Bachelor of Human Resource Development Honours
Business, Commerce and Management Studies - Human Resources
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose and Rationale of the Bachelor of Human Resource Development Honours Qualification
Purpose:
The purpose of the Bachelor of Human Resource Development Honours qualification is to provide Human Resource Development (HRD) professionals with high levels of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence by developing integrated and applied knowledge of, and a critical disposition regarding HRD theories and conceptual frameworks, national and international HRD systems, global emerging and best HRD practices as well as the link between HRD and adult learning. Furthermore, the qualification will develop research-capacity in methodology and techniques of the HRD discipline and learners will be introduced to scientific methods of enquiry that could be effectively applied during post-graduate research in HRD. This qualification would enable HRD professionals to effectively engage in current HRD discourse, to conduct independent HRD Postgraduate research) and to achieve some critical distance from conventional (including own) HRD practices and HRD systems. The learners will be able to consolidate and deepen their expertise by critically evaluating their own, organisational, national and international HRD practices and systems, to select, recommend, apply and implement applicable, creative and effective evidence-based, theory-driven and practice-related HRD solutions and strategies to HRD problems within a variety of HRD contexts, thereby also contributing to the advancement of HRD as an academic discipline/science and applied field of professional practice.
Rationale:
This qualification is designed to bring higher education, specifically Postgraduate studies, within the reach of already employed HRD practitioners who had already completed the undergraduate Bachelor of Human Resource Development, but who cannot attend classes on a full-time basis due to work commitments. This qualification is both internally and externally responsive. The qualification is designed to provide Postgraduate learners with access to cutting-edge developments in HRD and to develop their research competency, within a framework which respects socio-cultural diversity and encourage self-directedness and lifelong learning for them to contribute to their work, life in the twenty-first century and to serve the people of this country. HRD entails the integrated use of training and development, organisation development, and career development to improve individual, group and organisational effectiveness. HRD is a key national priority (HRD Strategy of South Africa (SA, 2009), driven and supported extensively by government policies and legislation, including the National Skills Development Strategies (DHET, 2011), the National Skills Development Plan 2030 (DHET, 2017) and the HRD Strategy of South Africa 2010 - 2030 (SA, 2009) with the view to improve individual and organisational effectiveness and productivity, thereby addressing national skills shortages and unemployment. The qualification will fulfil a niche in the market for an Honours Degree in HRD. The qualification will also prepare graduates for further study at Master's level in the field of HRD to address the national HRD research needs. Qualifying learners will be able to operate as HRD professionals in a senior/management capacity such as HRD executives, training providers, senior training programme designers and evaluators, senior quality assurers/senior quality managers of training programmes, employed within all industries where HRD is applied. Applicable industries, for example, may include small, medium, and large enterprises, the Sectoral Education Training Authorities (SETAs), the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), public and government institutions, and private and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), amongst other. Further education and training of HRD professionals with advanced knowledge and critical understanding of HRD are essential to fulfil a leading role in the application and implementation of advanced HRD solutions in different contexts and to effectively address national HRD needs. Qualifying learners will be able to effectively address identified HRD gaps to the benefit of organisations, businesses and working individuals and ultimately society, as well.
Outcomes
- Apply and evaluate HRD theories, concepts, ideas, scientific methods of enquiry and engagement in current discourse relevant to HRD as an academic discipline and applied practice.
- Critically interrogate, demarcate, and evaluate multiple sources of knowledge within the field of HRD and to display a critical understanding of knowledge transfer from related fields.
- Select and implement applicable and effective evidence-based solutions, strategies and recommendations and theory-driven arguments to improve HRD systems and practices.
- Reflect on, select, apply, and critically judge the effectiveness of a range of appropriate HRD procedures, techniques, theories.
- Identify, judge, and address ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of various ethical value systems to the field of HRD.
- Access, process and manage information responsibly, including relevant current articles and prescribed material by using scientifically appropriate information-gathering processes.
- Understand, evaluate, critique, and judge the suitability of different scientific methods of enquiry to the field of HRD.
- Present and communicate academic, practice and professional HRD-related ideas and texts and effectively engage with the HRD body of scholarship.
- Critically reflect on own learning strategies with the view to adjusting it where necessary to address own ongoing learning needs and professional development.
- Operate effectively within and manage a system within the context of HRD by demonstrating a logical and critical understanding of the relationship between HRD and other related fields.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Display integrated and applied knowledge to evaluate and critique HRD theories, concepts, ideas, and scientific methods of enquiry.
- Engage in current discourse relevant to HRD as an academic discipline and applied practice.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Critically interrogate, demarcate, and evaluate multiple sources of knowledge within the field of HRD.
- Display an advanced and critical understanding of knowledge transfer from related fields such as adult learning.
- Understand how theories from related fields inform and enrich HRD as a multi-disciplinary field.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Select and implement appropriate and effective evidence-based solutions, strategies, and recommendations.
- Apply theory-driven arguments to improve HRD systems and practices within various contexts.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Critique and judge the effectiveness of various HRD procedures, techniques, theories, and best practices.
- Analyse and apply specialised problem-solving skills in addressing complex HRD problems.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Critique and judge the suitability of various ethical value systems in HRD.
- Reflect on and address ethical issues in HRD.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Access, gather, and process information using appropriate information-gathering processes.
- Validate and evaluate information using academic/scientific methods.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Evaluate and critique the suitability of scientific methods of enquiry in HRD.
- Develop and apply research skills for independent research in HRD.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Present and communicate academic, practice, and professional HRD-related ideas effectively.
- Engage with HRD scholarship to propose solutions to HRD issues.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Reflect on learning strategies for improvement.
- Assess and address own learning needs and professional development.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
- Understand the relationship between HRD theory, practice, and research.
- Manage systems within the context of HRD effectively.
Integrated Assessment:
- Continuous formative and summative assessments throughout the qualification.
- Assessments include written and practical assignments, portfolios, examinations, and practical assessments.
- Assess the application of learned skills for theory to practice evolution.
- Integration of various specialisations through a project in the 2nd year.
- Assessment of discipline-specific knowledge, writing, communication skills, computer literacy, and problem-solving abilities.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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