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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Commerce in Information and Communication Technology and Policy Regulation 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
104909  Master of Commerce in Information and Communication Technology and Policy Regulation 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  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 programme will allow engineers to understand the need for policy and for policy makers and policy implementers to understand the technical aspects of telecommunications policy. There is a need for both engineers and policy makers to understand the financial and economic implications of their decisions and actions, the intention is to develop an interdisciplinary telecommunications policy and regulation program of study. However, there are few if any Postgraduate programmes around the world that deliver any education appropriate to this need. This appropriate course seeded with some key management principles and ideas but orientated to their interpretation in an information systems context relevant to Information and Communication Technology policy and regulation depends only on the right balance of teaching and research.

Rationale:
This proposed programme of study will directly address the need for appropriate competencies in telecommunications regulation, and it will enable the development of a new body of knowledge specific to the information systems management needs of the emerging telecommunications industry as well as the general business community in Africa. Because it is based upon some teaching but also upon significant research, the programme will naturally expose and then address key issues that are unique to the African context. These key issues may not be addressed properly by management theory and practice from other parts of the world (although some of that theory might be usefully re-interpreted). 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Access to the programme can also be provided in terms of the university's Recognition of Prior Learning policy and its admission criteria as stipulated by Senate. In the Recognition of Prior Learning process students have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course to support the student's admission. The Portfolio Development Course will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the candidate's interest in Information Management and ICT adjunct to their existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project.

Entry Requirements:
Entry to the programme will be an Honours Degree, Level 8 in the learner's core discipline (Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, Law, or any related discipline), or an appropriate equivalent professional qualification.

Students should:
  • Be familiar with current Information systems developments.
  • Aware of the regulatory environment in Telecommunications. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Learning components:
  • Macro Environment and Implications of Telecommunications, 10 Credits.
  • Information and Communication Technology Technologies, 10 Credits.
  • Information and Communication Technology Industry and Markets, 10 Credits.
  • Provider Resources Allocations, Assignment, Registration and Enforcement, 10 Credits.
  • Financial Analysis, 10 Credits.
  • Approaches to Regulation, 10 Credits.
  • Quality and Social Issues, 10 Credits.
  • Service Pricing, 10 Credits.
  • Policy, law and Institutions, 10 Credits.
  • Information and Communication Technology Applications, 10 Credits.
  • Mini-thesis, 80 Credits.
    Total, 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Students must be able to:
    1. Assist African governments to continue liberalisation of the telecommunications sector through policy, privatisation and regulatory reform.
    2. Contribute to stabilising the political and macroeconomic environment that leads to increased income and expansion of an economy, and increased demand for telecommunication services.
    3. Facilitate private sector investment and competition in the telecommunications sector.
    4. Apply their knowledge of telecommunications regulation and research to the specific needs of their own country, environment or organisation.
    5. Help protect and promote the independence and autonomy of regulators.
    6. Explain current international thinking about telecommunications regulation in different contexts, as seen by international experts in the field.
    7. Undertake management research to examine multi-disciplinary issues and development opportunities.
    8. Have the ability to see beyond their core discipline in order to take a multi-disciplinary view of problems and opportunities in the telecommunications sector. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria are assessed in an integrated manner across all the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Display specialised scholastic and basic research skills in Information management and Policy Regulation as outlined in the prescribed module descriptor.
  • Adequate level of relevant text comprehension to be demonstrated.
  • Adequate range of relevant sources to have been accessed.
  • Relevant problems to have been grasped.
  • Appropriate theoretical and practical assignments and case studies as well as solutions to problems to have been presented.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Lecturers set assignments, class tests and the final assessment papers. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This Qualification compares favourably with similar Masters qualifications at the Universities in Africa. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    The Master of Commerce: Information Systems, Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
    Students may proceed with a relevant Doctor of Philosophy, Level 10. 

    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.