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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Survey Data Analysis for Development 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
102152  Postgraduate Diploma in Survey Data Analysis for Development 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Urban and Regional Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the qualification is to train working professionals in the skills required to analyse a diverse set of social surveys. Another purpose is to provide sufficient skills that individuals who want to pursue more advanced research (at a Master's level) will be able to do so.

Rationale:
The aim of the qualification is to improve the ability of professionals working in the Labour Statistics, Social Statistics and Economic Statistics divisions of Statistics South Africa to analyse the available micro-data in order to address policy relevant questions. A second aim is to equip graduates who wish to enter into employment in the development field with a set of specialist tools that would enable them to seek employment in development agencies. No existing qualification is focused on the skills required to analyse social survey data. Statistics South Africa has asked the School of Economics to provide training for its staff and the introduction of this qualification is partly a response to the demand for this training. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Applicants who do not have a Degree or Advanced Diploma but have at least 5 years working experience in data analysis may be assessed through an entrance examination to determine whether they have the equivalent educational ability and motivation as someone with the Level 7 Exit Level Outcomes.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement to this qualification is:
  • A Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Economics or Demography. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.
  • Cross sectional methods, 16 Credits.
  • Panel data methods, 16 Credits.
  • Consumption and microeconomic theory, 16 Credits.
  • The analysis of Complex Surverys, 14 Credits.
  • Welfare Measurement, 14 Credits.
  • Applied Labour Economics, 14 Credits.
  • Research Project, 30 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Understand key theories in economic development and data analysis.
    2. Understand key debates in economic policy.
    3. Analyse data emanating from complex social surveys.
    4. Think critically about what data would be relevant for particular policy debates.
    5. Obtain the necessary data if available, for particular policy debates.
    6. Present the data in support of particular positions in a comprehensible way.
    7. Analyse African data and South African data in particular to the development challenges facing South Africa in the areas of poverty, income inequality and unemployment. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be assessed in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Use statistical software to calculate appropriate statistics from social survey data (e.g. labour force surveys and living conditions surveys) and present the results to an audience of policy makers as well as other researchers.
  • Evaluate what survey data would be relevant to address policy questions.
  • Understand the Classical Linear Regression Model, when the assumptions underlying the model are likely to be violated (particularly in the case of measurement error and omitted variable bias) and what this means for analysing their results.
  • Understand the theory of instrumental variable estimation.
  • Estimate instrumental variable models.
  • Understand limited dependent variables models.
  • Estimate limited dependent variables models.
  • Understand the functions and limitations of survey weights.
  • Understand the importance of sampling design and the implication of this for standard errors.
  • Understand the foundations of microeconomic theory.
  • Understand the foundations of consumption theory.
  • Use consumption data to test consumption theory.
  • Use panel/longitudinal data and understand the advantages it has over cross sectional data.
  • Understand the limitations of panel data, particularly differential attrition.
  • Measure income, expenditure, inequality and poverty using survey data.
  • Undertake welfare analysis using survey data.
  • Understand the limitations of income and expenditure data collected in surveys.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Each course will have at least two formative tests using professional econometric software that will take place during the two week lecture block, followed by one or two formative assignments that will be completed after the two week lecture block. These will together amount to 50% of the final mark. A final summative exam will count towards the other 50% of each course mark. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The closest comparable programme is the Joint Programme in Survey Methodology offered by the University of Michigan, the University of Maryland and Westat Corporation. The Programme has a "Certificate in Survey Methodology" (which would be at the same level as this qualification), a "Masters in Survey Methodology" and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D). in Survey Methodology. That programme is focussed largely on survey methodology itself and less on the substantive application.

    There are a number of graduate certificate programmes that have a similar flavour to the programme proposed here. Ohio State University offers a "Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Survey Research". That programme focusses largely on applications in political science instead of development.

    The programme is described as follows:
    The Ohio State University specialises in survey research is a 12 credit-hour add-on program available to any graduate student at Ohio State. The program involves two required courses: Political Science 7702, Questionnaire Construction; and Political Science or Communication, Survey Research Practicum. The student also takes two elective courses from an interdisciplinary list of courses dealing with research methods and the applications of survey research. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers the following articulation possibilities.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master's level qualification, of a specialist survey methodology type, Level 9.
  • Masters in an Applied field, such as Economics or Applied Economics, Level 9.

    A student could articulate into an economics honours programme should they present an undergraduate economics degree.

    A student could also, depending on their underpinning qualification, e.g. statistics or demography, articulate horizontally into a statistics or demography honours programme. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.