Master of Philosophy in Leadership Coaching

Purpose

Currently in South Africa, there exists a pronounced demand for the services of management coaches. This demand has multiple origins: it is caused by the speedy upward mobility of black managers but also due to the general decrease in the experience-base of senior managers. Due to their lack of experience, managers are seeking the services of coaches to help maintain their hectic programmes. Many private sector training operators are stepping into this void, but frequently these persons are ill equipped to become management coaches. The market is demanding an accredited qualification in coaching from a respected academic institution. The proposed degree will fill this niche.

Rationale

Currently in South Africa, there exists a pronounced demand for the services of management coaches. This demand has multiple origins: it is caused by the speedy upward mobility of black managers but also due to the general decrease in the experience-base of senior managers. Due to their lack of experience, managers are seeking the services of coaches to help maintain their hectic programmes. Many private sector training operators are stepping into this void, but frequently these persons are ill equipped to become management coaches. The market is demanding an accredited qualification in coaching from a respected academic institution. The proposed degree will fill this niche.

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with 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 advancement 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 that is 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.

Entry requirements

• A relevant Bachelor's Honours Degree or a Professional Bachelor's Degree in the field of Psychology or Industrial Psychology or a Post Graduate Diploma in the field of Psychology or Industrial Psychology and practical experience as a management coach.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 135 Credits.

• NQF Level 8: 60 Credits.
• NQF Level 9: 120 Credits.

Total Credits: 180 Credits

1. Have a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base of individual coaching frameworks and models underlying professional coaching practice.
2. Have a coherent and critical understanding of the multiple theoretical perspectives on coaching.
3. Have developed the ability to relate these theories to the practical and professional coaching environment.
4. Have demonstrated evidence of self-directed learning and for taking responsibility for self-learning.
5. Have demonstrated evidence of operating in an ill-defined environment characterized by situations challenging their personal beliefs and ethical points of departure.
6. Have displayed the ability to clearly communicate with a client and to manage the one-on-one relationship in an ethical and professional way.
7. Have demonstrated the ability to analyse and synthesize from theory and multi-client experiences.
8. Have demonstrated skills in information retrieval and processing and the ability to draw inference from quantitative and qualitative information.
9. Have displayed the ability to critically, but fairly monitor the growth and progress of the client, while learning from the interactions him/herself.
10. Have demonstrated the ability to produce a research report which meets the standard of scholarly research and professional writing.

Integrated assessment

Various mechanisms exist. A strong emphasis is placed on assuring that plagiarism does not occur. Every student has to sign a declaration of own work for each assignment or case study submitted. Assignments are submitted electronically and are checked for similarities in content with sources through Turnitin.