Bachelor of Arts in Community Development
Study participatory development through social theory and practical enquiry.
About the course
Study participatory development through social theory and practical enquiry. You will examine local priorities, institutions and power relations while designing accountable responses with communities.
What you'll learn
Analyse a community issue using social and development concepts.
Plan participation which includes less-heard groups.
Interpret needs evidence without assuming community agreement.
Design a feasible development initiative.
Evaluate results and reflect on your role in community work.
Requirements
Prepare with academic English, quantitative reasoning and digital study skills. Prior qualifications and any recognition of prior learning must be assessed against BMIT admission rules before enrolment.
Course content
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
3 learning stages 30 subjects
1Stage 1: Foundations10 subjects
2Stage 2: Core subjects10 subjects
- Community Development Practice
- Foundations of Social Work and Helping Practice
- Social Policy and Welfare Services
- Casework and Service Coordination
- Group Work and Community Facilitation
- Poverty, Inequality and Livelihoods
- Gender, Diversity and Social Inclusion
- Local Economic Development
- Public Participation and Administrative Communication
- Public Organisation and Management
3Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application10 subjects
- Public Policy Analysis
- Policy Implementation and Service Delivery
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Programme Impact and Evaluation Methods
- Project Management Foundations
- Public Finance and Fiscal Policy
- Regional Integration and SADC Governance
- Leadership and Organisational Change
- Workplace Learning and Professional Portfolio
- Integrated Business Research Project
Subjects in this programme
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
30 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundations
- Academic Literacy and Study Practice. Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
- Digital Business Skills. Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.
- Business Communication. Prepare purposeful communication for colleagues, customers and decision makers. You will organise evidence, adjust tone for different audiences and check whether a message leads to the intended action. Examples include multilingual workplaces, professional correspondence and short management reports.
- Foundations of Public Administration. Examine how public institutions organise accountable services. You will examine public purpose, administrative systems, institutions. Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.
- Political Studies. Compare political institutions, ideas and participation. You will examine political authority, ideologies, political institutions. Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.
- Microeconomics. Study how households and firms make choices under scarcity. You will examine prices, incentives and market structures, then use diagrams and calculations to explain changes in behaviour. Examples include food markets, informal enterprises and access to essential services.
- Macroeconomics. Examine output, employment, inflation and external trade at economy level. You will connect household and business conditions to fiscal, monetary and exchange-rate decisions. Work with published indicators while distinguishing nominal values, real changes and differences between national contexts.
- Public Ethics and Accountability. Evaluate conduct through public duties and transparent reasoning. You will examine public interest, conflicts of interest, transparency. Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.
- Business Statistics. Summarise data and judge the strength of numerical evidence. You will distinguish a population from a sample, choose appropriate summaries and interpret uncertainty. Business examples cover demand, customer service, workforce information and variation in operating performance.
- Research Methods and Evidence Analysis. Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.
Stage 2: Core subjects
- Community Development Practice. Work with communities to plan collective action. You will examine community entry, participation, needs and assets. Develop a participatory action plan using a realistic case.
- Foundations of Social Work and Helping Practice. Examine helping roles, boundaries and service coordination. You will examine helping relationships, social context, ethical practice. Prepare a non-clinical support and referral plan.
- Social Policy and Welfare Services. Evaluate welfare through need, rights and access. You will examine social protection, poverty, household needs. Compare responses to a defined community welfare need.
- Casework and Service Coordination. Organise support around documented needs and agreed actions. You will examine case intake, consent, needs analysis. Produce an anonymised case plan and review record.
- Group Work and Community Facilitation. Facilitate participation towards a shared community purpose. You will examine group purpose, participation, group dynamics. Facilitate a supervised community-group session.
- Poverty, Inequality and Livelihoods. Analyse disadvantage through household and institutional evidence. You will examine poverty measures, inequality, livelihood strategies. Prepare a livelihood analysis and justified support proposal.
- Gender, Diversity and Social Inclusion. Examine unequal participation in institutions and communities. You will examine gender relations, intersectionality, discrimination. Review a programme for barriers to equitable participation.
- Local Economic Development. Develop local economic responses from livelihood and enterprise evidence. You will examine local economy, livelihoods, enterprise support. Prepare a local development proposal with measurable outcomes.
