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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Management Information Systems 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
98818  Postgraduate Diploma in Management Information Systems 
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 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Information Technology and Computer Sciences 
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 aims to:
  • Provide students with best practice application and integration of knowledge relating to Information Management systems.
  • Formalise and extend knowledge gained through work in industry.
    The qualification is also aimed at developing critical reading and writing skills relevant to IS for IS/IT professionals who have been working in IS/IT, but do not have a formal IS/IT qualification and IS/IT professionals wishing to upgrade their knowledge.

    Rationale:
    The skills shortage in Information Systems (IS) or Information Technology (IT) is widely acknowledged and reported. Modules in this qualification are strongly supported by Industry, the Provincial Governments and the relevant SETA. The qualification contributes towards reducing the skills gap through the provision of appropriate training for IS/IT practitioners. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Admission may be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as follows:
  • All non-Degree learners must have at least 3 years of proven IT/IS work experience at operational or management level that can be shown to have compensated for the lack of a Bachelor's Degree.
  • They must sit for, and pass the Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy National Benchmark Tests with a minimum of an intermediate result.
  • They must write a report detailing their life experiences to date (primarily since the completion of formal schooling) and covering personal, work, education and community experiences, closely aligning each experience or job to skills and competencies gained along the way.
    Students may also receive credits towards the qualification for relevant knowledge and skills elsewhere through an RPL assessment.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entrance requirement:
  • Bachelor's Degree Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.
  • Information Systems Project, 60 Credits.
  • Information Systems Management, 60 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Make a positive contribution with respect to IT/IS value in a wide variety of organisational settings and sectors, with specific attention to the needs of each particular context.
    2. Manage IS/IT infrastructure and functions within organisations.
    3. Communicate effectively with all role players related to a particular the ICT field of operation in.
    4. Conduct all negotiations ethically and with integrity while being mindful of the impact that IT/IS decisions may have in both the long- and short-term.
    5. Conduct academic research and report on findings. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Information technology challenges faced are dealt with innovatively and resourcefully.
  • New opportunities to improve practice are recognised even before a problem is identified.
  • Conceptual knowledge is transformed into contextual knowledge.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The required mix of technical and managerial skills to face the business and IS/IT challenges in organisations is developed.
  • Technical skills to effectively address IT issues (architectures, security, databases, etc.) are developed.
  • The ability to utilise double loop learning to adopt new strategies for guiding Strategic Management of IT in terms of Business and IT Alignment is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Effective communication which underpins all knowledge areas related to management information systems is practised and appreciated.
  • Interpersonal, social and communication skills to negotiate and manage IT-enabled business changes and innovations are developed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Ethical behaviour is exhibited in general or in computer security.
  • Defensive reasoning is avoided and openness for change is practised.
  • IT regulations are understood and adhered to.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • A research proposal related to an information technology challenge is formulated.
  • Research is conducted in an academically appropriate manner and the process and findings are reported on.
  • Research findings are presented to an audience of peers.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The assessment per course is as follows:

    Information Systems Management:
    Coursework Assessment: 50%
    Assignments, papers and presentations are required of students throughout the programme. Some of this work is completed in groups, through the use of appropriate online collaborative tools. The Learning Management Systems (LMS) has specific capabilities for online group work.
    Learners are also assessed continuously for their attendance, participation and contribution during the year. Each learner in each qualification requires a sub-minimum of 50% in the individual proctored work to pass that course. This means that where a learner does not achieve 50% for the individual proctored work, the final mark will consist only of that proctored individual assessment (i.e. The mark for any other non-proctored coursework will not count towards the final mark in that course).
    Written Examination: 50%

    Information Systems Project:
    Final Report: 50%
    The work-related capstone project will be assessed according to criteria laid down by the course convenor, and these criteria will be regularly monitored by a committee of senior academics. It is assessed based on a single deliverable submitted to the department in the form of a written report. The report should demonstrate clearly how the knowledge gained in the course has been applied in the candidate's day-to-day work environment.
    Final Oral Examination: 50%

    After the practical work project written work is handed it, the learner will be scheduled for an oral examination (e.g. via Skype, Instant Messaging or the specific capabilities for online presentations and video chat of the LMS). The oral examination will start with a presentation by the learner in which the learner summarizes the project as well as the learnings gained from the project. The examiner (normally the course convenor, the assigned mentor, or both) will have read the written work and poses probing and critical questions to assess both the authenticity of the work as submitted, issues with the work but also the deeper learnings that may not be reflected in the written submission.
    Learners are required to achieve at least 50% for both courses.

    Examinations are written in examination venues controlled and invigilated according to institutional examinations policy. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Most international offerings of graduate diplomas offer course work similar to this qualification, but do not include a research project which constitutes a large proportion of this qualification. Most countries do not have a qualification between Bachelors and Masters where our Honours and Post Graduate Diplomas are positioned and have a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's Degree. The best comparisons could be made with Master's Degrees bearing in mind that the cognitive demands of the research for a Master's Degree are significantly higher than those in a Post Graduate Diploma to level 8.

    This qualification is therefore more comparable with the following Master's Degrees.

    Deakin University, Australia (Masters in Information Systems):
    The Master of Information Systems has been developed in response to this new emerging information-focused economy, In addition to containing learning about broad business-oriented principles and practices of information systems, the course also allows learners to specialise in Business Analytics, Social Media and Mobile Strategies, or Supply Chain Management. Research is also a part of the qualification.

    LaTrobe University, Australia (Master of Business Information Management and Systems):
    A Master of Business Information Management and Systems gives an understanding of how information systems tools and concepts apply to business. As part of the course, learners participate in a team project applying information systems to a business discipline. They learn about industry-based IT tools such as enterprise information systems like SAP, business intelligence systems like SAS and business-related subjects, such as the design and management of information systems, customer relationship management, entrepreneurship, IT project management and enterprise resource planning.

    Kingston University London (MSc Information Systems):
    Learners study the design, development and management of information systems to enable them to recognise and accommodate the increased rate of change and instability in the business and information environment created by social, economic, political and technical changes. Learners gain an understanding of how information is used within an organisation, who uses it, the nature of the information, how it relates to decision making and how it contributes to organisational goals and objectives.

    City University London (MSc Information Systems and Technology):
    The course aims to develop understanding of the characteristics of information systems, their management and technology, and their effective utilisation within organisations; skills in evaluating and applying appropriate methods and technologies for representing, managing and disseminating information; skills in contributing to information system implementation and management using sound principles and appreciation of the necessary legal, ethical and professional values appropriate to the provision of information services.

    Conclusion:
    The above comparisons demonstrate that this qualification compares well with the above-mentioned Master's Degrees in terms of content relating to IT and IT systems, critical IT thinking, problem analysis and solution, communication and research. However, the complexity of the research component is greater in the Masters' Degrees. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities with other qualifications offered by the University of Cape Town, such as:

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Business Science in Information Systems, Level 9, (ID: 5055).
  • Master of Business Science: Information Systems: Research, Level 9, (ID: 51520).

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Management: Distributed Commercial Information Systems, Level 8, (ID: 15496).
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Management: Information Risk Management, Level 8, (ID: 15498).

    The qualification also offers systemic horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities with qualifications offered by other institutions provided the student meets the minimum entry requirements. They are:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business Information Systems, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Science in Information and Communications Technology, 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.
     
    1. University of Cape Town 


    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.