Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion

Purpose

The Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion is designed to provide learners with the necessary skills and develop competencies to do research, be innovative and creative in the fashion sector. The qualification provides learners with advanced competencies, experience, skills and understanding required to for developing innovation and originality and to combine practice and research competence.

Originality is critical in the fashion sector, and therefore to be successful, the development of specialised skills which combines practice and research is critical within the qualification. This qualification develops strong entrepreneurial skills for self-employment, as well as the employment and transfer of skills to others. The qualification design is unique, and the core modules within the qualification will assist learners in acquiring specialised skills in strategic areas in the fashion environment. After the completion of this qualification, the learners will be employable with specialised advanced skills and competencies. They would most likely in future find themselves in a supervisory or managerial role within the fashion sector. This qualification will equip learners with skills and competencies that would contribute to research, the application and evaluation of existing knowledge of a specialised area of fashion design or garment technology. Also, the qualification is to enhance professional and personal development.

Rationale

The qualification aims to empower the learner with the necessary research skills and knowledge to successfully meet the requirements and demands of the international trends in fashion design education and is imperative for progression and articulation purposes. This qualification assists learners in coping with the changing needs (nationally and internationally), markets and the latest technology. This qualification focuses on equipping learners to work independently or as part of a team. This qualification also prepares learners to contribute, through research, to the application and evaluation of existing knowledge to a specialised area of fashion design or garment technology, and enhance professional and personal development. Learners conduct advanced research and gain experience in the specialised area of fashion. These advanced skills will prepare learners for the challenges of the future as the expansion and development of the South African clothing industry as a workforce.

The institution conducted a national and international benchmarking exercise with higher education institutions as well as consultation with relevant stakeholders. The benchmarking revealed the importance of inclusion of a research component in the qualification to prepare learners for further studies. Learners with an advanced diploma in a relevant discipline will be able to articulate into the Postgraduate Diploma, after that Masters and eventually a Doctorate. Learners completing this qualification will have an advantage in the discipline of fashion, as the qualification design focuses on is visual practice.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The details of the RPL policy are as follows, presuming prior accredited learning has taken place

• Learner applies for RPL against the module, or part/full qualification at the relevant department.
• The complete exemption form for the RPL of modules or part/full qualification.
• Credits are awarded for relevant, approved prior learning (RPL).
• Only then may the prospective learner continue with full registration.

The details of the Faculty RPL policy are as follows, presuming NO prior accredited learning has taken place

• Learner applies for RPL against the module, or part/full qualification at the relevant department.
• RPL officer appointment is within-subject heads (Subject experts) within the department.
• The subject expert meets with the learner to conduct pre-screening (evaluation) to ascertain the viability of application based on qualification requirements (exit level outcomes and assessment criteria).
• Learner prepares evidence of work (portfolio of evidence) and any other relevant proof of evidence (practical work, assignments and or assessments). The learner submits evidence to the RPL officer for RPL evaluation process.
• Learner pays an initial fee to be RPL.
• The learner then completes an RPL form and submits it to RPL officer.
• An assessor from within the department is then appointed.
• The assessor assesses evidence submitted by the learner. However, additional evidence may be requested.
• A moderator from the department's advisory board and from within the industry is appointed.
• The moderator moderates the learner's evidence.
• The moderator reports on the assessor's judgment.
• RPL outcome is presented to faculty board by RPL officer.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Fashion, NQF, Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

• Research Project in Fashion, 50 Credits.
• Fashion Project Practical Portfolio, 70 Credits.

• Solve complex fashion related problems by applying critical thinking, creative problem-solving skills and research informed strategies relating to the field of study.
• Apply enhanced knowledge related to professional practical skills to evaluate, analyse, design and develop products.
• Engage with technology and computer aided applications through advanced competencies to enhance design skills, such as software and creative skills, towards the development of an original product.
• Conduct research in a professional manner. Apply and communicate professional and ethical values across professional practices, fashion atelier management, and research methods and design.
• Conduct research in an independent professional and ethical manner, identify, collect, analyse and interpret data on an advanced level to solve and report on fashion related problems.
• Demonstrate entrepreneurship, business strategies, branding and quality control within all of the modules in the module structure: professional practice, fashion atelier management, and research methods and design.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will assess the Exit Level Outcomes in an integrated manner.

• Evaluate, select and apply appropriate advanced fashion knowledge, principles, practices, skills and technologies to critically and creatively consider various research informed innovative strategies and approaches, leading to workable creative solutions to re-solve fashion related problems.
• Consolidate and apply a range of advanced and emerging knowledge, techniques and technologies to enhance professional practical skills (procedures, processes, systems and approaches) informing the evaluation, analyses, design, development and construction of appropriate original products for the fashion industry.
• Apply competencies in selecting appropriate materials, equipment, technologies, software and computer aided applications, to enhance innovative and creative design skills required for developing, designing and producing an original product, which meets the desired fashion marketplace needs, while maintaining applicable standards, ethics, codes of practice and legislation (e.g. social, economic, legal, health, safety, and environmental).
• Conduct research in an ethical, professional manner by consulting and critically engaging with relevant literature, research planning, designing and executing investigations (data collection and analysis), drawing conclusions and recommendations from analysis of all relevant evidence gathered or generated, which is appropriately recorded, communicated and documented.
• Apply acquired research skills to autonomously, ethically and professionally engage in identifying, evaluating, selecting and utilising appropriate research methods, skills, technologies and computer aided applications for advanced interpretations, diagnostics, predictions and modelling, as required by the discipline, with the fashion related results and solutions produced, being critically assessed for applicability and limitations against the required solutions, results or products, which are reported on and documented accordingly.
• Implement and utilise specific fashion knowledge and advanced technical skills (e.g. CAD, mood boards, drawings, technical flow charts and graphics, etc.) integrated with entrepreneurial skills, principles and practice (entrepreneurial fashion business management and strategies, branding, marketing and quality control), including appropriate technologies and ability to communicate information (e.g. research, designs, projects, products) professionally to a diverse audience (e.g. fashion atelier activities, management, industry and the fashion marketplace).

Integrated Assessment

Assessment of modules is following the assessment policy of the institution. The learning guides for the modules contain the module intended outcomes and assessment criteria which must be satisfied to pass.

Both formative and summative assessment are integral components of all modules within the qualification and have an application to continuous assessment, ensuring overall applied competence. Formative assessment occur mainly through group discussions, practical exercises and feedback, presentation of assignments written report.

Summative assessment practices will be implemented to assess the achievement of outcomes.