Postgraduate Diploma in Informatics

Purpose

This Postgraduate Diploma in Informatics qualification is designed with the aim to provide the required knowledge, understanding, abilities and skills to critically evaluate and propose appropriate solutions to a multi-disciplinary range of problems.

However, these learners will differ to the Diploma and Advanced Diploma by not only creating a solution but justifying it, evaluating it through the research and thus contributing to the body of knowledge in the fields of: Business Analysis, Database administration and Information Technology (IT) project Management.

Thus addressing the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification with regard to the research (applying the principles of research to an opportunity/ problem), identification (identifying either what are the principles and fundamentals or creating new principles and fundamentals), evaluating (applying and justifying the application of these principles and fundamentals is analysing the opportunity/problem), and design (synthesising these and new principles is designing the solution); propose expansion and management of organisational IT systems to aid innovation, and for betterment of organisational responsiveness, effectiveness and/or efficiency, which improves the social and economic stance of the country. This qualification will equip the learner with the ability to enhance their research skills, identify, evaluate, apply or propose solutions/procedures/policies in the fields of analysis, project management and database management.

Rationale

People working in the industry indicated to the Department that they wanted to further their education for promotion purposes or for personal reasons; however, they either required or needed an improvement of the skills in order to perform at the Masters qualification level. This lead to the creation of the. The Postgraduate Diploma in Informatics is a qualification that was developed through thorough research into what it should contain and through vigorous meetings with local industries at the advisory board meetings. At these meetings, the industry stated what they needed a person with this qualification/classification of skills. To establish the need for this Postgraduate Diploma on a global scale the Department reviewed other global institutions of higher learning to confirm and improve this classification of skills.

A typical learner for this qualification is one that has either an Advanced Diploma or a Bachelor Degree at NQF Level of 7 in the field of Business Analysis, IT Project Management or Database Administration. These learners are currently working as Business Analysts, IT Project Managers or Database Administrator.

This qualification's appropriate learning pathways stems from the Diploma route (Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma), however, it is not limited to only Diploma route; it can also be accessible from the Bachelor Degree route. The reason for the Diploma pathway is that the field of specialisation is more concentrated than the Bachelor Degree route. The Diploma route focuses on the niche areas of Business Analysis, IT Project Management and Database Administration, whereas the Bachelor Degree could be broad, such as Informatics or Information Systems.

A learner with this qualification would be able to assist any organisation (local or globally) to assess their current situation, manage the IT project and propose solutions which shall enhance the organisation's economic and social stance. This Postgraduate Diploma aims to provide the necessary skills and depth of knowledge to ensure that learners fulfil the relevant employment markets needs and consist of a combination of learning outcomes that have the defined purpose of capacitating the learner with workplace applicable competencies. The learner will be equipped with the necessary skills to apply for several analysts'/database administration/IT Project Management, career positions in demand in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The RPL policy of the University provide learners with practical experience related to Information Technology (especially in the fields of Business Information Systems, Business Analysis and Informatics) to enter the qualification by undergoing the RPL process. RPL may be used to demonstrate competence for admission to this qualification. RPL may also be used to obtain credits for some learning outcomes.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Baccalaureus Technologiae: Information Technology: Business Applications, NQF Level 7.
• Advanced Diploma in Informatics, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits:

• Advanced Business Analysis and Application, 24 Credits;
• Research Methodology, 24 Credits;
• Advanced Information Technology (IT) Project Management, 24 Credits;
• Advanced Knowledge Management, 24 Credits;
• Advanced Research Project, 24 Credits.

1. Synthesise business and system analysis models and methodologies in order to formulate a proposed solution.
2. Co-ordinate the management of project, portfolio and programme management within an organisation.
3. Implement the deployed Information, business, system application, technical architectural domain within Information System Enterprise Architecture.
4. Apply advanced knowledge and database management principles in the organisation.
5. Apply research methodologies, paradigms and techniques to analyse and design solutions for Information Technology problems.
6. Propose a well-researched solution to the organisation.
7. Formulate a presentation based on the overall knowledge acquired throughout the programme.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Business and system analysis models and methodologies are identified and compared.
• A proposed solution based on business and system models and methodologies is created.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Project, portfolio and programme management is summarised.
• Project, portfolio and programme management is implemented and coordinated within the organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Information System Enterprise Architecture is created based on the information, business, system application and technical domains.
• The Information System Enterprise Architecture is implemented.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Knowledge and Database Management principles in the organisation is identified and explained.
• Knowledge and Database Management principles are applied in the organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Research methodologies, paradigms and techniques are identified, analysed and designed to create a solution.
• This solution is applied to the Information Technology problem.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Research is conducted on the organisation.
• A solution is proposed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• All knowledge areas throughout the programme is summarised.
• A presentation of this knowledge is made.

Integrated Assessment

Each module has at least two formal assessments, assignments, projects and class tests. Once a predicate mark is achieved, the learners will write one examination (summative assessment) per module. The combination of predicate and examination mark (divided by two), will provide the final mark for the learner per module.

All assessments, including the study guide and other related material is quality assured by the Department's Teaching and Learning committee, the moderator of the module and the intuition's Curriculum and Development Support Department. It is also quality assured by the Faculty's quality committee, which forms part of the Faculty's Teaching and Learning Committee.