Diploma: Human Resource Management

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with the opportunity to acquire the applied competencies in the field of Human Resource Management that are required for registration with the South African Board for People Practitioners (SABPP) as an Human Resource/Employee Resource (HR/ER) Associate. The learners will be empowered to co-ordinate and contribute to the management of the core Human Resource Management functions in line with best practices and quality standards. This qualification lays a foundation for higher career advancement and further studies in the field of Human Resource Management.

This qualification is aimed at learners who work within business environments, and seek recognition for essential people management skills and competence in operational Human Resource practice. It has been developed:

• To promote efficiency in implementing legislative requirements and organisational policies and procedures in Human Resource functions.
• Co-ordinate and contribute to the management of the core processes related to human resources management and practices.
• Co-ordinate some of the human resources management processes and practices at operational level.
• Promote best human resource management practices in an organisation to contribute to the monitoring of Health and Safety at the workplace and the implementation of wellness interventions.
• Identify strengths and areas for improvement in own learning through self-reflection and reflection on organisational human resource management and practices.

Qualified learners will be competent to perform all the functions of human resource management.

Rationale

The Human Resource function is one of the main components that provides direction to and drives organisational performance. The Diploma: Human Resource Management graduate can:

• Apply Human Resource knowledge and general business principles to real life situations.
• Interpret economic realities within organisational contexts.
• Manage resources (human and financial) in organisations.
• Manage information appropriately.
• Demonstrate people skills.
• Practise the ethics and standards pertinent to the Human Resource Management profession as per the Code of Ethics of the South African Board for People Practices.
• Demonstrate knowledge of financial information in a business context.

This qualification has been developed considering the needs of employers and the South African Board of People Practice.

• Good reading and writing skills in English.
• Be able to analyse and respond to variety of texts.
• Be able to learn independently in an Open and Distance Learning context (ODL) with minimum support.

Recognition of Prior Learning

All admission through Recognition of Prior Learning must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the Unisa Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

This qualification can be achieved wholly or in part through recognition of prior learning. The Unisa Recognition of Prior Learning office can supply full details of processes relating to the assessment and accreditation of learning from prior experiences. Evidence can be presented in a variety of forms, including international or previous local qualifications, reports, testimonials mentioning functions performed, work records, portfolios, videos of practice and performance records.

All such evidence should be judged according to the general principle of assessment described in the notes to assessors. Unisa lecturers will act as assessors for Recognition of Prior Learning purposes.

Access to the Qualification

Learners wishing to access this qualification must have obtained

• A National Senior Certificate (NSC) certified by the Council for General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi) with an achievement rating of 3 or better (an E symbol for Senior Certificates), in four recognised NSC 20-credit subjects selected as a recognised 20-credit subject for the NSC.
• An achievement rating of 3 (an E symbol for Senior Certificates), in four recognised NSC 20-credit subjects selected as a recognised 20) or better for English, at either Home, or First Additional or Second Additional Level selected as a recognised 20-credit subject for the NSC.
• An achievement rating of 3 (an E symbol for Senior Certificates) or better for Mathematics or an achievement rating of 5 or better for Mathematical Literacy as a recognised 20-credit NSC subject.

Candidates with an equivalent qualification that meets the above listed criteria or with an appropriate Higher Certificate at NQF Level 5 may also be considered for admission to the Diploma in Human Resource Management.

Learners who do not meet the minimum requirements may be admitted through Recognition of Prior Learning and the completion of additional modules.

The qualification consists of the following modules

Compulsory Modules at NQF Level 5, worth 12 Credits each

• Business Management 1A.
• Introduction to Human Resource Management.
• Introduction to Labour Relations Management.
• Financial Accounting.
• Psychological processes in work context.
• Introduction to Human Resource Development.
• Economics 1A.

Total credits at NQF Level 5 = 84 Credits.

Compulsory modules at NQF Level 6, worth 12 Credits each

• Business Management 1B.
• Financial Accounting.
• Economics 1B.
• Education, Training and Development Practices.
• Human Resource Provisioning.
• Performance Management Practices.
• General Management.
• Individual Labour Law.
• Finance for Non-financial Managers.
• Human Resource Maintenance and Retention.
• Compensation Practices.
• Personality in Work Context.
• Collective Labour Law.
• Labour Relations Practices.
• Labour Economics.
• Management of Human Resource Development.
• Organisational Research Methodology.
• Organisational Psychology.

