Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management

Purpose

The Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management is designed to strengthen and deepen the students' knowledge in Hospitality Management. It will enable Hospitality Management professionals to undertake advanced reflection and development by means of a systemic survey of current thinking, practice and research methods in the development and management of hospitality establishments.

This qualification demands a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence, as well as the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts in order to undertake professional or highly-skilled work within the hospitality industry. This qualification includes conducting and reporting research under supervision with a research proposal as an outcome.

Rationale

The Hospitality industry is one of South Africa's fastest growing employment sectors, and therefore there is a need for more qualified managers in this industry. This qualification will provide a set of very important and essential skills to support national effort to equip prospective managers to increase organisational success and fill the existing gap.

Candidates following this qualification will specialise in either Accommodation Management or Food and Beverage Management. It will also include an important research module to ensure a balanced perspective of modern corporate business to inform the environment within which the graduate must operate.

This Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management will alleviate the need for people to be researchers in the Hospitality industry and it articulates into the Master of Management Sciences in Food Operations Management.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

As per institutional policy, credits towards this qualification may be obtained by means of Recognition of Prior Learning. Candidates who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements but who can demonstrate satisfactory levels of competence in the field may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning and may be granted entry to the qualification on this basis.

Entry Requirements

Admission to this qualification is an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management or an appropriate qualification at NQF Level 7.

This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at Level 8, 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules

• Hospitality Management V, 30 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules

• Accommodation Management VA and VB, 30 Credits.

Or

• Food and Beverage Management VA and VB, 30 Credits.

1. Explore different approaches to strategic planning and management within a hospitality establishment.
2. Integrate information to develop innovative food and beverage operations.
3. Integrate information to develop innovative accommodation facility management.
4. Develop a research proposal with a topic related to issues within the field of human resource management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Evaluate the strategic analysis and choices of management according to various organisational strategies in the service industry.
• Analyse strategic reviews, evaluation and control within the hospitality arena.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Analyse a range of food and beverage operational systems to determine best practices over a range of facilities.
• Identify analysed service systems for the relevant food service facility.
• Demonstrate the ability to innovatively implement identified systems in the food service facility.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Benchmark a range of accommodation facilities to determine best world-class practices.
• Identify benchmarked practices for the relevant accommodation facility.
• Implement all management knowledge to develop an innovative accommodation facility.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Develop a quality research proposal that meets the requirements for access into a Master's Degree.

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. Such strategies include informal assignments, discussions, case studies, informal tests and tutoring.

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 and tests will contribute to a cumulative class mark as per pre-arrangement with the learners. In the formal assignments and tests, 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.