The one-year PGD offered by Unisa SBL provides an NQF Level 8 qualification, one of the entry requirements for access to all MBA and MBL degrees. “Prospective MBA and MBL students may come from a variety of undergraduate disciplines, from Engineering to Pharmacy,” says Mpofu. “It then makes a sense to complete the PGD before pursuing the MBA or MBL, particularly for those who do not already possess a finance- or economics-related undergraduate or postgraduate (minimum NQF level 8) qualification.”

Mpofu says that while the PGD is an excellent stand-alone qualification, it provides a strong foundation to move to higher NQF levels of study in business. He explains, “Skilled professionals such as engineers may have limited economic or management background, but are called on to take a managerial role or become an entrepreneur in their discipline. The PGD has been designed to equip professionals with the managerial and broader business skills to do this successfully and progress to further Masters studies with ease.” “Prospective students, even those who completed the PGD, should however consider all other minimum requirements that grant them access to our Masters qualifications, when applying for an MBA or MBL”, Mpofu adds. 

Ontlametse Khwene, now a Project Manager at Siemens, is a PGD graduate who recently completed her MBA.  She says, “For me, the PGD was more hectic than the MBA! It was really excellent preparation and I would not have managed as well on the MBA had I not completed it first.  I actually didn’t need to start with a PGD as I already fulfilled the minimum NQF requirements for my MBA, but I still chose to do it and I don’t regret that choice. You’re able to take two modules, Accounting for Managers and Economics for Managers, as credits for the MBA. It’s worth that one year.”

While essential to facilitate part-time study from any location, online studies can be daunting. “As I was working fulltime, being able to study online was essential,” says Khwene. “The online experience was very good – I was aligned with a group and able to engage online to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the topic from the lecturer and other students.”

While mostly online, the PGD also offers campus-based study schools twice a year, which Khwene found very helpful.  “At the week of classes, you learn things like how to use Google Scholar, how to do your referencing and citation and what the real expectations are for each assignment. By the time you do the MBA you do not struggle at all with these elements,” says Khwene.  Each PGD student is also allocated to a study group comprising four or more members in a specific geographical area. “The pressure to complete group assignments and learn to work with different people was a good reflection of the work environment, where you need to interact with teams. I also learnt a lot about time management!”

The SBL’s PGD includes technical modules such as Economics for Managers, Accounting for Managers and Information and Knowledge Management. Key managerial skills are covered in the Value Chain Management, Leadership and Organisational Behaviour as well as Stakeholder Management modules. Modules relevant to how business operates today include the Global Business Environment, Decision Support Systems for Managers and Integrated Management Practice.
Mpofu says that the PGD case study approach ensures that the students gain practical and relevant skills for the business environment. “Case study application relates to decision-making, resolving problems and leadership styles that unlock talents within the organisation, establishing vital managerial competencies. We’ve carefully chosen an integrated combination of modules to ensure that our graduates emerge with the knowledge of functional, managerial and business issues as well as new conceptual skills, ready to meet the demands that are set by an increasingly competitive business environment.”

Khwene says, “As the PGD has set modules it ensures you have a good foundation across the board, whereas the MBA you can tailor to be most relevant to your field. I learnt so much from all the PGD modules and definitely became more of a strategic, big-picture thinker. Everything was about application and case studies at a strategic level. For example, one of our case studies was on State Capture.”

PGD student Rejoice Dzowa agrees,  “The PGD programme has lifted my professional life as I have become a strong link in my  organisation’s value chain. I feel that after the course I can take on any leadership or strategic role  because of what I have learnt. The contemporary and practical focus of the programme has given  me a 360° view of business and has improved my business acumen, from accounting to value chain  management and the global business environment. I was particularly impressed by the Knowledge Management module as it broadened my understanding of why it is a strategic imperative within the organisation and I quickly started introducing it into my daily work. Every profession is a “business”, as long as it involves people, systems and finances.”

Unisa SBL has been holding Open Days in August in different provinces enabling prospective students to meet lecturers and learn more about the qualifications offered. Visit www.unisa.ac.za/sbl for more.

(ENDS)

PGD application details:
In order to be considered for admission, students must:
•    Hold a three-year, 360-credit Bachelor’s Degree or National Higher Diploma or Advanced Diploma  (accredited by the CHE or from an accredited institution);
•    Have at least two years’ managerial/professional experience.

Application for admission must be made from 5 August 2019 – 31 October 2019. Kindly visit the SBL website to apply for admission to the PGD: www.unisa.ac.za/sbl