Postgraduate Diploma in Construction Management

Purpose

The Postgraduate Diploma in Construction Management is a specialised qualification to prepare learners for postgraduate study and industry competencies and skills. The qualification consolidates and deepens the qualifying learner's expertise in a specialised area of Construction Management or Construction Project Management and develops research capacity in the methodology and techniques of this discipline while equipping them to undertake more specialised and intensive learning.

Specifically, the purpose of this qualification is to further the necessary knowledge, understanding, abilities and skills required to become a competent practising Construction Manager or Construction Project Manager upon completion of this qualification.

This qualification provides

• Preparation for a career in Construction Management or Construction Project

Management itself and areas that potentially benefit from Construction Management skills, for achieving professional proficiency and contributing to the economy and its national development.

• The educational base required for registration as a Professional Construction Manager or Construction Project Manager in practice.
• Entry to a Master's degree in Construction Management.

The curriculum is designed in such a way that it provides continuity from the 120-credit, NQF Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Construction Management, providing entry into the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction Management and thereafter, the opportunity to progress to a Master of Building Science (Structured or Research).

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Apply construction management and quantity surveying principles to systematically diagnose and solve broadly defined construction management and quantity surveying problems.
• Apply knowledge of mathematics, basic science, construction management and quantity surveying sciences to wide practical procedures and practices to solve broadly-defined built environment problems.
• Apply and follow procedural processes to manage a project to meet desired needs within applicable standards, codes of practice and legislation.
• Apply scientific and technological knowledge in the built environment.
• Use appropriate established techniques, resources, and modern built environment tools including information technology for the solution of broadly defined built environment problems, with an awareness of the limitations, restrictions, premises, assumptions, and constraints.

Rationale

This qualification will provide the learner with the opportunity to progress to a Master of Building Science (Structured or Research). This qualification focuses on providing learners with the required vocational knowledge, skills and competencies required by the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) for purposes of registration, appropriate to the vocation of health and safety in the construction industry.

South Africa is currently experiencing an unprecedented demand for infrastructure and skilled human resources, part of which is contributed by the skills shortage, particularly in the scarce categories such as engineering and related professions. In terms of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) list of scarce skills, published in Government Gazette no 47182 on 2 August 2022, there is a skills shortage in Construction Management occupations.

This qualification in Construction Management will

• Prepare learners for professional specialisation in the building and construction environment that is specialising in Construction Management and or Construction Project Management.
• Prepare learners for postgraduate studies by deepening their knowledge base and understanding of Construction Management and Construction Project Management and the built environment relating to research.
• Develop abilities to solve advanced theoretical and practice-related problems in the Construction Management and Construction Project Management environment.

This qualification contributes to fulfilling the institution's mission to foster a scholarship of teaching and learning as well as to provide an articulation pathway for Diploma graduates towards the Advanced Diploma in Construction Management and ultimately to the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction Management qualification.

The Advisory Committee Board approved and recommended this qualification that will be offered over one year.

The qualification structure and design, guided by the standards that are required by the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), is envisaged to meet national requirements, as well as those of the learner and other stakeholders.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy applicable to 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 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.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

Admission requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Construction Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Construction in Construction Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Construction, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of the Built Environment in Construction, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 144 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 144 Credits

• Construction Dispute Resolution, 24 Credits.
• Research Report: Construction Management, 24 Credits
• Construction Strategic Management, 12 Credits.
• Facilities Management, 24 Credits.
• Construction Health and Safety Management, 24 Credits.
• Construction Project Management, 24 Credits.
• Construction Management Professional Practice, 12 Credits.

Exit Level Outcomes

1. Apply construction management and quantity surveying principles to systematically diagnose and solve broadly defined construction management and quantity surveying problems.
2. Apply knowledge of mathematics, basic science, construction management and quantity surveying sciences to wide practical procedures and practices to solve broadly-defined built environment problems.
3. Apply and follow procedural processes to manage a project to meet desired needs within applicable standards, codes of practice and legislation and apply scientific and technological knowledge in the built environment.
4. Apply appropriate established techniques, resources, and modern built environment tools including information technology for the solution of broadly defined built environment problems, with an awareness of the limitations, restrictions, premises, assumptions, and constraints.
5. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with construction management and quantity surveying sector audiences and the affected parties.
6. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of the built environment activities on the society, economy, industrial and physical environment, and address issues by analysis and evaluation.
7. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of economic and legal principles and apply them in the built environment.
8. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of commercial, entrepreneurial and management principles and application in the built environment.
9. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of technology principles used in the built environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Identify the problem and define criteria for an acceptable solution.
• Apply relevant information and construction management and quantity surveying knowledge and skills for solving the problem.
• Generate and formulate possible approaches that would lead to a workable solution for the problem.
• Model and analyse possible solutions.
• Evaluate and select the best possible solutions.
• Formulate and present the solution in an appropriate form.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Use an appropriate mix of knowledge of Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, Statistics and Natural Science.
• Apply construction management and quantity surveying at a fundamental level and in a specialised area to solve broadly defined construction management and quantity surveying problems in the built environment.
• Use theories, principles and laws.
• Perform formal analysis and modelling, using construction management and quantity surveying materials, components, systems, or processes.
• Apply reasoning about the conceptualization of construction management and surveying material systems and processes.
• Address uncertainty and risk.
• Perform work within the boundaries of the practice area.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Plan and manage the project, focus on important issues and recognize and deal with constraints.
• Acquire and evaluate knowledge information, and resources to apply appropriate principles and design tools to provide a workable solution.
• Perform project tasks including analysis, quantitative modelling and optimization of the product, system, or process subject to the relevant premises, assumptions, constraints, and restrictions.
• Evaluate alternatives for implementation and a preferred solution based on techno-economic analysis and judgment.
• Assess the selected project in terms of the social, economic, legal, health, safety, and environmental impact and benefits.
• Communicate the project's logic and relevant information in a technical report.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Assess the method, skill, or tool for applicability and limitations against the required result.
• Apply the correct method, skill, or tool to achieve the required result.
• Test and assess results produced by the method, skill, or tool against required results.
• Select and use computer applications as required by the discipline.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Use appropriate structure, style, and language of written and oral communication for the communication and the target audience.
• Use appropriate graphics effective in enhancing the meaning of text.
• Use visual materials to enhance oral communications.
• Deliver oral communication fluently with the intended meaning being apparent.
• Communicate terminologies in the construction industry appropriately.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Explain the impact of technology in terms of the benefits and limitations to society.
• Analyse the built environment activities in terms of the impact on occupational and public health and safety.
• Analyse the built environment activities in terms of the impact on the physical environment.
• Take personal, social, economic, and cultural values and requirements into consideration for those who are affected by the built environment activities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Apply micro and macro-economic theories.
• Apply micro and macro-economic principles in context.
• Describe knowledge of contracts relevant to the built environment.
• Apply dialectal knowledge in the built environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Describe and explain commercial principles relevant to the built environment management principles relevant to the built environment.
• Apply commercial, entrepreneurial and management principles in the built environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Explain materials, tools and techniques in the construction industry.
• Apply technological knowledge to solve problems in the built environment.
• Discuss and apply standards and specifications related to specific technology applications where appropriate.