Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy and African Studies

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to assist future leaders to develop and formulate public policy within the African context, and to equip learners with skills that will enable them to find solutions to public policy problems in the African continent. This qualification will allow learners to develop a public policy toolkit of analytical approaches that will enable them to explore the intricacies of social problems in Africa. They will understand how public decisions are made and be able to devise thoughtful responses to serious problems and navigate through the challenges that arise when solutions are implemented. This qualification will also equip both aspiring and current public service professionals as well as civil society leaders with the tools to analyse policy, lead and manage organisations and teams.

Rationale

The Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy and African Studies is designed to provide learners with skills that are useful in functional areas of policy such as diplomacy, nation-building, fostering economic growth and global competitiveness, as well as conducting policy-directed research.

In development process of this qualification, consultation was done among the University's academics as well as with leading scholars from the rest of the continent, as represented by amongst others, the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), and they all confirmed the need for an intervention that will help create the policy-scholarship nexus, improve the quality of governance and set the continent on a path that makes sustainable development feasible. The Institution also consulted with corporate leaders, the Speaker's Forum of the South African Parliament and the nine provincial legislatures, including, the Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA), now the National School of Government (NSG). The Institution's School of Leadership is currently offering Short Learning Programmes (SLPs) that are designed for Africans with professional experience in such areas of human endeavour as Parliament, executive branches of government, civil service, development work, human rights advocacy, non-governmental organisations and research. This is in line with the Institution's vision and mission of shaping the African discourse in the future through the training of relevant stakeholders from different spheres of policy leadership.

This qualification takes into account deficiencies wrought by the fact that Africa is a continent with the lowest Human Development Index (HDI). However, the specific aim is to introduce and steer practitioners-leaders into the culture of lifelong learning in order to enable them to develop strategic policy capabilities that are much needed to ensure sustainable development in the Africa continent. The outcomes of this qualification will assist practitioners in developing the essential elements of formulating and implementing policy which is imperative for South Africa and the broader continent.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Institution accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It acknowledges that all learning has value and accepts the challenge posed by the assessment of prior learning and awards credits that are aligned with Faculty programmes in order to promote lifelong learning.

The purpose of the Institution's RPL policy which directs the Faculty's RPL procedure, is to recognise prior learning in order to provide access into qualifications, grant advanced placement in qualifications and grant credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as a basis for departmental RPL practices.

The Institution follows RPL Policy which requires the formation of a departmental RPL Committee to review RPL applications. The Committee compromises of at least three appropriate members in a Department, including an Advisor, Assessor and Moderator. An adviser acts as a facilitator between the RPL role players or as an evidence facilitator who may or may not be the Head of Department (HOD). The functions of the committee as follows:

• Monitor and review the IPPM RPL policy and procedures.
• Oversee the RPL process and establish quality management in the department.
• Manage the administration of the RPL process according to the RPL sub-committee guidelines as approved by the Faculty.
• Advise the Faculty RPL sub-committee of the Department's recommendations.

Thus, RPL will be a significant route of entry into this qualification. Learners with the relevant policymaking and political science experience may go through the RPL route to make them eligible to apply for the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry to this qualification is a three (3) year Bachelor's Degree.

This qualification comprises a compulsory modules and elective modules at NQF Levels totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Module

• Research Practice for Leaders, 50 Credits.

Elective Modules (select two)

• Strategic Diplomacy, 35 Credits.
• Industrial Policy, 35 Credits.
• Transitional Justice, 35 Credits.

1. Critically analyse the relevant practices of good governance, policy and conflict resolution in an organisational setting.
2. Develop in-depth and critical knowledge of research methodology in terms of the processes, approaches, techniques which enables the commission of research.
3. Advance highly complex practices in the various spheres of African Public Policy endeavour and formulate evidence based research to enhance policy.
4. Develop a clear unit of analysis on various diplomatic systems to utilise during the negotiation process.
5. Apply research principles and methods while taking into account the ethical ramification applicable to a field of public policy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Utilise creative methods, techniques, processes and technologies to address complex theoretical and practical problems in their position paper.
• Autonomously defend ethical decisions which affect knowledge production.
• Analyse public policy and identify good governance in theory and practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Use a wide range of specialist skills to identify, conceptualise, design and implement methods of enquiry to address complex and challenging problem design.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Independently develop policy based on evidence based research.
• Conceptualise and design public sector sustainable management frameworks suitable for both South African and African development projects.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Interrogate the various diplomatic theories within the African context.
• Correctly analyse the impact of diplomacy during negotiation processed to promote sustainable development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Submit an assignment according to the correct research principles and methods, to the satisfaction of the lecturer.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment undertaken is to determine the learners' applied competence and successful completion of learning in the qualification.

The summative essay will constitute 60% and the position paper will comprise 40% of the total assessment.