Total credits at NQF Level 6 = 216 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at NQF Level 7, worth 12 Credits each

• Applied Human Resource Development Competencies.
• Applied Human Resource Management Competencies.
• Employee Wellness Management.
• Applied Labour Relations Management Competencies.
• Project Management.

Total credits at NQF Level 7 = 60 Credits.

Total credits for qualification: 360 Credits.

1. Adhere to legislative requirements and organisational policies and procedures in performing Human Resource functions.
2. Promote best human resource management practices in an organisation.
3. Identify strengths and areas for improvement in own learning through self-reflection and reflection on organisational human resource management and practices.
4. Co-ordinate and contribute to the management of the core processes related to human resources management and practices.
5. Contribute to the monitoring of Health and Safety in the workplace and the implementation of wellness interventions.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

• Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.

> Note: apply fundamental Human Resource Management principles, methodologies and techniques in order to provide support services expected from associate Human Resource practitioners to all employees in organisations.

• Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.

> Note: accept work instructions pertaining to Human Resource Management, to interpret these correctly and to request assistance in an appropriate manner as a team member.

• Organise and manage himself/herself and his/her activities responsibly and effectively.

> Note: make the necessary preparations for establishing proper procedure, the candidate must indicate what prerequisites are required and must be able to communicate this in writing.

• Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

> Note: reconcile the information from various sources and examination of physical evidence relevant to Human Resource Management.

• Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentations.

> Note: present and communicate information and opinions related to the field of Human Resource Management in well-structured arguments, showing awareness of audience and using professional discourse appropriately.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

> Note: identify varying and diverse contexts in which Human Resource Management practices.

• Identify strengths and areas for improvement in own learning through self-reflection and reflection on support for organisational human resources management and practices.

> Note: operate in variable and unfamiliar learning contexts, requiring responsibility and initiative; a capacity to self-evaluate and identify and address personal learning needs and to interact effectively in a learning group.

• Contribute to the full personal development of the learner.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Support the implementation of procedures and systems related to human resources management and practices in all of the Human Resource Management roles.
• Identify and analyse staff needs and opportunities.
• Solve human resources problems by implementing relevant procedures.
• Apply appropriate principles to situations related to problems.
• Apply the Code of Conduct as stated by the South African Board for Personnel Practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Demonstrate basic understanding of people dynamics and its impact in the workplace.
• Apply knowledge to provide solutions to problems that arise in a culturally diverse society.
• Show empathy and understanding of the problems and contexts of others.
• Develop human resources in an organisational context.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Relate learning gained from individual experience to knowledge encountered in an academic environment.
• Interpret the past and the present in relation to future.
• Reflect on personal experiences and academic disciplines.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Apply the Human Resource Development (HRD) principles, processes and practices in the management of HRD interventions within the organisation.
• Apply and evaluate performance management practices, processes and techniques to optimise employee performance.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Develop a comprehensive wellness strategy for an organisation.
• Promote and establish workplace safety, occupational health and hygiene policy.

Integrated Assessment

All assessment will integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes and applied competence. The "Applied Competencies" modules in the third year are intended as capstone modules in human resource management, human resource development and labour relations management. In these modules, theoretical and practical components will be assessed together with knowledge, skills and attitudes from across the curriculum.

Formative Assessment

Learning and assessment are integrated. The study guides contain self-assessment tasks with feedback. The scheme of work includes a combination of written and multiple choice assignments based on the learning material which learners have to submit and for which they earn year marks. Learners are given feedback in the form of written comments in the assignments and suggested solutions and mark plans presented in a formal tutorial letter. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and a limited number of outcomes. Assignment marks contribute 10% towards the student's final mark.

Summative Assessment

Examinations of a representative selection of outcomes practiced and assessed in the formative stage. Summative assessment also tests the student's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module.

• One two-hour examination per module per semester.
• Unless otherwise stated, a subminimum of 40% must be obtained in the examination.
• The mark obtained in the examination contributes 90% to the student's final mark.

Supplementary examinations at the end of the following semester are available for learners who obtained at least 45% as a final examination mark.