Master of Arts in Political Studies

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Arts in Political Studies with work-based learning (WBL) is to provide an option for learners seeking more vocational and applied postgraduate research training. Learners will complete one year of coursework, including a theory module in Work Integrated Political Studies, before being placed with a host organisation in government or civil society in the second year to conduct the research.

The aim of the qualification is to provide research and organisational training for Political Scientists who are enriched through exposure to the world of work. Learners will also be exposed to conducting research based on a real-world political problem defined in conjunction with host organisations.

The Department of Political Studies staff and learners have worked closely over the years with civil society organisations on real-world problems, often using participatory methods. The intention is to:

• Expand the choices of postgraduate study for Political Science learners.
• Better develop the attributes of Political Studies graduates.
• Enhance the quality of the programme through using work-integrated learning.
• Develop a niche for the department that will mark it out nationally.
• Deepen the learning experience through international collaboration.

Upon completion of the qualification, the qualifying learner will be to

• Apply the advanced knowledge in a specialized area to enable critique of current practices in the Political Studies field with work-based learning.
• Access, analyse, organize, and critically evaluate the existing knowledge in the Political Studies field with work-based learning and its application in practical situations.
• Design, select and apply an appropriate problem-solving approach to the resolution of disputes which arise in Political Studies with work-based learning.
• Engage in independent research and produce findings in the form of a research report from a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques, and technologies in the Political Studies field.
• Demonstrate competence and professional expertise in performing research tasks in Political Studies with work-based learning.
• Demonstrate intellectual independence and critical thinking in response to organizational, personal, and social benefit issues related to Political Studies with work-based learning.

The key contribution is that the qualification is developing an academic curriculum that responds to the 21st Century graduate attributes. It recognizes the skills required of the world of work and incorporates the learning of these into the qualification especially the practice of ongoing reflection on the learning process. In addition, the qualification affirms the faculty's commitment to work-based learning opportunities and offers an alternative route for more vocationally minded learners. Thus, a key objective of the qualification is to expose learners to the world of work so that they can clarify what career they want, network in the industry, and even secure their first jobs through these networks.

Rationale

Political Studies is not a vocational discipline and has multiple potential career outlets including academia, research, the media, civil society, political parties, and government employment. This qualification will bridge the discipline-vocational gap by requiring research placement with host organisations in civil society and government that do explicitly political research. The qualification will develop a strong vocational link for Political Studies postgraduate learners preferring a more applied research trajectory. The qualification will provide South Africa with a cadre of specialists and experts in the field of research, facilitation, development, management, and service provision, who will contribute to a continuously growing understanding of the Political Sciences.

Globally there is a growing recognition of the importance of work-based learning as an approach to higher education with multiple benefits for learners and society which include:

• Better academic performance of learners, as internships often positively enhance the motivation to study.
• The personal empowerment of learners' soft skills like organizational ability, communication skills, teamwork, leadership, and co-operation.
• Career impact for learners as internships help with networking, career clarification, work opportunities and increased employability.
• The development of skills through technical knowledge and skills enhancement.
• Social benefits in the form of the value-add of learner contribution to the public through supporting government and civil society work (CHE 2012: 6).

In South Africa, a similar recognition of the positive benefits of work-based learning is contained in the Higher Education Qualification Framework of 2007. The Council on Higher Education's (CHE) Good Practice Guide states that university teachers should be concerned to ensure that the learners who graduate with the qualifications are prepared for the world in which they will live and work (CHE, (2012:1).

This policy endorsement of work-based learning is reinforced by the realities of the work environment in South Africa, which is characterised by a high unemployment rate, with it taking many years for some graduates to find work (Stats SA 2018). The qualification will connect Political Studies postgraduates with the world of work, with significant potential benefits in terms of academic growth, personal, career, skills, and social development.

By placing learners in government and civil society workplaces, the qualification can also contribute to strengthening the public sector by providing not only a pool of potentially talented employees but also by assisting with the production of practical knowledge needed to govern democratically, implement policy qualifications and hold the state accountable. The research that learners do will be directed to the needs of the host as well as forming the basis of the dissertation.

