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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Infrastructure Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
112157  Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Infrastructure Management 
ORIGINATOR
North West University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction  Physical Planning, Design and Management 
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  2019-09-18  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 purpose of this qualification is to provide further education and specialised training opportunities for qualified professionals in the field of Engineering Infrastructure Management (EIM). The initiative to develop such a qualification is also in support of addressing the needs, challenges and required resources as stipulated in the goals and objectives included in the National Development Plan (NDP), National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) and the needs identified by JipSA (scarce skills) within the public and private sector. This qualification will be in support to professionals employed in the infrastructure and construction industry. Many learners within the public sector and private sector that deals with infrastructure are not qualified on NQF Level 8 and the purpose of the qualification is to address this need. It will capacitate and empower learners in terms of their daily responsibilities and will enable them to pursue an NQF Level 9 qualification based on research specialisation.

Rationale:
Research within the First (Central Government), Second (Provincial Government) and Third (Municipal Government) Spheres of Government in terms of performance and management practices and outcomes within the infrastructure domains clearly illustrates the need to formalise and improve the education and training profiles of learners responsible for technical infrastructure management. Addressing this shortcoming should focus on formal training, retraining and building of specialised capacity in order to enable and capacitate such learners in the applicable infrastructure management theory and best practices. This implies that this formal education and training qualification will empower persons employed in the public sector and persons who render services to the public sector.

This qualification will address the existing need within the building environment in both the public and private sector, the construction industry and development sector in terms of providing professionally qualified individuals that can render appropriate infrastructure management support. This qualification on NQF Level 8 with specialisation in Engineering Infrastructure Management can therefore play a crucial role in addressing the current market gap and industry needs. The introduction of this qualification will be dynamic and will target individuals already employed persons in the public and private sector. It will enhance capacity development within the built environment.

Currently, there are numerous individuals involved in the infrastructure and construction industry with NQF Level 7 qualifications that were obtained from the previous technical institutions. These individuals cannot obtain entry into undergraduate qualifications in traditional institutions. The rationale behind this qualification is that individuals who find themselves in such predicament will be able to enrol for a Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering with specialisation in Infrastructure Management. This qualification will not only address the present gap in the public and development sectors but will also allow successful learners of the qualification to continue with a relevant NQF 9 qualification. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
This institution subscribes to the principles underlying outcomes-based, source-based and lifelong learning. In this context, considerations of articulation and mobility play an important role. This institution endorses the view that Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) constitutes an essential element of the transformation of access and admissions policies at education institutions in South Africa. The transformation of access and admissions policies is intended to increase participation and to broaden access to higher education in order to produce learners with the skills and competencies necessary to meet the human resource needs of the country.

The RPL concerns the provable knowledge and learning an applicant has acquired. At all times the question will be what the level of the skills is, and skills will be assessed in the context of the exit level skills required by the qualification, or the status for which the applicant applies. RPL will therefore take place in terms of applied skills and competencies demonstrated by the applicant in his or her application, taking into consideration the exit-level outcomes that have to be obtained by means of the qualification.

