Master of Commerce in Human Resource Development

Purpose

Specifically, the qualification aims to

• Provide learners with a practical, work-related orientation which draws upon a sound theoretical base.
• Provide learners with frameworks within which a broad understanding of the Human Resource Development discipline is examined.
• Provide learners with a holistic view of organisations, their environment and functioning; and Human Resource Developments role therein.
• Recognise that learners, as managers in both private and public sector organisations, need to be able to deal with a rapidly changing environment.
• Emphasise the importance of team work by learners.
• Have a deliberate focus on the development of personal skills and competencies in Human Resource Management.

Rationale

There is a need for senior level Human Resource Management competencies in the contemporary African and Southern African context, given the rapid pace of globalisation and concomitant regional integration. This qualification is designed to provide an ethically defensible bridge for professionals who are moving beyond their primary discipline into organisational management and leadership positions and who are required to work in the dynamic complex environment of contemporary Africa and its transition agenda. The leaners will thus have a platform to become effective human resource manager and to be further equipped to become practitioner-research orientated in their on-going professional development. The programme will also serve as a bridging programme to the Master's in Human Resource Management and related management fields.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Commerce honours Degree in Human Resource Management, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9 totalling 192 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 112 Credits

• Advance Research Methodology in Human Resource Management, 16 Credits.
• Research Dissertation, 96 Credits.

Elective Modules, 80 (Choose Five)

• International Human Resource Management, 16 Credits.
• Human Resource Information Systems, 16 Credits.
• Labour Economics, 16 Credits.
• Advance Labour Law, 16 Credits.
• Management Development, 16 Credits.
• Assessing Human Competence, 16 Credits.

1. Select, apply and evaluate typical methods and procedures involved in human resource development.
2. Diagnose and analyse complex and uncertain human resource development situations, and provide credible and practical solutions relevant to particular work contexts.
3. Critically engage with contemporary trends and issues relating to human resource development.
4. Formulate coherent human resource development strategic policies through consultation with other stakeholders.
5. Describe the consequential impacts on society of participating in a developing and growing economy.
6. Appropriately apply the code of ethical behaviour in the field of human resource development and base decisions and actions on appropriate human resource development values.
7. Apply ethics in human resource development research and understand the implications of complex ethical issues in gathering human resource development intelligence and in implementing human resource development strategies.
8. Demonstrate specialist knowledge of advanced human resource development research techniques to supervise implement and assist with human resource development research projects.
9. Lead and/or initiate processes and implement systems in a marketing division or company.
10. Critically evaluate and analyse challenges in procurement and be able to develop solutions based on evaluation and analysis.
11. Critically evaluate and be able to create and design procurement strategies.
12. Recognise the scope of responsibilities required in a management position in the marketing field and its accountability to senior management in an organisation.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

Learners will be assessed to see whether the module requirements in relation to it

• Focus and Coverage - relevancy to the topic and has depth of coverage.
• Methodology appropriateness.
• Structure and Argument is logically structured, meets validity requirements in planning and execution and shows an independent approach.
• Utilise analysis and critical evaluation rather than mere descriptive accounts.
• Develop persuasive and coherent arguments accurately and logically.
• Interprets data/evidence. Use of sources acknowledges sources and provides consistent detailed citations.
• Utilise an appropriate and sufficiently up-to-date range of sources. Style and presentation is written fluently and grammatically.
• Use correct spelling and makes proper use of paragraphs of Approximately 20,000 words, without undue repetition.

Integrated Assessment

Each module will be assessed through an integrated individual written assignment, in addition to a range of oral and written, group and individual class assignments in order to give leaners the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies. The final module assignment requires leaners to apply their learning in an integrated way to analyse a specific area related to their work context in a work-based assignment and to apply the theoretical frameworks to recommend solutions to identified problem areas. The practitioner research project assesses the ability of leaner to integrate themes from different modules and apply them appropriately to a real scenario.