Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) Block Release: Cape Town, Gauteng and East London

Introduction

The programme is designed to offer individuals starting out in the job market the opportunity to attain an essential, world-class business education by developing a broader and deeper understanding of business concepts, through theory and practical application.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) block release programme will equip you with knowledge and skills in Operations Management, Strategy, Financial Management, Integrated Management Practices, Management Economics, Human Resource Strategy, Marketing Management, and Entrepreneurship.

Purpose of the programme

The business environment is an ever-growing world in which an encompassing understanding of this world is crucial. The PDBA block release aims to provide young, talented, professional men and women with a broad-based theoretical and practical knowledge of Business Administration.

It further aspires to develop in graduates the capacity for lifelong learning, which will assist you in dealing with the intricacy, rapid pace and risks of the business world. The primary purpose of this qualification is two-pronged. Firstly, it broadens your knowledge of the business environment by preparing you for the challenges faced in the workplace and to grasp the concept of business management. Secondly, it provides you with the necessary knowledge, understanding and ability required to not only manage other employees, but also your own future successfully.

This PDBA further provides broad exposure to the processes and functions of business management within the context of an integrated, holistic organisational approach and a transforming socio-economic setting.

Programme exit level outcomes

Demonstrate familiarity with a broad range of concepts and frameworks relevant to public and private management contexts;
Identify, classify and describe management, policy, leadership and ethical issues in specific public, developmental and business contexts;
Apply relevant conceptual and analytical frameworks to analyse problems within different business, public and development management conditions;
Show awareness of the economic, social and political factors which affect public managers and business people;
Identify appropriate procedures and monitor systems for organisations in the private and public sectors; and
Practically demonstrate the ability to apply the conceptual knowledge and practical skills in a specific work context.

Admission Requirements

A Diploma (NQF Level 6) or Bachelor’s degree (NQF Level 7); and
At least three (3) years general working experience.

All prospective students will need to submit a letter of reference from your employer, which includes evidence that you can undertake a leadership role in your workplace.

Once the above minimum requirements have been met, students will be asked to:

Write a Psychometric (SHL) test or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). All applicants are required to complete the psychometric test as part of the application process. Students need to score a 4/5 or higher on the SHL test. Students writing the GMAT test need to obtain a score of 520 or higher.
Students that score a 4/5 or higher on the SHL test or a 520 or higher on their GMAT will be asked to partake in an application interview.

Learning Assumed to be in Place

Students accessing this programme should demonstrate their ability to read, analyse and reflect on study material and relevant literature on a postgraduate level (NQF Level 8). Students should be able to communicate effectively using English in written and oral form. Students must be able to manage their own study programme and time effectively.

A satisfactory level of analytical and reasoning competence, written communication and reading skills for postgraduate study are supposed to be in place.

International Comparability

The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration is in line with postgraduate diplomas offered by other universities and business schools nationally and internationally.

Duration of the Study

One (1) year block release offered over three (3) trimesters.

PDBA Block Release Explained

Class Presentation - the programme is presented as follows:

Three study visits to Port Elizabeth (PE) per year

Each year is divided into 3 trimesters (12 weeks per trimester). You will be required to travel to PE for a study visit at the beginning of each trimester (February, May and August). The study visit in PE normally runs from a Wednesday to a Saturday and attendance is compulsory. The study visit at the beginning of the year (February) is slightly longer than the last two study visits in order to allow for orientation (Monday – Saturday). You will be required to be in PE for a total of 12 working days a year.

Eighteen (18) video conferencing sessions every second Saturday at one of the NMMU Business School’s video conferencing sites (Centurion (Gauteng), East London and Cape Town)

The live video sessions allow for a virtual classroom experience where students and the lecturer can interact with each other.

Lecturer visits to Centurion (Gauteng), East London and Cape Town (3 times a year on a Friday or Saturday)

Each PDBA student is required to complete three modules (subjects) per trimester. The lecturing staff involved in presenting these modules will visit your delivery point three times a year i.e. the three lecturers presenting the modules in trimester one will visit your delivery point in trimester one.

Venues

Centurion: Centurion Academy, Highveld Campus, 48 Charles de Gaulle Crescent, Centurion, Gauteng.
East London: NMMU Business School East London and Border Kei Office, 63 Devereux Avenue, Vincent, East London.
Cape Town: Prestige Academy, Bellville Business Park, DJ Wood Way, Bellville, Cape Town.

Group Work

All students accepted onto the PDBA programme are assigned to a group. Group members are selected and assigned according to their professional expertise and experience so as to best replicate a management team in the working environment. PDBA students will work together in their groups over the 12 month period. You will be required to meet with your group members on a regular basis (at least once a week) to work on assignments.