Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management

This Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Human Resource Management) provides specialised academic and professional studies for candidate holding qualifications other than the Bachelor of Business Science degree and the B Soc Sc (HRM) Degree. Deals with all aspects of the function of the management of human resources particularly emphasising the critical factors of organisational development training and industrial relations in the industrial, commercial and public sectors of the South African economy.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Development, NQF Level 7.

The Postgraduate Diploma graduate is competent to

Study and understand the South African business environments;

Apply classical and contemporary management theory to a variety of organisational environments;

Analyse and construct logical arguments and competing viewpoints;

Research business issues;

Form independent and research-based opinions about contemporary issues of theory and practice;

Understand and apply the fundamentals of the financial aspects of a business and the environment in which that business operates;

Operate an IBM-compatible personal computer;

Utilise the Windows operating system and work competently with Windows-based data management, word processing and spread sheeting applications to create, edit, save and print documents to professional industry standard;

Apply appropriate information technology to a variety of organisation situations;

Correspond through the use of electronic mail;

Conduct internet-based research;

Analyse and interpret the marketing process considering current trends in the South African context;

Formulate a marketing strategy that supports the objectives of an organisation using the marketing concept, target marketing and the marketing mix.

b) General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

The holder of a Postgraduate Diploma in a Commerce will

• Have attained a level of knowledge and understanding of the relevant discipline equivalent to that of a student who has studies the subject for three years in the course of completing a 360-Credit Bachelor's Degree.
• Have mastered items of theoretical knowledge of specific relevance to the commercial activity being prepared for.
• Have acquired an understanding of the role of initiative and entrepreneurship in the relevant area of commercial activity.
• Be qualified in terms of professional expertise to work in an entry level managerial post in the relevant industry or profession.
• Have developed personal skills and work habits appropriate to working in a team.
• Have internalised the norms of conduct relevant to the profession for which the Diploma in a preparation.

d) Specific Outcomes, (including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated) Programme Convenor to adapt this

Apply the various stages of the human resource management research process including formulation of the problem, research design, data collection methods and forms, sample designs, analysis and interpretation of data and report writing;

Appreciate the human resource communication process;

Formulate and evaluate a human resource strategy;

Identify strategic and operational opportunities and problems;

Analyse internal capabilities;

Develop strategic retail management plans;

Organise for the optimum performance and control of the operations;

Understand the complex environmental forces that affect retail decisions at all levels of management.

The learner's achievement of critical cross-field outcomes is assessed formatively during the course through a range of activities, and summative in the capstone activity outlined under 6 below.

The learner's achievement of general programme outcomes is assessed through a range of formative and summative assessments throughout the course, and particularly in the capstone activity outlined under 6 below.

The successful candidate for a post-graduate diploma in a Commerce will

• Pass relevant undergraduate courses.
• Undertake case studies in the relevant field of commercial activity.
• Successfully complete practical tasks which require the mastery of skills identified by employers as important for mangers in their industry.
• Participate successfully in team projects which require a capacity to work cooperatively with others.
• Successfully complete work which require a capacity to work cooperatively with others
• Successfully complete work which requires an ability think independently and demonstrate initiative in practical problem solving.
• Be able to participate in discussion of normative issues in relation to the relevant industry or profession.
• Assessments include theoretical papers, practical reports, oral presentations and research projects. Formative assessment includes the preparation of short and long papers. Summative assessment takes the form of examinations and selected research topics written under supervision (see section 6).

Integrated Assessment

Learners submit a project or case study designed to constitute both a formative and summative assessment exercise for which they need to achieve a passing grade. In this piece of work, they are required to reflect creatively on some of the current, real life problems which they have encountered in the course of their exposure to the industry or profession for which their course is preparing them.