Advanced Diploma in Project Management

Purpose

This is a vocational qualification which is intended to train and equip learners for the South African industry with the knowledge and skills to be able to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, control, and terminate a low to medium level project within an area of expertise in any organisation. Qualifying learners will be employed as Project Administrators, Project Coordinators, or Project Managers, depending on the level of knowledge and expertise.

This qualification is discipline-based (project management), professional and career focussed. A learner that has completed this course will be able to manage uncomplicated projects, apply appropriate statistical methods to project management problems and have an understanding of the current research literature in project management. In addition, learners will be able to manage project teams and stakeholder relations, project quality and project procurement. Learners will further be able to manage project risk using qualitative techniques. In addition, the learner should be able to demonstrate high levels of motivation, goal orientation and inter-cultural competencies built within the Entrepreneurship subject as well as Project Management Processes.

Rationale

The National Development Plan-2030 (2011) and Skills Education Training Authorities (SETA) (2012) identified project management as a scarce skill. The National Planning Commission's Diagnostic Report (2011) identified the need to improve and maintain the national infrastructure as well as the improvement of the public health system. Most of the envisaged improvements are based on projects and the project management methodology. The qualification will thus help provide the necessary training for much needed skills, and for successful implementation of these projects.

By incorporating the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), professional requirements would be included in the new qualification. The qualifying learner may exit to be a project administrator, project coordinator, or project manager. As the project management profession continues to develop, this qualification will provide the learner with graduate attributes and necessary knowledge base to successfully practise as project managers in a dynamic field.

A large proportion of existing project managers have no formal training in Project Management and hence the need to fulfil this gap by offering a formalised course at undergraduate level. There is also growing recognition of Project Management as a professional field as evidenced by the wide application of PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) and PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments) and other project management knowledge areas in many organisations. Relevant stakeholders, including academic peers from outside the institution and employers represented on Advisory Boards, were involved in the development of the programme.

The qualification partially fills the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate studies in this discipline which will create a coherent pathway for learners wishing to pursue a vocational or academic career in this field. This qualification allows for horizontal and vertical progression to address the requirements of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and related project management methodologies.

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation

• Advanced Diploma in Business Management, Level 7.

Vertical Articulation

• Postgraduate Diploma in a related field, Level 8.
• Bachelor Honours Degree in a related field, Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

• Project Management Principles and Practice, 15 Credits.
• Project Cost Management and Accounting, 15 Credits.
• Project Risk Management, 12 Credits.
• Project Quality Management, 12 Credits.
• Project Resources Management, 12 Credits.
• Statistical Methods for Project Management, 12 Credits.
• Project Procurement Management Principles and Practice, 12 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate integrated knowledge of the central process groups and knowledge areas of the discipline of project management, including an understanding of and an ability to apply and evaluate the key terms, concepts, principles, rules and theories of this discipline.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of project management research perspectives in the literature and an ability to evaluate types of knowledge and explanations typical within the discipline.
3. Demonstrate an ability to identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex problems, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments.
4. Demonstrate an ability to take decisions and act ethically and professionally, and the ability to justify those decisions and actions drawing on appropriate ethical values and approaches, within a supported environment.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate knowledge of the key terms concepts, principles, rules and theories of the project management discipline.
• Identify the five process groups of the PMI and relate them to the relevant knowledge areas.
• Apply the ten knowledge areas of the PMI to uncomplicated projects in relation to the relevant process groups.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Demonstrate knowledge of how to find relevant sources of literature for in a specific topic area.
• Demonstrate critical reading, synthesis and generation of justified conclusions and recommendations.
• Use academic discourse in the communication of information.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Utilise knowledge for appropriate decision making and use statistical tools required to address complex problems in a specific context.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Show ability to take justified ethical and professional decisions in all process groups and knowledge areas.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment strategies are continuous and aimed at giving learners feedback on their progress in the achievement of learning outcomes as well as to integrate theoretical and practical competence. Such strategies include informal assignments, discussions, case studies, informal tests and tutoring.

Some of the criteria may be assessed through observation of the learners during classes. Summative assessment strategies are aimed at judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the programme. Such strategies include examinations, reports, projects or equivalent such as a portfolio of evidence which is representative of a selection of the outcomes.

The outcomes of the formal assignments and tests will contribute to a cumulative class mark as per pre-arrangement with the learners. In the formal assignments and tests, and in the respective examinations learners will have to demonstrate the ability to communicate and integrate knowledge of the key issues, highlighted in the respective modules, and identify and resolve typical problems in the subfields as indicated. This will require critical and creative thinking as well as the ability to make practical applications of the learning outcomes as indicated in the module descriptors.