Master of Commerce in Human Resource Management

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to educate Human Resource Management (HRM) and Employment Relations (ER) professionals. The qualification focuses on how to integrate the human resources function and human resources strategies with larger business strategies. The leaners will also learn about the context in which organisations operate and the challenges that HRM and ER professionals face in balancing competing interests. They will develop specific skills and knowledge necessary for professional competence within the human resources function. The qualification is aligned with the Schools mission to Create African Business Leaders through fostering and facilitating the economic development of our country and our continent. It also supports the Schools vision of promoting excellence in the field of management studies congruent with the needs of the business industry, commerce and government in order to enable our students to compete favourably and equitably on local, national and international job markets.

Rationale

The Human Resource Management is the legal liaison between the organisation and the employees, they are to uphold the employment and safety laws as well as follow the practices, which may differ within federal guidelines that the employer authorises. There is a need for senior level leadership 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 leadership positions and who are required to work in the dynamic complex environment of contemporary Africa and its transition agenda. This aligns with the School's purpose relating to leadership development and the Institution's strategic plan to provide quality teaching and research for the African context. The leaners will thus have a platform to become effective leaders and to be further equipped to become practitioner-research orientated in their on-going professional development. The qualification aims to develop leaners academically and professionally so that they can make a positive contribution to the South African economy and the continent's prosperity.

The qualification will also serve as a bridging qualification to the Master's in Leadership and related management fields. An area of study which generally prepares individuals to manage the development of human capital in organisations, and to provide related services to individuals and groups. Includes instruction in personnel and organisation policy, human resource dynamics and flows, labour relations, civil rights, human resources law and regulations, motivation and compensation systems, work systems, career management, employee testing and assessment, recruitment and selection, managing employee and job training programmes, and the management of human resources programmes and operations.

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 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,160 Credits

• International Human Resource Management (HR Mngt), 16 Credits.
• Strategic Human Resource Management, 16 Credits.
• Human Resource Information Systems, 16 Credits.
• Advance Research Methodology in HR Mngt,16 Credits.
• Research Dissertation, 96 Credits.

Elective Modules, 32 Credits (Choose Two Modules)

• Change Management, 16 Credits.
• Labour Economics. 16 Credits.
• Advance Labour Law, 16 Credits.
• Management Development, 16 Credits.

1. Strive for quality and excellence all the time and in all circumstances.
2. Sustain- and maximise knowledge and share it.

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.
• Utilises analysis and critical evaluation rather than mere descriptive accounts.
• Develops persuasive and coherent arguments accurately and logically.
• Interprets data/evidence. Use of sources acknowledges sources and provides consistent detailed citations.
• Utilises an appropriate and sufficiently up-to-date range of sources. Style and presentation is written fluently and grammatically.
• Uses 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 leaner the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies. The final module assignment requires students 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 leaners to integrate themes from different modules appropriately to a real scenario.