Advanced Diploma in Project Management Course (AdvDipPM) – NQF L7

The Advanced Diploma’s distance learning format and structure allow for flexibility and meet the needs of working professionals with limited time to study. The project and programme management knowledge gained is fully aligned with the Project Management Institute’s PMBoK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) and the International Project Management Association’s ICB (Individual Competence Baseline). Successful candidates with sufficient practical experience will be equipped to sit for the PMI’s PMP (Project Management Professional) certification, and the more experienced for PMI’s PgMP (Program Management Professional) certification. Such candidates also qualify for ICB levels D and C certifications. Moreover, module M1 is validated by ECSA for 3 CPD points. Cranefield College is an ISO-9001-certified leader in private higher education and selects only the best in terms of highly qualified and experienced lecturers who are at the cutting edge of development in their fields. This ensures that students enjoy first-class tuition and derive maximum practical benefit from their studies. Moreover, they will be in a position to be positively influential in the job market very early in their studies. Nevertheless, the syllabus carefully guides every student systematically from first-step foundations and into more advanced aspects at the appropriate point in each module of the course. The needs of those who are already experienced in the job market are accordingly attentively met. Advanced Diploma graduates are equipped to be leaders in the 4IR economy, but will also have gained a solid foundation for advanced postgraduate studies, through which they could continue to achieve greater heights in terms of developing their expertise. Qualifying students who further their studies through Cranefield may next enrol for the Postgraduate Diploma in Programme Management (completed part-time in nine months) and thereafter for the Master of Commerce in Programme Management (completed part-time in two years, depending on module choices and personal progress). Exceptional students may later in their careers progress all the way to the Cranefield PhD in Commerce and Administration, which signifies the highest level of attainment.

After completing the Advanced Diploma, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate and apply the project and programme management acumen required to strategically support the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0 or 4IR) economy management functions of leading, creating, implementing and improving; and
• Demonstrate and apply the project and programme management acumen required to strategically support the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0 or 4IR) economy management functions of leading, creating, implementing and improving; and
• Understand the risks and complexities of the Industry 4.0 economy, the profound influence these elements have on organisational transformation and change, and how to counter it in order to sustain organisational improvement and performance; and
• Reflect critically on the role of quality and performance management in the 4IR organisational value chain, particularly the cross-functional programme-managed supply chain and project components thereof, with the aim of achieving optimal benefits of strategic importance; or
• Understand and apply organisational strategy theory and practices to meet challenges in a predominantly emergent manner in the internal and external organisational environment to enhance the value creation ability of 4IR learning organisations.

NQF level 7, with 120 credits

The Advanced Diploma consists of THREE modules of 40 credits each.

Module Order of Precedence

Step 1: Complete Module M1 followed by M2:
Module M1: Project Management: Leading, Creating, Implementing and Improving
Module M2: Programme-managing Organisational Performance and Innovative Improvement

Step 2: Complete ONE of the following electives:
Module M3: Supply Chain Quality and Performance Management
Module M4: Transformational Corporate Strategy

*If the Admissions Committee determines that your current academic qualifications and working experience are not sufficient for admission, the applicant will need to complete Module Mα (Project Management: Perspective, Planning and Implementation) at an additional cost before proceeding to module M1.

Registration Fee:
R 3, 750.00

Fee per module:
R 19, 200.00

Academic Programme Fee Calculation:
R 3, 750.00 + (3 x R 19, 200.00) R 57, 600.00 = R 61, 350.00

*If the applicant needs to complete Module Mα, an additional cost of R 19 200.00 for the module will be billed.

Payment Options:
Pay the full fee, or pay per module. Note that either way it is advisable for your employer to sponsor the payment(s) and claim back the fees from the relevant SETA (South Africa).

Cancellation Fee:
Contact Cranefield’s Financial Co-ordinator.
Module Repeat Fee:
Contact Cranefield’s Financial Co-ordinator. *Fees may be claimed back from your organisation’s SETA (South Africa).

The Advanced Diploma commences every quarter starting in January, April, July, or October. New enrollments start with module M1, followed by M2 and either M3 or M4. Modules M1 and M2 are offered four times per annum, while modules M3 and M4 are offered twice per annum. The sequence of the modules depends on which quarter the new enrollment commences. For details please view the Academic Calendar below. Learning modules are offered in series, with ONE module at a time being completed per quarter.

Modules M1 and M2
Modules M1 and M2 are offered four times per annum. The learning programme can be commenced in any quarter of the year.

Elective modules
The electives (a choice between M3 and M4) are each offered twice per annum in the following timeslots:
M3: Jan to March and July to September
M4: April to June and October to December

Note that all lectures are streamed live online globally via Cranefield’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The online system also caters for viewing recordings of all classes afterwards.

