Documents & Resources

The faculty has geared itself to meet contemporary educational challenges by implementing innovative ways of designing and delivering its brand new suite of postgraduate qualifications, (commencing with the Postgraduate Diploma) in response to the call by the fourth industrial revolution for innovative management expertise relevant to a rapidly transforming local and global knowledge economy. These programmes are delivered in the form of flexible teaching and learning methodologies which include and accommodate the needs of working adult learners, to balance work and study commitments through lifelong learning.

The broad range of nationally-accredited undergraduate qualifications equips students with requisite managerial skills within their chosen fields of study. In addition, these programmes are designed to articulate towards postgraduate masters and doctoral degrees that equip students with advanced levels of knowledge and competencies in their fields of study, critical to engaging in the demands of a continuously evolving global knowledge economy.

The Higher Education Context

Teaching, Learning and Assessment in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS) are aligned with the One Smart CPUT 2030 vision and serves to promote the principles of Oneness and Smartness. The Faculty strives to develop successful, dynamic, socially-conscious and entrepreneurial graduates who are able to contribute to the economy and impact positively on communities and society at large. The revised 10-Level Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQSF) (2013) heralded in two new qualifications for the UoT sector, i.e. the Advanced Diploma at Level 7 and the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDIP) at Level 8. The HEQSF allows for three progression routes namely vocational, professional and general pathways. Qualifications at the CPUT reside within the vocational/professional pathway and are closely aligned with industry/workplace/professional body guidelines. Some qualifications are endorsed by professional bodies, with students receiving professional body accreditation. For noting, not all fields of study have designated professional bodies approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The FBMS responded by revising all diploma qualifications and developed the Bachelor of Paralegal studies, the Advanced Diplomas and the Postgraduate Diplomas in 16 different fields of study. Currently, the PGDips are at varying stages of accreditation and implementation. It is important to note that all pre- HEQSF qualifications (such as the National Higher Certificate in Accountancy, National Diplomas, BTech, MTEch and DTech qualifications are in the process of being phased out. The last year for first-time applications for these qualifications was 2019 and will be phased out incrementally.

Where students wish to complete any the qualifications noted above, after these have been phased out, students will have to select subjects from the new qualifications where applicable, or will have to complete new subjects that did nor form part of their previous qualification. The respective departments will provide additional information on this as and when required. In keeping with the principles of vocational education, workplace-based learning forms part of most programmes in the faculty, with work placements ranging from 3 months to 6 months in industry. The importance of workplace-based learning is that the workplace is an extension of the learning journey and provides insights and experience of the dynamics of a work environment. Other examples of theory in practice applications include service learning and community engagement projects, where students apply knowledge and skills to real world community contexts. All students would engage in different forms of work-integrated learning (such as work placements, service learning, community engagement and/or volunteerism) during a programme of study.

Faculty staff are aptly qualified, knowledgeable, and experienced with strong industry and professional networks to lead, develop and facilitate curricula that remain robust and relevant in an evolving economy and society. Curricula, pedagogies, and assessments are aligned whilst teaching, learning and assessment strategies are learner-centred and augmented by appropriate learning tools and resources. The aim of the FBMS is to maintain exceptional academic standards and produce graduates who can successfully navigate the world of work and society in the 21st century.

Changes in Higher Education Qualifications

Government has introduced a single unified national qualification framework for education in South Africa that applies to all Higher Education institutions and improves the ability of students to move easily and more effectively from one qualification to the next, as well as between institutions.

These changes are guided by the Revised Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) as published in the Government Gazette (No. 40123, Vol. 1636, July 2016). As a result, all public and private higher education institutions in the country, including Universities of Technology, were required to revise and align existing qualifications or develop new qualifications that meet the requirements of the new sub-framework. (SATN:2017)

The most notable change in this regard is the withdrawal of the BTech qualification, as from the end of 2019. As from 2020, Diplomas will articulate to 2 one-year qualifications - the Advanced Diploma and the Postgraduate Diploma – in preparation for scholarly engagement at professional Masters and Doctoral levels. The faculty is proud and excited to offer these state-of-the-art programmes that are designed to address the demands of a rapidly changing world of work.

The faculty is in the process of phasing out non-HEQSF aligned qualifications; view the last date for these enrolments here.

See the below links for departmental phasing-out information:

• DMPM Transition Plans from HEQF to HEQSF qualifications
• Accountancy
• Hospitality Management
• Graduate Centre for Management (Business Administration)
• Human Resources
• Management and Project Management (DMPM) and Implementation of new DMPM qualifications for 2021
• Marketing and Implementation of new Marketing qualifications for 2021
• Public Administration & Governance
• Retail Business Management
• Sport Management
• Tourism Management and Event Management
• Business and Information Administration (previously Office Management & Technology)
• Entrepreneurship and Business Management
• Real Estate (Unit for Applied Economics)
• Operations Management