Master of Commerce in Aerotropolis Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Commerce in Aerotropolis Management is to prepare a new generation of qualifying learners with advanced knowledge and skills to contribute to the management of large-scale urban and regional development projects such as aerotropolis. The qualification will enable working professionals to undertake advanced reflection on development-based and strategic management practices, by means of a systematic survey of current thinking, practice, and ideas in the specialisation of strategic and innovative management and collaboration to materialise large-scale urban and regional development projects.

On completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Introduce and examine management and regional development theories and paradigms to serve the new era of regional growth hubs (LSUDs, Aerotropolis, and Smart Cities) that require quadruple and quintuple helix approaches in the planning and execution of such large-scale catalytic development projects.
• Introduce and comprehend logistics and supply chain systems that will work with the JIT plans and schedules of the central hub (Aerotropolis Airport) to ensure the effective shipping of valuable products and commodities to their destinations.
• Analyse and apply new technologies and approaches to efficient and rapid integrated transportation systems around LSUDs, Aerotropolis, and Smart Cities.
• Analyse, restructure, and organise the tourism support industry. The role of one-stop service agencies is to manage opportunities, and regional transportation systems and airports to facilitate tourism.
• Grow and develop effective and efficient small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), to serve the economic development hub and sub-hubs of a smart airport city in a meaningful manner
• Apply leadership in route development and management for aerotropolis, encompassing regional, national, and international connectivity. This includes strategic air service development, route planning, and fostering sustainable aviation links to enhance economic growth and global integration.
• Introduce and employ data science in smart and innovative projects in airport cities and the first mile within the airport (Aerotropolis). Employing smart services, smart accommodation, health services, smart information dissemination, and demonstrating the role of big data and analytics.
• Define, analyse, and assess the nature, prevalence, and impact of global airport cities. Explore the role of aerotropolis in advancing smart airport integration, while examining the fundamental principles, conditions, and requirements for successful development.
• Conduct research, including the nature of research; research process; research problem; research topic development, writing a literature review; research theories, designs, methods, data collection tools, data analysis techniques, and reporting tools; ethical issues in research; evaluating a research report; and other relevant issues in research

Rationale

The increasing pressures and demands on regions and localities within developing countries to improve their socio-economic conditions in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals have given rise to specific developmental plans, strategies, and instruments for such catalytic projects. One example is the idea of developing smart airport cities (or now known as aerotropolis in regions with aerotropolis at their epicentre, which has received traction on many continents and in many nations. Africa is on the verge of fully adopting such plans and strategies, and local cities such as Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town are taking the lead in employing regional transportation hubs and coupling with the idea of smart cities as centres or catalysts for regional economic development. Such developments will require highly skilled employees, which this programme will be able to offer.

These developments are informed by the transformational socio- economic agenda in South Africa, and rapid pace of change, the management of such projects within the context of the quadruple helix approach, creativity and innovation, globalisation with the concomitant challenges for regional integration of such large-scale developments, systems and innovations, as well as specialised development in urban contexts, such as new regional and urban aerotropolis, events and infrastructure for the tourism industry, regional economic development zones, large- scale housing projects, and ongoing rapid transportation systems.

Large-scale urban and regional development (LSURD) projects and economic growth hubs are new paradigms in producing socio-economic growth points within regions with high demands and needs for socio-economic development. In addition, these developments have the potential to create catalytic projects to benefit large sectors of the community. Within the context of developing nations, and particularly those on the African continent, many of these developments are driven within the unique political, economic, social, environmental and the historical contexts of such regions. This implies a multi-pronged and modal approach to development, and the need for integrated plans and strategies requiring the application of new modes of governance, strategic management, economic development, and the interpretation of the knowledge production' needs to engage in the process of what the quadruple or quintuple helix approach requires to building a knowledge-based economy in such contexts.

There is also a growing need to provide an articulation route for a doctoral qualification in any of the Management Sciences at higher education institutions on the continent and abroad.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL for Access

Prior learning will be considered for enabling access into the qualification in accordance with the institution's RPL policy and procedures applied when recruiting learners and the Policy on Recognition of Prior Learning, Credit Accumulation and Transfer and Assessment by SAQA.

A maximum of 10% of the learner enrolment may be considered for entry via the RPL route in accordance with the University Policy.

A portfolio of evidence (POE) will form the basis of RPL evaluation. An RPL assessment committee will be set up to examine the POEs. The RPL evaluation process is based on matching learning outcomes obtained via alternative learning pathways with the exit-level outcomes of the qualification. The RPL portfolio of evidence (POE) evaluation will use criterion-referenced rubrics to ensure consistency, fairness, and rigour of RPL assessment.

Entry Requirements

• An Honours degree in a relevant field (e.g., Economics, Business Management, Logistics, and Geography), NQF Level 8

Or

• Bachelor of Commerce Honours, NQF Level 8

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Transport and Logistics, NQF Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at the National Qualifications Framework, Level 9, totalling 181 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 9, 151 Credits

• Advanced Research Methodology, 16 Credits.
• Aerotropolis and Smart City Developments, 15 Credits.
• Advanced Logistics and Supply Chain Management for Aerotropolis, 15 Credits.
• Management of Regional Development and Innovation Theories and Paradigms, 15 Credits.
• Dissertation: Management of Airport Cities, 90 Credits.