- Public Participation and Administrative Communication. Design accessible participation with accountable follow-up. You will examine stakeholders, consultation methods, accessible communication. Prepare a consultation plan and response-to-submissions report.
- Public Organisation and Management. Analyse coordination in public organisations. You will examine structures, delegation, coordination. Evaluate an organisation and propose a specific administrative improvement.
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
- Public Policy Analysis. Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
- Policy Implementation and Service Delivery. Connect policy intentions with delivery responsibilities. You will examine implementation models, delivery systems, resources. Prepare an implementation plan and results framework.
- Monitoring and Evaluation. Build evidence systems for programme decisions. You will examine theory of change, indicators, baselines. Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.
- Programme Impact and Evaluation Methods. Assess the evidence supporting claims about programme change. You will examine causal questions, comparison strategies, mixed methods. Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.
- Project Management Foundations. Organise a defined piece of work with a clear objective, scope and responsibilities. You will distinguish projects from continuing operations and prepare basic plans for time, resources and communication. The module develops practical records for monitoring progress and recording agreed changes.
- Public Finance and Fiscal Policy. Study how governments raise and spend resources. You will examine taxation, public expenditure and borrowing, then assess the distributional and economic effects of fiscal choices. Cases connect policy objectives with budget constraints, service outcomes and the need for transparent public accountability.
- Regional Integration and SADC Governance. Evaluate regional cooperation through institutional evidence. You will examine regionalism, sadc institutions, trade integration. Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
- Leadership and Organisational Change. Compare approaches to leadership and examine how change affects people and work. You will practise diagnosing resistance, communicating a credible direction and distributing responsibility. Cases address leadership across hierarchy, culture and professional roles, with attention to power and ethical conduct.
- Workplace Learning and Professional Portfolio. Connect taught subjects with supervised or carefully designed simulated professional work. You will agree learning objectives, record tasks and evaluate your decisions against evidence. The portfolio makes your individual contribution visible and identifies areas requiring further practice or specialist supervision.
- Integrated Business Research Project. Investigate a defined business problem by combining knowledge from several management subjects. You will frame a useful question, gather appropriate evidence and compare feasible responses. The final report explains the recommendation, implementation implications and limitations of the enquiry rather than claiming certainty.
Assessment and practical learning
- Community-context and participation analyses.
- A project design with a consultation plan.
- A research-informed community portfolio and presentation.
Practical application
Complete a proposed community project design with an approved partner or a documented public case. Agree the scope with participants, record differing views and provide accessible feedback on findings.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Stage 1: Foundations
Academic Literacy and Study Practice
Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain reading strategies in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between argument structure and academic paragraphs.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing referencing, information checking and study planning.
Main topics
- Reading strategies
- Argument structure
- Academic paragraphs
- Referencing
- Information checking
- Study planning
Practical task
Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Digital Business Skills
Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.
Learning outcomes
- Build a checked spreadsheet
- Organise retrievable business documents
- Apply appropriate access permissions
Main topics
- File organisation
- Word processing
- Spreadsheet formulas
- Presentations
- Collaborative working
- Privacy and access
Practical task
Create a shared office information pack with formulas, document versions and access instructions.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Business Communication
Prepare purposeful communication for colleagues, customers and decision makers. You will organise evidence, adjust tone for different audiences and check whether a message leads to the intended action. Examples include multilingual workplaces, professional correspondence and short management reports.
Learning outcomes
- Write a concise business report
- Record decisions and assigned actions
- Present evidence for a defined audience
Main topics
- Audience and purpose
- Professional correspondence
- Report structure
- Meeting records
- Presentations
- Intercultural communication
Practical task
Produce a report, meeting record and five-minute briefing about a service problem.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Foundations of Public Administration
Examine how public institutions organise accountable services. You will examine public purpose, administrative systems, institutions. Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain public purpose in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between administrative systems and institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing public servants, service delivery and accountability.
Main topics
- Public purpose
- Administrative systems
- Institutions
- Public servants
- Service delivery
- Accountability
Practical task
Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Political Studies
Compare political institutions, ideas and participation. You will examine political authority, ideologies, political institutions. Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.
