Master of Commerce

Purpose

The primary purpose of the qualification is to educate and train researchers who can contribute to the development of knowledge at an advanced level. The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) of the National Qualifications Framework (2013) notes that "the Masters in research requires a candidate to undertake research at the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a dissertation" (p.32). The qualification will develop students for an academic career by undertaking a focused research in their chosen field.

The defining characteristic of the qualification is that the candidate is required to demonstrate high-level research capability and to make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of a discipline or field. The work must be of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication. The qualification may be earned through pure discipline-based or multidisciplinary research or applied research. Graduates should be able to supervise and evaluate the research of others in the area of specialisation concerned.

Furthermore the qualification is intended to provide graduates with necessary knowledge, competencies and skills in order to understand and further develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of the principles, philosophies and methodologies of business management.

Graduates must be able to reflect critically on theory and its application They must be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, design and critically appraise research, make sound judgements using data and information at their disposal and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences, demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks with a theoretical underpinning and continue to advance their knowledge, understanding and skills. Furthermore the qualification will equip students with the required skills, knowledge and the intellectual capacity to develop strategic plans in an organisation to act as a specialist in any one of the functions in business management.

Rationale

This qualification allows for articulation from the Master's Degree from which students have graduated in the past 20 years. The qualification has focused on developing the necessary academic and research capacity, infrastructure, institutional policy and systems in order to ensure it is ready to offer the qualification. It is common knowledge that both public and private research-oriented organisations require individuals on an on-going basis who possess the qualifications with specific research expertise in business and management. This should contribute to greater sustainability on the development front in terms of growth and poverty elimination.

This qualification supports the goals of the National Development Plan 2030 and will contribute to the achievement of national higher education and economic goals of South Africa and the region. This qualification strongly focuses on further enhancing and developing research skills and learner research proficiencies. The overall outcome of this qualification is to contribute to the graduates professional as well as personal development and learning. This qualification aims to develop graduates with specialist knowledge; a further rationale is to prepare graduates with specialist knowledge in pursuit to Doctoral Degrees.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be obtained in whole or in part through the recognition of prior learning. In the cases where prior learning is to be recognised for purposes of access to the qualification: It is assumed that the learning derived from work or life experience will be a major element in the profiles of non-standard entrants primarily by means of a cognitive ability assessment. Such 'non-standard' candidates will be selected on the recommendation of a senior manager from their organisations/companies. Where appropriate, interviews will also be conducted to assess the applicants. Some of the key criteria that will be used in evaluating 'non-standard' applicants include:

• The applicants' motivation, maturity and realistic approach to their studies.
• Job description, covering relevant area of work, giving examples of tasks carried out, possibly supplying references.
• The nature and level of life/work experience and prior study, and the learning which has resulted from such experience.
• Details of in-company short courses, length, content of material covered, standard achieved.
• The clarity of the applicant's educational goals and objectives.
• The extent to which the applicant can provide evidence of the threshold skills and knowledge for the qualification.

Entry Requirements

• A relevant Honour's Degree.

Or

• A relevant Postgraduate Diploma at Level 8.

The qualification comprises of compulsory module at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory Modules Level 9, 180 Credits

• Dissertation, 180 Credits.

1. Integrate and contextualise comprehensive and systematic knowledge of one or more disciplines or fields, with depth, specialisation and up-to date, benchmarked knowledge.
2. Think epistemologically and relate theory into practice via an informed and critical understanding of the theory and research methodology of one or more disciplines or fields, and an understanding of how these relate to research problems in their specific arena of employment.
3. Select and apply research methods effectively, and undertake a research project in the area of business and management.
4. Deal with complex problems using the intellectual, research and technological resources and tools provided by a discipline or profession and thereby possibly contributing novus and unique elements to the greater body of scientific knowledge.
5. Effectively retrieve and process information, and engage critically with current research and scholarship in an area of specialisation.
6. Present and communicate academic or professional work effectively, using the full resources of an academic discourse appropriately.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Analyse and evaluate the viability of the research.
• Discuss the key issues and challenges within the business environment.
• Conduct independent research.
• Analyse old and existing knowledge.
• Fundamental and specialist knowledge is applied by conceptualising the business and management environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Identify a research problem that is suitable
• Master all research skills by application.
• Discover and attain new knowledge.
• Master a body of knowledge in the specified area.
• Concepts, ideas and theories are communicated with the aid of research instruments and the ability to conceptualise various research techniques and methodologies.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Identify and select an appropriate research methodology.
• Utilise qualitative and quantitative methodology to analyse data.
• Implement the empirical within the research.
• Systematically apply the research knowledge and its resultant impact on business and management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Use empirical data to interrogate theoretical knowledge.
• Formulate relevant conclusion based on the results analysed.
• Interrogate with complex issues from a research perspective by addressing the challenges and devising methods to overcome various concerns in business and management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Conduct current and relevant research.
• Utilise current resources, textbooks, journals and information.
• Explore and evaluate the various sources of information.
• Use library and other resources effectively to suit the needs to the research.
• Effectively process and retrieve information and engage critically with an academic diaspora through scholarly contribution to academic literature through publications in refereed journals in the chosen field.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Publish journal articles.
• Present research in research colloquiums and seminars.
• Communicate academic information effectively.
• Communicate academic or professional work effectively to a wider body of audience through academic discourse using research seminars, symposiums and research colloquiums.

Integrated Assessment

The Assessment methods measure the extent to which the student has achieved competence in the chosen areas of study delivered through workshops/research seminars/advanced research writing workshops etc. These assessment methods include:

• Seminars in the chosen area of expertise.
• Dissertation.
• Scholarly contribution to academic literature through publications in refereed journals in the chosen field.
• Research plan/proposal presentation.
• Research progress report.