Diploma in Event Management

Purpose

The Diploma in Event Management is in response to the workplace need for competent managers across all economic sectors. The current and future need for competent entry, junior and middle managers has been expressed by employers and employees. The skills, knowledge, attitudes and values required by managers are addressed through this qualification by offering the necessary breadth on important topics combined with appropriate occupational and professional depth for its intended purpose. The successful completion of this qualification will increase the learner's employability in the various fields of event management, as well as equipping them with the requisite entrepreneurial skills to setup their own business.

The qualification has been designed to give learners the skills required for managing life-long learning. The qualification provides opportunities for vertical and/or horizontal articulation pathways, for example:

• Specialised studies in Public Relations, Media Communications and Entrepreneurship.
• Advanced studies in hospitality or Marketing Management.
• Bachelors' Degree studies in Marketing Management.

Rationale

Event Management is a crucial component of commerce. The Diploma in Event Management has been developed for a particular purpose, this being to facilitate access to the world-of-work that rely on the application of the knowledge and skills systems supporting event management practices. The purpose of the qualification is to ensure learners are equipped with the knowledge, theory and methodology of the important disciplines in event management, and enable them to demonstrate initiative and responsibility in a professional or academic context where application of the principles and theory are emphasised as a basis for entry into the labour market, professional training, graduate study, or professional practice in a wide range of careers within civil society, the public or private sectors. The module covered within the Diploma in Event Management are developed in an increasingly applied manner covering the major functional specialisations and culminating in an integrated manner which provides broad strategic context for learners on issues in event management, marketing management, entrepreneurship, project management, integrated marketing communication, public relations, financial management, business management, applied psychology and research methods.

The breadth and depth of learning achieved by learners reflect a broad range of skill-sets and knowledge-sets consisting of principles, theoretical engagement and levels of intellectual independence characteristics of the Diploma in Event Management. For a rapidly evolving and growing nation, this qualification forms part of the increase in provision of learners with higher order capabilities to grow the economy, to advance social transformation, and to remain regionally relevant and globally competitive.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners may provide evidence of prior learning for which they may receive credit towards the qualification by means of portfolios or other forms of appropriate evidence which may include, verified accounts of previous relevant work done and performance records. The portfolio of evidence is evaluated in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Quality Council.

Learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements may be granted admission through Recognition of Prior Learning.

Entry Requirements

Access is granted to learners who have achieved a

• National Senior Certificate (NSC), at NQF Level 4 and English as one of the subjects passed and which grants admission to Diploma study.

Or

• Senior Certificate with endorsement and English as one of the subjects passed.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational) (NC (V)), at NQF Level 4 and English as one of the subjects passed and which grants admission to Diploma study.

The Diploma in Event Management consists of eight compulsory modules at NQF Level 5 with 112 Credits, ten modules at NQF Level 6 with 202 Credits and two modules at NQF Level 6 with 60 Credits.

Modules at NQF Level 5

• Event Management I, 16 Credits.
• Marketing Management I, 16 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship I, 16 Credits.
• Public Relations I, 16 Credits.
• Computer Literacy I, 8 Credits.
• Integrated Marketing Communication I, 16 Credits.
• Computer Literacy II, 8 Credits.
• Business Management I, 16 Credits.

Modules at NQF Level 6

• Financial Management I, 30 Credits.
• Event Management II, 30 Credits.
• Marketing Management II, 16 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship II, 16 Credits.
• Project Management II, 12 Credits.
• Project Management III, 16 Credits.
• Integrated Marketing Communication II, 24 Credits.
• Public Relations II, 24 Credits.
• Applied Research, 14 Credits.
• Experiential Learning, 20 Credits.

Modules at NQF Level 7

• Event Management, 30 Credits.
• Marketing Management, 30 Credits.

1. Apply general business and marketing principles to hospitality and event management and interpret economic realities of local and global communities.
2. Manage financial and technology resources in organisations.
3. Analyse data, marketing information and performance of hospitality events.
4. Demonstrate entrepreneurial and project management skills.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• An understanding of the business and operations management function and scope is demonstrated according to the fundamental practices in the context of hospitality and event management.
• The core general management and marketing practices are applied in the context of hospitality and event management.
• Fundamentals of marketing communication strategy are applied in own organisation.
• Relevant ethical practice is complied with.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Basic financial accounting practices are applied in own work context.
• End-user computing practices are used to demonstrate fluency and competency in information technology hardware and software in relation to software suites in the office environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Event Management is discussed, with a particular emphasis on the principles and methodologies associated with hospitality events, strategies, and the measurement of performance.
• A basic understanding of the scope of the integrated marketing communication function is demonstrated.
• Practices associated with integrated marketing communication and event management are applied.
• Information and research data for marketing and event management purposes managed and interpreted.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The knowledge and skills that are associated with entrepreneurship in a commercial context is applied.
• An understanding of the project management scope is demonstrated by initiating, planning and explaining the overall cycle of a project from conceptualisation to closure.
• A project planned and managed to show proficiency in project control, evaluation and scoping operational plans.

Integrated Assessment

Successful learners will have undertaken an extensive process in which assessments progressively build the learners' integrated competency to a point where the learner is able to express - through a range of mechanisms measured against valid, reliable and transparent criteria - which they can operate effectively in an entry level occupational position within the knowledge system specified by the qualification title.

Formative assessment integrates the cycle of teaching and learning, and assessment. Study guides and texts contain self-assessment exercises. The scheme of work includes formal assessments in the form of tests and/or assignments based on the learning material and learners are graded and provided written feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited in the number of outcomes assessed.

Summative assessments are in the form of proctored examinations, or equivalent assessment such as a research report which assesses a representative selection of the outcomes practised 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 full course.