Bachelor of Education Honours in Economics and Management Sciences Education

Purpose

The Bachelor of Education Honours in Economics and Management Sciences Education qualification will orientate and prepare postgraduate learners for research-based studies in the field of Economics and Management Sciences Education. This qualification will also develop appropriate research capacity for Economics and Management Sciences Education learners in various specialisations. It also aims at producing individuals who can specialise in the following areas: Accounting Education, Business Studies Education and Economics Education.

Furthermore, this entry-level postgraduate qualification aims to capacitate the learners with the expertise to undertake Economic and Management Sciences studies and prepare them for further postgraduate studies. It will reinforce, deepen and develop knowledge as well as skills to strengthen the learners' expertise in Economics and Management Sciences Education. The qualification will contribute towards achieving the intended Exit Level Outcomes expected of studies at NQF Level 8.

Rationale

The qualification responds to the need for disciplinary, pedagogical and professional knowledge in an entry postgraduate context that will articulate to further postgraduate studies. It offers varieties of specialisations in Accounting Education, Economics Education and Business Studies Education.

The specialisations will enable learners to focus on the need to further studies on current and critical challenges facing Economics and Management Sciences Education in South Africa and beyond. Learners who have completed this qualification will be able to conduct research at the postgraduate level thus strengthening their research capacity in Economics and Management Sciences Education. The qualification also endeavours to meet the demands of employers within South Africa, for example, the Departments of Education regionally, provincially and nationally, and internationally. Therefore, the qualification aims to consolidate and deepen learners' expertise and theoretical engagement related to Economics and Management Sciences Education. It will reinforce, deepen and develop knowledge as well as skills to strengthen the learners' expertise in Economics and Management Sciences Education. This will enable graduates to fit in professionally in schools and the management of the various subjects, for example, they can be subject advisers, district, provincial and national officers, among others in related fields.

The qualification will contribute towards achieving the intended outcomes such as engaging at an advanced level with theories in education, pedagogy and both professional and research ethics, demonstrating consolidated and deepened knowledge in a particular specialization of Economics and Management Sciences Education. These outcomes will be achieved by engaging learners in reading and analysing academic as well as professional texts critically, integrating and using the knowledge in their specialisations. Furthermore, learners will be expected to review the literature and apply findings to real-life situations and experiences.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Recognition of Prior Learning in this qualification will be conducted following the Policy and Procedures for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) of the Institution. RPL is regarded as one of the critical mechanisms for achieving redress and equity and accelerating access in the institution.

This policy and set of procedures will be used in the following purposes:-

• Transfer of credits from one institution to another institution, or from another qualification with similar credit-bearing modules and NQF Level.
• Admission to a qualification where the minimum requirements have not been met learners may apply for access through RPL.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• A four-year Bachelor of Education (BEd), NQF Level 7.

Or

• A three-year general Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 6 capped by a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or equivalent, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Advanced Diploma in Education in a related specialisation, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory module, Level 8, 102 Credits

• Curriculum Development, 18 Credits.
• Educational Management and Leadership, 18 Credits.
• Nature and history of Economic and Management Sciences Education, 18 Credits.
• Research Methods in Education, 18 Credits.
• Research Project in Economic and Management Sciences, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 8, 18 Credits (Choose one module)

• Accounting Education
• Business Studies Education
• Economics Education

1. Engage at an advanced level with theories in education, pedagogy and both professional and research ethics.
2. Demonstrate research capacity in the methodology and techniques in a specific field of Economic and Management Sciences Education.
3. Demonstrate consolidated and deepened knowledge in a particular field of Economic and Management Sciences Education.
4. Reflect at an advanced level on current thinking, practice and research methods in a specific field of Economics and Management Sciences Education.
5. Conduct and report on a research project in the chosen field of Economic and Management Sciences Education.
6. Develop and design the curriculum for the Economic and Management Sciences Education.
7. Manage and lead the schooling environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Read, integrate and use academic and professional texts in own studies.
• Show advanced knowledge base of the meaning and purpose of theory in scientific knowledge production.
• Theorise education by deliberating concepts of discourse, knowledge, learning, pedagogy and curriculum.
• Understand the importance of applying ethical principles during the conduct of the empirical study.
• Acquire an overview of important issues in research ethics.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Write a critical literature review from empirical studies.
• Identify literature gaps on the chosen topic.
• Argue how a study being conducted will contribute towards closing literature gaps.
• Apply appropriate research methodologies and techniques for educational research at an advanced level.
• Critique, reflect, record and evaluate research methodologies.
• Display research capacity in the methodology and techniques of the discipline.
• Display a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence is displayed.
• Show an advanced reflection and development using a systematic survey of current thinking, practice and research methods in an area of specialisation.
• Demonstrate an ability to conduct and report on the research.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Solve concrete and abstract problems in the Economic and Management Sciences Education sphere by drawing upon the theoretical knowledge and experiential base of individual disciplines in educational and other fields.
• Evaluate and compare opposing viewpoints on Economic and Management Sciences Education to own views.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Assimilate the ability to work with others when finding solutions for a practical and complex issue in Economic and Management Sciences Education.
• Demonstrate the ability to look beyond and across traditional disciplinary boundaries for possible solutions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Make sound/informed judgments about a varied range of Economic and Management Sciences Education issues, decisions and/or activities.
• Produce and defend an independent mini research report, based on a selection and application of appropriate research methodologies, engagement with theories of knowledge, intellectual independence and ethical and scholarly research in the field of Economic and Management Sciences Education.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Develop the curriculum for a chosen field in Economic and Management Sciences Education.
• Develop the curriculum in line with the statutory requirements.
• Implement the developed curriculum.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Demonstrate the ability to manage the classroom environment.
• Manage the school according to the relevant policies.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead the schooling environment.

Integrated Assessment

Quality assessment is central to credible certification and recognition of learners' achievement. The institution will ensure credibility in assessment through the application of clear rigorous procedures and practices, in keeping with the principle of fairness, validity, reliability and practicability.

Integrated assessment is used extensively across the qualification. Self and formative assessment take place in various ways in the face-to-face context including through classroom activities, assignments and written work. Summative assessments are integrated into the learning in that they take place at the end of each of the constituent modules of the qualification.

The research paper is assessed through the examination of a final mini-dissertation or report that must be submitted by the end of semester two.

The examination may also include components such as an oral presentation of the research and seminar presentations as outlined in the department's rules.

The final mark is obtained by taking the average of taught modules and research module.