[Registered Qual & Unit Std Home page] [Search Qualifications] [Search Unit Standards]
SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Intercultural Communication 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
85227  Postgraduate Diploma in Intercultural Communication 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University 
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Language 
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
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

This qualification is intended to provide learners with the knowledge and skills needed to develop an understanding of the central features of intercultural communication and how to apply that understanding in intercultural communication circumstances.

Learners successfully mastering these competencies will be able to contribute to the broader society by either being able to personally communicate across cultures or by being able to facilitate intercultural communication between parties.

The qualifying learner will be capable of:
  • Critically reviewing current insights into language related aspects of intercultural communication.
  • Applying theoretical approaches to examine language-related aspects of intercultural communication.
  • Solving issues relating to intercultural communication using the acquired knowledge base.
  • Applying research methodology when conducting research on language related aspects of intercultural communication.

    Rationale:

    In Southern Africa, communication regularly takes place across the boundaries drawn by the region's rich cultural and linguistic diversity. These forms of intercultural communication occur in a wide range of sectors and often result in misunderstandings across cultures caused by, among others, different conceptions of politeness, conversational interaction. This qualification is intended to address the misunderstandings that may occur in intercultural communication.

    This qualification allows working professionals or academic scholars to undertake advanced reflection on current specialised practices and methods in intercultural communication using high level theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The knowledge, skills and cognitive ability demonstrated in a Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 7.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    This qualification may be achieved in part or completely through the Recognition of Prior Learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. Care will be taken to ensure that the mechanism used provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence and is not so onerous as to prevent learners from taking up the Recognition of Prior Learning option towards gaining a qualification.

    Recognition of Prior Learning may also be used to grant access to the qualification to those learners who do not meet the admission requirements.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Learners registering for this qualification should already have achieved a Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 7 or 8, or an equivalent qualification. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    To be awarded the qualification learners are required to obtain a minimum of 120 credits at NQF Level 8.

    The following modules, each worth 30 Credit, at NQF Level 8, are compulsory:
  • Fundamentals of linguistic communication.
  • Linguistic mechanics of intercultural communication.
  • Pragmatic and sociolinguistic aspects of intercultural communication.
  • Fundamentals of intercultural linguistic communication. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Critically review current insights into language related aspects of intercultural communication.

    2. Apply theoretical approaches to examine language-related aspects of intercultural communication.

    3. Solve issues relating to intercultural communication using the acquired knowledge base.

    4. Apply research methodology when conducting research on language related aspects of intercultural communication.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    This programme develops all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

    1. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of general linguistic insights into aspects of linguistic communication.
    2. Demonstrate a good understanding of the theoretical approaches and research methods used to examine aspects of linguistic communication and how these approaches and methods are used for investigating such aspects.
    3. Conduct Master's level research on linguistic aspects of intercultural communication skills.
    Range of skills includes but is not limited to:
  • Reading technical texts with precision.
  • Representing other people's views, arguments, theories, etc. with a high degree of precision.
  • Identifying, formulating and analysing problems.
  • Critically appraising and/or constructing solutions for such problems.
  • Integrating different perspectives in a non-eclectic way into a coherent whole.
  • Producing a technically well-finished academic text.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

    1. Apply a sound knowledge of various linguistically relevant aspects of culture.
    2. Apply a good understanding of the theoretical approaches and research methods used to examine linguistically relevant aspects of culture and how these approaches and methods are used for investigating such aspects.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

    1. Apply a sound knowledge of various pragmatic and sociolinguistic aspects of intercultural communication to solve problems.
    2. Demonstrate a good understanding of the theoretical approaches and research methods used to examine pragmatic and sociolinguistic problems of intercultural communication and how these approaches and methods are used for investigating such aspects.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

    1. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful intercultural communication including knowledge of conditions for success, causes of failure/breakdown and strategies for avoiding and repairing failure/breakdown.
    2. Conduct research methods used to examine success and failure/breakdown in intercultural communication and how these approaches and methods are used for investigating such phenomena in various communication contexts.

    In addition the following set of Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated manor for all the Exit Level Outcomes:

    1. Texts are analysed with precision and insight to their content and context.
    2. Reasoning is applied objectively and critically.
    3. Solutions are developed from clearly conceptualised ideas.
    4. Academic papers and studies are written according to required standards.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Formative assessment will be applied continually throughout the learning pathway of the individual learning outcomes and/or modules. Summative assessment will be applied to ensure the achievement of each learning outcome and/or module. Integrated assessment will be applied extensively across the modules of learning so as to ensure the integrated achievement of the Exit Level Outcomes. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compared favourably with the Master of Arts in Intercultural Communication offered at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:

    This qualification articulates horizontally with any cognate qualification at NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:

    This qualification articulates vertically with any cognate Master's qualification at NQF Level 9. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal and external moderation must be conducted by moderators appointed by the provider. Both internal and external moderators must be in possession of an appropriate qualification at least one level above the level of this qualification, as well as relevant and current experience. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    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.
     
    1. University of Stellenbosch 


    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.