Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management is to enable graduate learners and working professionals to undertake advanced reflection and development through a systematic survey of current thinking in the field of Hospitality. This qualification includes conducting and reporting research under supervision and an important purpose of the qualification is to prepare learners to participate in the generation of new knowledge in hospitality management. The qualification will equip hospitality management professionals with new, cutting-edge knowledge and skills that will enable them to provide better strategic leadership in the industry.

The qualification forms an articulation link from the diploma stream into the degree stream and learners who complete this qualification will be able to continue into Masters and Doctoral studies.

Rationale

South Africa has identified tourism and hospitality as an economic sector and in 2018, this sector directly contributed 2.9% to South Africa's GDP, which is an estimated ZAR 125.1 billion (Statistics South Africa [SSA] 2019). This makes the sector a larger contributor than agriculture (2%) to GDP. Statistics South Africa (2019) further reports that in 2018, 1 in 23 persons were employed or worked in the tourism and hospitality sector in South Africa, which is 4.4% of the total workforce in the country. At a provincial level, the Mpumalanga Provincial Growth & Development Strategy (PGDS) has identified hospitality as a priority sector in the province which has the natural and cultural resource base upon which to develop a sustainable industry on the one hand and on the other, take advantage of the expanding markets for international and domestic travel.

Given that the country is endowed with many natural resources and is a key contributor to the Tourism and Hospitality industry in South Africa, the need to offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management cannot be overemphasized. The institution has recently completed a small hotel and conference and wellness centre and these facilities will be used as a working laboratory in which the postgraduate Diploma learners will apply their knowledge and skills. The hotel facilities will also be used as an incubator for entrepreneurship, which is fundamental to reducing the level of unemployment in the country.

In South Africa, although skill shortages within the hospitality industry are most experienced at the worker level (CATHSSETA, 2018), and formal qualifications of Hospitality workers are significantly lower than those of workers in the related industries of Travel and Tourism, there is a need for more highly qualified graduates to ensure that the hospitality industry is prepared for the changes that are occurring globally. Global consumer trends have indicated that the hospitality industry is expected to get busier as the frequency of travelling and dining out is predicted to be 'significantly higher' by 2030. An increase in consumer expectations around quality will be more important in 2030 than it is today. The qualification will reflect modern-day requirements such as the 4th industrial revolution, to ensure transformational workplace readiness for the digital economy.

This postgraduate diploma is part of the Diploma; Advanced Diploma, Postgraduate diploma pathway and allows articulation into the postgraduate degree pathway.

The qualification will benefit the learners in many ways, not least by preparing them to play a critical leadership role in the future development of the hospitality industry. The hospitality industry is a major contributor to South African GDP and by equipping hospitality industry professionals with cutting edge knowledge and skills, the qualification will benefit society (through more and better jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities) and thus benefit the economy.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution will use the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) as important tools to widen access with success, to achieve inclusion and to overcome barriers to access in higher education. RPL and CAT will play important roles in promoting lifelong learning and in redressing inequities by providing alternative routes into higher education.

The goal of RPL is the facilitation of alternative access and admission to higher education or progression within a qualification. 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 non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.
• Advanced standing may be granted.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted for 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 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

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

Or

• Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• BTech: Hospitality Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• An equivalent qualification in some aspect of hospitality management or a sub-sector of hospitality at NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 8, totalling 120 credits.

• Hospitality Strategic Management, 30 Credits.
• Advanced Research Methodology and Project, 30 Credits.
• Accommodation Management, 30 Credits.
• Food and Beverage Management, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of key terms, concepts, principles, insights and current issues relating to hospitality management, including aspects of industrial psychology, finance and business management.
2. Assess, evaluate and apply such knowledge to contribute to effective planning and decision making to efficiently and effectively run a hospitality division such as a food service unit.
3. Undertake independent research and show the ability to analyse and synthesise information to make recommendations to address issues and solve problems relating to the hospitality industry.
4. Identify suitable methods for data collection and justify those methods; investigate the sources of and validate the data; and evaluate its suitability for building, sustaining and defending arguments in business management.
5. Undertake independent research and show the ability to analyse and synthesise information to make recommendations to address issues and solve problems relating to the hospitality industry.
6. Understand that knowledge is not absolute, but that it advances and that different stakeholders may understand the hospitality industry that is different to that of professionals and reflect this understanding in the manner in which multiple views and perspectives are considered and integrated in addressing problems in hospitality management.
7. Deal with complex issues such as green tourism in familiar and unfamiliar settings, identify solutions and evaluate those solutions in the light of the understanding that problem-solving is context-bound and does not happen in isolation.
8. Undertake independent research and show the ability to analyse and synthesise information to make recommendations to address issues and solve problems relating to the hospitality industry.
9. Take decisions, justify those decisions, act ethically and professionally, and be accountable for one's actions.
10. Undertake independent research and show the ability to analyse and synthesise information to make recommendations to address issues and solve problems relating to the hospitality industry.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate a full understanding of the current theories, principles, procedures and practices, research methodologies, methods and techniques in hospitality management in assignments, research reports, hotel simulations and examinations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply and integrate the knowledge of the concepts, principles, practices and theories of hotel management, in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, which is demonstrated in assignments, hotel simulations, the project report and the exam.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

- Undertake independent research in the module. The report will demonstrate the following outcomes

> Conceptualisation - where the project question and scope are decided.

> Preparation of a literature review in support of the project.

> Preparation of a project plan including timeframes and budget, goals, targets and indicators.

> Identification of appropriate methods, including statistical methods, where a range of methods are considered, and the appropriate ones are chosen.

> Identify ethical issues, where all ethical issues are considered, and approval sought if necessary.

> Collection, collation and analysis of data.

> Interpretation and discussion of data in the context of the available information gathered in the literature review.

> Formulation of recommendations.

> Preparation of a research report in a format that is appropriate for the discipline of hotel management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Identify appropriate methods, including qualitative and quantitative statistical methods, where a range of methods are considered and the appropriate ones are chosen and demonstrated in the research report.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Undertake independent research is demonstrated in the research module. The report will demonstrate the following outcomes:

> Identification of appropriate methods, including statistical methods, where a range of methods are considered, and the appropriate ones are chosen.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Reflect a critical understanding of the nature of knowledge and of knowing on learner writing. Written work will include multiple views and standpoints and draw conclusions and make management recommendations that are supported by facts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Draw on own knowledge, experience and skills to propose solutions that take the context into consideration when faced with complex problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Undertake independent research in the research projects and research reports.
• Professionalism is demonstrated in all aspects of the learner's work and the hotel simulations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Identify ethical issues in hospitality management and demonstrate how best to address them in assignments, the research project and exams.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Undertake independent research and prepare literature review in support of the project ,interpret and discuss data in the context of the available information gathered in the literature review.