The institution acknowledges that the RPL must be conducted in a valid, reliable and equitable way. The learner will be assessed in accordance with the institution's RPL policy and the Faculty's processes for gaining admission to the qualification. The structure of this qualification makes the RPL for the purposes of access possible.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Science in building or construction environment, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, 128 Credits:
  • Policy and Legislation guiding Engineering Infrastructure Management, 12 Credits.
  • Planning and Layout Design Principles, 12 Credits.
  • Infrastructure Planning: Bulk Infrastructure Services Planning, 16 Credits.
  • Infrastructure Planning: Internal Infrastructure Services Planning, 16 Credits.
  • Infrastructure Management, 16 Credits.
  • Infrastructure Construction Project Management, 12 Credits.
  • Technology and Infrastructure Management, 12 Credits.
  • Infrastructure Project, 32 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Integrated knowledge and critical understanding and application of theory, techniques, principles and research methodologies relevant to public sector infrastructure management.
    2. Critically interrogate multiple sources of knowledge associated in the field of infrastructure management. This includes the ability to evaluate and review the knowledge underpinning infrastructure management in terms of procedures, methodologies and techniques applied and followed.
    3. Judge the ethical conduct of team members in public infrastructure management within different cultural and social environs and to effect and implement change in management practices and conduct where necessary.
    4. Apply accurate, coherent, appropriate and creative presentation and communication practices inclusive in public and private sector infrastructure management in applying methodologies and technology to all service providers and supporting professionals, stakeholders, communities and interested and affected parties. Capacity building and sensitivity for the restriction related to intellectual property conventions, copyright and rules on plagiarism.
    5. Operate effectively within a professions involved in infrastructure management, project teams, organisational entities and institutions and in cooperation with other trans-disciplinary disciplines as to ensure understanding of the roles of participants to solve problems related to infrastructure management, to guide and monitor progress. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Apply knowledge of laws and regulations applicable to infrastructure planning;
  • Explain and predict the impact of planning and layout and design principles in the provision of infrastructure;
  • Integrate and apply working knowledge with basic Knowledge of standards for infrastructure planning and levels of services;
  • Integrate project management principles within the field of infrastructure management;
  • Employ technology in order to do infrastructure planning and design, development and maintenance;
  • Align theory to practice through a practical project forming part of the project assignment;
  • Correlate overarching knowledge and skills of persons working with infrastructure management in the public sector; to render technical support to professionals involved in infrastructure management and decision making.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Distinguish between different infrastructure services, design approaches and standards applied;
  • Access and identify basic sources in infrastructure management;
  • Generate an elementary services and design structure for formal and informal townships;
  • Recommend appropriate infrastructure system design, operation and maintenance considerations approaches and standards.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Apply and implement appropriate ethical conduct and approaches in terms of infrastructure management;
  • Address unethical conduct of team members through applicable interventions;
  • Elaborate on the role of different cultural and social environments in infrastructure management;
  • Implement change in infrastructure management practices.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Apply appropriate skills inclusive of verbal and non- verbal communication in the infrastructure management environment;
  • Apply methodologies and practices in infrastructure management amongst all stakeholders and participants;
  • Communicate technical design and operating standards, practices and information to stakeholders inclusive of professionals, team members, workers and communities;
  • Identify, explain and enforce the restrictions applicable to the property infrastructure management;
  • Apply infrastructure management design conventions while adhering to copyright and plagiarism obligations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Differentiate between the diversity of professions and role-players involved in infrastructure management within the public and private sectors and its organisational structures;
  • Apply integrated knowledge of management practices underpinning infrastructure project management;
  • Incorporate appropriate skills to address problems in the organisational context.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Opportunities for both continuous formative and summative assessments are embedded in the learning design of this qualification. It consists of online written assessment as well as a practical assignment for each of the modules to be offered. Learners will be assessed on the application of learned skills in order to ensure that theory learned translates into effective practice. The outcomes as defined and as assessed relates in an integrated manner. It culminates eventually in a formal engineering infrastructure research project in the second semester of the second study year. In this research project the learners need to illustrate mastering of discipline-specific knowledge and skills that will be internally and externally assessed. It will include the learners writing and communications skills, computer literacy and ability to critically analyse and effectively evaluate a work-place related engineering infrastructure project. Report writing, graphical analysis and illustration are important ability and skills to be demonstrated in such a project. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The focus of the PG Dip in EIM is on a specific market need existing in South Africa. Alignment to international knowledge, skills, practices and values forms a core consideration in the design of the PG Dip in EIM.

    This qualification compares with the Engineering Management (Graduate Diploma) offered by the OntarioTech University in Canada. Topics include engineering project management, production planning and operations management and optimization as they pertain to complex engineering systems, quality control, health and safety, and applied risk analysis. This qualification also compares with the PG Diploma in Infrastructure Management offered by the MIT School of Distance Education in India. Both qualifications prepare learners for challenging roles within the corporate domain, imparting the best theoretical as well as practical knowledge. It also develops the learner's ability to lead a team of consultants, builders and site managers and enable students to follow a top-down strategy to examine, evaluate, recommend and assimilate best infrastructure management practices.

    The best practices as applied by the Engineering Profession is fundamental in the design, content and outcomes of the PG Dip in EIM. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    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.