Accreditation
The Advanced Diploma in Project Management AdvDip(PM) is accredited by the Council on Higher Education at NQF level 7, with 120 credits (consisting of three modules of 40 credits each). The qualification is registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. It particularly serves to meet the need for a professional qualification on the graduate level in project, programme and portfolio management.

Certification
The Advanced Diploma in Project Management (AdvDipPM) is fully aligned with the Project Management Institute’s PMBoK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) and the International Project Management Association’s ICB (Individual Competence Baseline). Successful candidates with sufficient practical experience will be equipped to sit for the PMI’s PMP (Project Management Professional) certification, and the more experienced for PMI’s PgMP (Program Management Professional) certification. Such candidates also qualify for ICB levels D and C certifications. Moreover, module M1 is validated by ECSA for 3 CPD points.

Cranefield College offers technology-enhanced distance learning. It entails the integration of self-study, live interactive online classes, and recordings of classes online. Cranefield’s learning mode is supported by its online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

All modules (live online):
Students are encouraged to attend the live online Note that Cranefield operates on a distance learning mode. Moreover, students can also view recordings of lectures online in their own time.

Live lecture session times and frequency Time:
09h00 – 12h00

Contact Days:
Five (5) live interactive online lecture dates per module, spread evenly over the three months duration of each module. For dates see the Academic Calendar below.

A Degree or Diploma coupled with relevant experience. However, applicants who do not yet hold a tertiary qualification may in some cases be considered for entry onto the Advanced Diploma programme on the basis of recognition of prior learning (RPL). For the purpose of RPL assessment, all relevant information and documentation, including a detailed curriculum vitae (particularly describing the applicant’s substantial work experience) must be submitted to the Registrar (Academic). This is designed to provide opportunities to those who meet the following criteria:

1. Have completed at least the National Senior Certificate (or international equivalent).
2. Have been employed or active in the community for at least eight years since leaving secondary school.
3. Have gained substantial management experience in the workplace, holding a position of authority and responsibility.
4. Have successfully completed the foundational module Mα (Project Management: Perspective, Planning and Implementation) or PM Short Course (Project Management: Perspective, Planning and Implementation) at Cranefield College.
5. Have completed other courses related to the required competencies at credible institutions.

Applicants must generally comply with at least 1) to 5) above, but evidence related to 5) will also contribute significantly to RPL. Where an applicant has been identified by his or her employer as having leadership potential resulting from Human Resources career-path tracking, it is sufficient for him or her to comply only with 1), 2) and 4) above. In evaluating students for RPL purposes, current competencies in the field of Project Management that have been acquired by experiential learning through related studies and/or experience will be closely assessed.

Submission of Documents:

1. Submit certified copies of your highest qualifications.
2. Submit a curriculum vitae, which must reflect all your qualifications and the latest grades received.
3. The Admissions Committee may, however, require you to provide certified copies relating to all courses/programmes attended at any other institution, prior to approving admission to the learning programme involved.

Every application will be assessed on its own merits!

General Admission for all academic programmes:

• Possession of prescribed qualifications for admission to any learning programme does not automatically qualify a student for registration.
• The prospective student may be requested to comply with additional requirements such as a special assignment or an oral or written examination.
• The admission policy is reviewed annually, and the admission requirements from the previous year may not apply.
• It is the responsibility of prospective students to keep abreast of developments.
• Because of the nature of the admission procedures, deadlines are enforced strictly.
• All relevant documentation must be provided by the specified deadlines.
• Application for any programme implies acceptance by the applicant of the admission policies and procedures.

Submission of Documents:
Applying for admission to any academic programme

1. Submit certified copies of your highest qualifications.
2. Submit a curriculum vitae, which must reflect all your qualifications and the latest grades received.
3. The Admissions Committee may, however, require you to provide certified copies relating to all courses/programmes attended at any other institution, prior to approving admission to the learning programme involved.
4. All documents must be submitted to the Registrar (Academic).

Note: When undergraduate courses are still in progress at the time of application, or graduate programmes have not been completed, and are not reported on the certified copies, applicants must provide a ‘statement of registration’ to the Registrar (Academic).

The Advanced Diploma in Project Management (AdvDipPM) comprises THREE modules: M1, M2 and ONE elective. Module M1 is undertaken FIRST followed by Module M2, PLUS ONE elective from Modules M3 and M4 in any order.

Class dates:
Module M1: “Project Management: Leading, Creating, Implementing and Improving”
Module M2: “Programme-managing Organisational Performance and Innovative Improvement”
Module M3: “Supply Chain Quality and Performance Management”
Module M4: “Transformational Corporate Strategy”

NOTE that there are 5 online lecture dates per module per quarter from 09h00 to 12h00.

Do not hesitate to contact the administration should you require clarification on any of the above.