Preliminary discussions with potential hosts in both civil society and government indicate a great enthusiasm for this qualification. The qualification builds on existing practice over several years where staff and learners have worked closely with civil society organisations on real-world problems, often using participatory methods. The institution has also received interest from both the Parliament of South Africa and the Metropolitan Municipality to host research placements.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advanced standing within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, 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 credit

• 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 formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Politics, NQF Level 08.

Or

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Political Studies, NQF Level 08.

Or

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Political Science, NQF Level 08.

Or

• Bachelor of Administration Honours in Political Studies, NQF Level 08.

Or

• Honours Degree in a cognate field, NQF Level 08.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma: Political Science, NQF Level 08.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Political Leadership, NQF Level 08.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Governance and Political Transformation, NQF Level 08.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in a cognate discipline like History or Public Administration, NQF Level 08.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 09 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 150 Credits

• Research Methodology, 30 Credits.
• The Theory of Work-Based Learning (WBL) Political Studies, 30 Credits.
• The Practice of WBL Political Studies, 30 Credits.
• Political Studies Mini-Thesis, 60 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 9, 30 Credits (Select one module from the following options)

• International Political Economy, 30 Credits.
• Contemporary Democratic Theory, 30 Credits.
• International Relations Theory, 30 Credits.
• Gender and Sexuality, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge in a specialized area to enable critique of current practices in Political Studies with work-based learning.
2. Demonstrate competence in accessing, analysing, organizing, and critically evaluating existing knowledge in the discipline of Political Studies with work-based learning and its application in practical situations.
3. Demonstrate the ability to design, select, and apply an appropriate problem-solving approach to the resolution of disputes which arise in Political Studies with work-based learning.
4. Engage in independent research and produce findings in the form of a research report from a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques, and technologies in the field of Political Studies.
5. Demonstrate competence and professional expertise in performing research tasks in Political Studies with work-based learning.
6. Demonstrate intellectual independence and critical thinking in response to organizational, personal, and social benefit issues related to Political Studies with work-based learning.

The following associated assessment criteria apply across all Exit Level Outcomes

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Critically discuss the literature on methodological theories in the social sciences regarding work-based learning (WBL).
• Evaluate the approaches to studying political phenomena, especially in work-based learning (WBL).

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Critically evaluate the key principles of work-based learning (WBL) design in Political Studies.
• Apply theories and concepts to selected case studies.
• Evaluate South Africa's political system and compare it with other democracies in the rest of the world, to point out the differences and similarities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Critically analyse best practice cases in respect of WBL in Political Studies, especially integration of practical and theoretical knowledge, relations with key role-players, process design, techniques of reflection and legal, ethical, and logistical challenges.
• Critically draw on this knowledge in designing and reflecting on a WBL.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Conduct independent research of a limited scope under supervision.
• Identify a specific focused topic to research.
• Compile a limited literature review on the topic selected.
• Apply basic approaches, possibly mainly descriptive/empirical research, depending on the discipline.
• Articulate a particular position within the theoretical and methodological frameworks of the discipline.
• Submit a report for external assessment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Critically reflect on, a WBL research project in Political Studies based on knowledge production.
• Identify, address, and manage emerging ethical issues, and advance processes of ethical decision-making, including monitoring and evaluation of the consequences of these decisions where appropriate.
• Explain the importance of ethical professional practice in the Political Sciences research.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Critically draw on this knowledge in designing and reflecting on a WBL Political Studies research project.
• Identify, explain, critically evaluate, and judge the most important political ideas over time from a personal ethical viewpoint.
• Describe, critically evaluate, and judge important current issues in world politics.
• Explain analytical approaches to the study of politics, apply them within the global context of a developing world, and critically explain and evaluate them.
• Explain and apply methods of political comparisons and compare and evaluate political systems in the world.