training in emergency care to be revised in order to accommodate an expanded scope of practice. The expanded scope includes interventions that were hitherto reserved for specialist intervention. This and the envisaged professionalisation of the Emergency Care profession by the Departments of Health and Higher Education and Training requires a cadre of professionals with knowledge and skills that will further contribute to the academic, intellectual, and research rigour of the profession.

Given the great need for, and the scarcity of well qualified emergency care workers in South Africa, this qualification will play a crucial role in relieving the shortage and contributing to the solving of the growing challenges of the emergency medical care community. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The faculty accepts Recognition of Prior Learning as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value.

RPL will be applied for the purposes of this qualification. Through Recognition of Prior Learning, a learner may:
  • Gain access.
    Or
  • Be granted advanced placement on condition that he/she continues his/her studies at the institution.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum admission requirement is:
  • Professional Bachelors' Degree in Emergency Medical Care (NQF Level 8).
    Or
  • Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) Emergency Medical Care (EMC), however such learners will need to complete a research methodology module. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Master of Emergency Medical Care consists of research only, leading to a dissertation of 180 Credits. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Identify, design, conceptualise and implement methods of enquiry to investigate a research problem and use resources of academic and professional discourse to communicate and defend substantial ideas in the research. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Relevant literature to the area of investigation is analysed and critically evaluated to establish recent trends in technologies, techniques, models and theories in the chosen field.
  • Principles, theories, techniques and methodologies in the chosen field are analysed, explained and correctly used in oral presentations and the dissertation model/s.
  • The research problem is clearly identified, defined and detailed in the research proposal where the stated hypothesis directs the investigation.
  • Appropriate methods and techniques are selected and applied in the collection of qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Effective information technology in the production of the dissertation/research report is applied.
  • Experimental research is responsibly and ethically conducted.
  • Data is interpreted reflecting clear understanding of the relationship between correct information in the study and contradictory information.
  • Conclusions based on inferences and interpretation of critical reviews of evidence from measurements and valid statistical analyses are drawn.
  • Oral and written reports using correct academic language and appropriate statistics are drawn up and used to communicate the research problem, its investigation, the outcome, and the recommendations.

    Integrated Assessment:
    In terms of the research component of the qualification, the supervisor will be responsible for the diagnostic and formative assessments of the product in order to provide feedback in terms of the final evaluation criteria. Teaching and learning of research methodology topics are promoted in this manner and also constitute a way of monitoring learners' progress. The assessment will entail oral presentations, research proposals, written progress reports, a research dissertation and an article written and submitted for publication. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Before the development of this qualification a comparability study was conducted to ensure that this qualification was aligned with international qualifications. It was found that many international universities offer a Master's qualification in Emergency Care. It was found that many of these international institutions are catering for a specific group of learners such as nurses and physicians. The University College of Dublin qualification caters for the needs of all health workers.

    The University College of Dublin offers the Master Science in Emergency Medical Science. This qualification aims to develop the knowledge and skills in Immediate Care with an emphasis on the assessment, diagnosis and management of both trauma and medical emergencies in adult and paediatric patients.

    This coursework is open to doctors, nurse and advanced paramedics with experience of working in the pre-hospital care environment. Learners build on and contribute their existing clinical expertise and experience to the development of an effective inter-professional approach to patient care and are able to conduct advanced research in their field.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification compares favourably with the above cited international qualification in terms of the competences the learners will develop. They all contain both course work and a research component. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers specific articulation opportunities with the following qualifications offered by the University of Johannesburg:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Nursing Science in Community Nursing Science, Level 9 (ID: 73996).

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Nursing Science: Community: Primary Health: Diagnoses: Treatment: Care Occupational Health, Level 9( ID: 73887).

    The qualification also offers systemic articulation with the following qualifications offered by other institutions, provided the learner meets the minimum entry requirements:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Health Sciences in Emergency Medical Care, Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualifications in Emergency Medical Care, Public Health, Health Management, Clinical Health Sciences and Health Professions Education, Level 10. 
    		•

    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 Johannesburg 


    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.