Higher Certificate in Project Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Higher Certificate in Project Management is to provide learners with a broad but complete knowledge of project management, as well as business concepts, and to guide learners through the entry-level application of these concepts. The qualification will equip learners with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform project management functions at the foundation level in an organisation. This qualification allows learners to develop essential competencies needed to manage projects effectively.

Upon completion of the qualification, learners will be able to

• Identify and appropriately apply legislation and organisational policies and procedures relevant to the core processes to a given situation.
• Evaluate a project to develop the scope of work, provide accurate cost estimates and plan the various activities.
• Demonstrate an understanding of risk management analysis techniques that identify the factors that put a project at risk and quantify the likely effect of risk on project timescales.
• Identify the resources required for a project and produce a work plan and resourced schedule.
• Distinguish between the different types of projects and follow the stages needed to negotiate an appropriate contract, and develop a project plan and change control systems to integrate the various project elements.
• Identify best practices relevant to operational responsibilities in terms of monitoring and evaluation.

Rationale

The public sector, non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and donor/aid agencies in South Africa require effective project management skills for them to deliver fast, effective service, and to achieve targets.

The number of institutions offering higher certificate qualifications in generic project management is limited. Therefore, there is a need for institutions to offer entry-level project management qualifications to serve the needs of the prospective employees, as well as the employers in both the private and public sectors. South Africa and the development of its economy requires project managers. Therefore, the qualification is geared towards the development of potential project managers to fill in these gaps.

The institution consulted with the professional body, Project Management South Africa (PMSA) and membership is being processed. PMSA gave insight into the qualification content based on the needs of entry-level practitioners.

The qualification will benefit the learner by providing a recognised introductory project management qualification that will improve employability, and facilitate lifelong learning as an alumnus of the institution.

Project Management encompasses and touches every facet of the entire organisation from human resources to finance and information technology to marketing and sales. Thus it has emerged in the business world as one of the most popular career fields.

The qualification is intended to provide the learners with a framework for understanding the dynamics of project management that covers all the essential elements and processes in project management. The qualifying learner will be able to operate as project coordinators, project administrators, junior project managers, junior business analysts in projects, and project assistants.

The qualification was designed for learners who aspire to study towards an entry-level, higher education qualification, providing learners with a basic understanding of project management concepts. Society will benefit from the qualification as project management assists managers to operate in a more focused and streamlined way when using the principles of project management and guarantee the completion of projects to avoid losses created and incomplete projects.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The RPL Committee (sub-committee of the Assessment Committee) will evaluate the application form and may suggest entry tests or access modules (Business Numeracy, Fundamentals of Business Communication and/or Academic Literacy) to ensure the candidate is fully prepared for the RPL process.

The qualification may be achieved through the Recognition of Prior Learning, which includes formal, informal, and non-formal learning and work experience. Recognition of Prior Learning is applied in terms of policy and criteria of the institution in accordance with the national imperatives of widening access.

RPL for access

• The qualification provides alternative routes of access to higher education.RPL for access is applied to earners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• Advanced standing may be granted.

RPL for exemption from module

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted for modules that form part of the qualification.
• For a learner to be exempted from a module and the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credits

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Senior Certificate at NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• National Senior Certificate (NSC) at NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational (NCV) at NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 135 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5,135 Credits

• Introduction to Project Management, 20 Credits.
• Project Management Tools and Documents, 20 Credits.
• Project Management Body of Knowledge, 20 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Business Management, 20 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Ethics and Diversity, 20 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Business Numeracy, 20 Credits.
• Academic Literacy, 15 Credits.

1. Identify and apply legislation and organisational policies and procedures relevant to the core processes appropriately to a given situation.
2. Evaluate a project to develop the scope of work, provide accurate cost estimates and plan the various activities through the project phases.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of risk management analysis techniques that identify the factors that put a project at risk and quantify the likely effect of risk on project timescales.
4. Identify the resources required for a project and produce a work plan and resource schedule as well as manage the documents that comprise the baseline plan.
5. Distinguish between the different types of projects and follow the stages needed to negotiate an appropriate contract, and develop a project plan and change control systems to integrate the various project elements.
6. Identify best practices relevant to operational responsibilities in terms of monitoring and evaluation.
7. Access, process and apply elementary business information, considering ethical behaviour.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate the process of project management and its application in delivering successful projects.
• Make contributions following organisational policies and procedures, client requirements and legal requirements.
• Demonstrate appropriate monitoring of health and safety in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Understand the role of business departments in an organisation.
• Define project scope and time allocations to ensure optimal levels.
• Demonstrate processes of quality management, integration management, human resource management, communications management, risk management and procurement management.
• Evaluate the strengths and areas for improvement in organisational human resources management and practices correctly.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate the ability to solve both routine and new problems in the business and project management spheres.
• Identify and reduce risks within a project.
• Apply processes to ensure effective risk management through risk assessment and risk control.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Demonstrate an informed understanding of the core areas of project management.
• Demonstrate project scheduling procedures, manage project cost and work with the project budget.
• Demonstrate the process of developing and tracking time and cost goals for all contractually organised work are demonstrated.
• Plan and implement appropriate action to promote best practices in the organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Apply management theories to basic business problems.
• Apply quality principles to projects on quality planning, quality assurance and quality control.
• Develop integrated information and control systems to plan, instruct, monitor and control large amounts of data.
• Develop accurate and quick problem-solving and decision making processes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Demonstrate problem-solving in project management environments.
• Identify and evaluate strengths and areas for improvement in own learning are correctly and adequately.
• Describe the monitoring and evaluation process.
• Demonstrate skills for monitoring and evaluation of a project.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Demonstrate the ability to account for his or her actions, to work effectively and have respect for others.