Postgraduate Diploma in Credit Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Credit Management is to provide learners with knowledge, skills and competencies to manage credit departments of various organisations. Qualifying learners will be equipped with applied competence to manage the day-to-day functions of a credit department such as credit assessments, credit granting, credit policy formulation and other general functions.

The qualification further prepares learners s to evaluate the overall performance of a credit department and set strategic goals to ensure higher levels of loss prevention and debt recovery.

The relevant use of technology and the outcomes related to entrepreneurial skills have been integrated in the qualification. The research module included in this qualification provide learners with an opportunity to pursue further learning in the field of credit management, and to promote innovation, engagement and social enterprise.

Rationale

This qualification seeks to create a coherent pathway for learners wishing to pursue a vocational and/or academic career in the discipline of Credit Management. The qualification is imperative for articulation purposes as it prepare learners for a Master's Degree in a related field. It also equips learners with advanced management skills in the credit environment that assist them to be more competent and ready for any position within the credit department of any organisation. The acquired skills from this qualification will be very crucial to the economy of the country and increase social justice in connection with responsible credit management.

Relevant stakeholders, including academic peers from outside the institution and employers represented on Advisory Committee, were involved in the development of the qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be achieved in part through the recognition of relevant prior learning which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and through prior experience as a practitioner in the field of business administration. If the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this qualification the appropriate credits will be assigned to the learner and access to the qualification will be confirmed.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is

• An Advanced Diploma in Credit Management, Level 7.

Or

• An equivalent qualification, Level 7.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 8, totalling 120 Credits

Compulsory Modules

• Credit Management V, 30, Credits.
• Management Practice V, 30, Credits.
• Change Management V, 30, Credits.
• Advanced Research Methodology, 30, Credits.

1. Evaluate credit management processes and techniques.
2. Evaluate the impact of management practices within a credit management environment.
3. Manage organisational change within a credit management environment.
4. Use a range of specialised skills to identify, analyse and address complex or abstract problems drawing systematically on the body of knowledge and methods appropriate to the field and practices of credit management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• The financial effects of credit management are analysed.
• Risk in trade credit, credit ratings and risk categories are assessed.
• The benefits of using different insurance companies are analysed for domestic and export markets.
• The impact of exchange rates on credit is evaluated.

Associated Assessment Criteria Exit Level Outcome 2

• The different approaches of managing enterprises are analysed.
• Different leadership styles applicable to the credit management environment are critically analysed.
• Management functions of a credit department are evaluated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• The different approaches and theories of organisational development are analysed.
• Factors that causes resistance to change are.
• The transition process is evaluated within the context of management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4

• A research proposal is developed.
• A research report that meets ethical standards is produced.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment strategies are continuous and aimed at giving learners feedback on their progress in the achievement of learning outcomes as well as to integrate theoretical and practical competence. For the Postgraduate Diploma in Credit Management formative assessment strategies include assignments, discussions, case studies and informal tests. Some of the criteria may be assessed through observation of the learners during classes.

Summative assessment strategies are aimed at judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Such strategies include examinations, reports, projects or equivalent such as a portfolio of evidence which is representative of a selection of the outcomes.

The outcomes of the formal assignments will contribute to a cumulative class mark as per pre-arrangement with the learners. In the formal assignments, and in the respective examinations learners will have to demonstrate the ability to communicate and integrate knowledge of the key issues, highlighted in the respective modules, and identify and resolve typical problems in the subfields as indicated. This will require critical and creative thinking as well as the ability to make practical applications of the learning outcomes as indicated in the module descriptors.