Elective Modules, NQF Level 9, 30 Credits (Select two modules):.

• Advanced Route Planning and Air Services for Aerotropolis, 15 Credits.
• Local and Regional Entrepreneurship development, 15 Credits.
• Big Data, Data Analytics and Smart City Developments, 15 Credits.
• Tourism Development and Management in Aerotropolis Hubs, 15 Credits.

1. Demonstrate the ability to introduce and examine management and regional development theories and paradigms to serve the new era of regional growth hubs (LSUDs, Aerotropolis, and Smart Cities) that require quadruple and quintuple helix approaches in the planning and execution of such large-scale catalytic development projects.
2. Demonstrate the ability to introduce and comprehend logistics and supply chain systems that will work with the JIT plans and schedules of the central hub (Aerotropolis Airport) to ensure the effective shipping of valuable products and commodities to their destinations. To also analyse and apply new technologies and approaches to efficient and rapid integrated transportation systems around LSUDs, Aerotropolis, and Smart Cities.
3. Analyse, restructure, and organise the tourism support industry. The role of one-stop service agencies is to manage opportunities, and regional transportation systems and airports to facilitate tourism.
4. Demonstrate the ability to grow and develop effective and efficient small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), to serve the economic development hub and sub-hubs of a smart airport city in a meaningful manner
5. Demonstrate the ability to apply leadership in route development and management for aerotropolis, encompassing regional, national, and international connectivity. This includes strategic air service development, route planning, and fostering sustainable aviation links to enhance economic growth and global integration.
6. Demonstrate the ability to introduce and employ data science in smart and innovative projects in airport cities and the first mile within the airport (Aerotropolis). Employing smart services, smart accommodation, health services, smart information dissemination, and demonstrating the role of big data and analytics.
7. Demonstrate the ability to define, analyse, and assess the nature, prevalence, and impact of global airport cities. Explore the role of aerotropolis in advancing smart airport integration, while examining the fundamental principles, conditions, and requirements for successful development.
8. Demonstrate the ability to conduct research, including the nature of research; research process; research problem; research topic development, writing a literature review; research theories, designs, methods, data collection tools, data analysis techniques, and reporting tools; ethical issues in research; evaluating a research report; and other relevant issues in research methodology.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply management and regional development theories and paradigms to assess the potential of regions to become engines for socio-economic development and to solve problems.
• Make proposals for the design, plans, and execution of developmental projects (simulations) within a region that learners are familiar with. Evaluation and critique of existing catalytic projects for improvement.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Select an appropriate logistics and workable supply chain system within the context of Aerotropolis management. Evaluate the ability of that system to ensure effective and efficient transportation of goods, products, and personnel.
• Select and organise appropriate rapid integrated transportation systems around LSUDs, Aerotropolis, and Smart cities. Propose a plan, design, and implementation strategy for such an RIT system.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Identify appropriate organisational and restructuring tools that affect changes to the tourism support industry.
• Select and evaluate appropriate strategies and methods to manage opportunities, regional transportation services, and airports that would be directly instrumental in promoting tourism within a region.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Select and utilise examples of SMMEs in a chosen region to assess such contribution to the socio-economic development of a region.
• Select and use appropriate theories, guidelines and methods to evaluate and make recommendations for SMMEs to grow and flourish as socio-economic catalytic projects.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Discuss leadership in route development and management for aerotropolis.
• Apply all the learning regarding methods and principles, as well as policy frameworks, to ensure that effective route planning for a region is considered.
• Select and illustrate appropriate planning frameworks and leadership skills required for air services development within the first mile of the airport city. Explain the importance of an integrated and multi-purpose air services approach for an aerotropolis.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Use data science effectively in innovative projects. Explain and illustrate the importance and the approaches towards employing data sciences in smart airport cities.
• Identify the characteristics of smart services, smart accommodation, health services, smart information dissemination within the context of big data and analytics, and how they can be employed to improve aerotropolis.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Define and compare different airport cities, the role and impact of aerotropolis as catalytic socio-economic projects for specific regions.
• Identify the principles of smart airport integration and the requirements for successful aerotropolis, and what factors are regarded as critical in the planning and development of smart airport cities (aerotropolis).

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Identify and define a suitable research topic
• Write a literature review
• Select appropriate theories for the study
• Select an appropriate research method
• Collect and analyse data
• Address ethical issues in the study
• Appraise the research report

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Each module will be assessed through various assessments such as tests, group and individual assignments and a Portfolio of Evidence.

Formative assessment

• Tests and
• Assignments

Summative assessment

• PoE consists of various assessments that will be assessed as the final summative assessment.
• The dissertation is assessed by two examiners.

An integrated approach to assessment is applied where learners are required to combine, interpret and communicate knowledge from various sources to achieve specific outcomes and, ultimately, exit-level outcomes of the qualification.

At the end of the qualification, learners should be able to apply their learning in an integrated way to analyse specific problems in the real work environment.