Learning outcomes
- Explain political authority in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between ideologies and political institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing representation, participation and power.
Main topics
- Political authority
- Ideologies
- Political institutions
- Representation
- Participation
- Power
Practical task
Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Microeconomics
Study how households and firms make choices under scarcity. You will examine prices, incentives and market structures, then use diagrams and calculations to explain changes in behaviour. Examples include food markets, informal enterprises and access to essential services.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse a market change
- Calculate and interpret elasticity
- Compare competitive and concentrated markets
Main topics
- Scarcity and choice
- Demand and supply
- Elasticity
- Consumer choice
- Production and costs
- Market structures
Practical task
Explain a local price change using data, diagrams and alternative explanations.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Macroeconomics
Examine output, employment, inflation and external trade at economy level. You will connect household and business conditions to fiscal, monetary and exchange-rate decisions. Work with published indicators while distinguishing nominal values, real changes and differences between national contexts.
Learning outcomes
- Interpret a macroeconomic indicator
- Explain a policy transmission process
- Distinguish nominal and real changes
Main topics
- National accounts
- Growth and employment
- Inflation
- Fiscal policy
- Money and banking
- External balance
Practical task
Prepare an economic conditions briefing comparing two Southern African economies.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Public Ethics and Accountability
Evaluate conduct through public duties and transparent reasoning. You will examine public interest, conflicts of interest, transparency. Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.
Learning outcomes
- Explain public interest in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between conflicts of interest and transparency.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing integrity controls, complaints and accountability.
Main topics
- Public interest
- Conflicts of interest
- Transparency
- Integrity controls
- Complaints
- Accountability
Practical task
Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Business Statistics
Summarise data and judge the strength of numerical evidence. You will distinguish a population from a sample, choose appropriate summaries and interpret uncertainty. Business examples cover demand, customer service, workforce information and variation in operating performance.
Learning outcomes
- Select an appropriate data summary
- Interpret a confidence interval
- Explain limits of a correlation
Main topics
- Sampling
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability distributions
- Confidence intervals
- Hypothesis testing
- Correlation and regression
Practical task
Analyse an anonymised service dataset and write a short evidence report.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Research Methods and Evidence Analysis
Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.
Learning outcomes
- Formulate a research question
- Select a defensible research design
- Prepare an ethical data collection plan
Main topics
- Research questions
- Literature review
- Design choices
- Sampling
- Ethics
- Data analysis
Practical task
Submit a research proposal, instruments and a worked analysis of a pilot dataset.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Stage 2: Core subjects
Community Development Practice
Work with communities to plan collective action. You will examine community entry, participation, needs and assets. Develop a participatory action plan using a realistic case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain community entry in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between participation and needs and assets.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing local organisations, action planning and reflection.
Main topics
- Community entry
- Participation
- Needs and assets
- Local organisations
- Action planning
- Reflection
Practical task
Develop a participatory action plan using a realistic case.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Foundations of Social Work and Helping Practice
Examine helping roles, boundaries and service coordination. You will examine helping relationships, social context, ethical practice. Prepare a non-clinical support and referral plan.
Learning outcomes
- Explain helping relationships in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between social context and ethical practice.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing needs assessment, referral and documentation.
Main topics
- Helping relationships
- Social context
- Ethical practice
- Needs assessment
- Referral
- Documentation
Practical task
Prepare a non-clinical support and referral plan.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Social Policy and Welfare Services
Evaluate welfare through need, rights and access. You will examine social protection, poverty, household needs. Compare responses to a defined community welfare need.
Learning outcomes
- Explain social protection in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between poverty and household needs.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing service access, policy instruments and evaluation.
Main topics
- Social protection
- Poverty
- Household needs
- Service access
- Policy instruments
- Evaluation
Practical task
Compare responses to a defined community welfare need.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Casework and Service Coordination
Organise support around documented needs and agreed actions. You will examine case intake, consent, needs analysis. Produce an anonymised case plan and review record.
Learning outcomes
- Explain case intake in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between consent and needs analysis.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing service planning, coordination and review.
Main topics
- Case intake
- Consent
- Needs analysis
- Service planning
- Coordination
- Review
Practical task
Produce an anonymised case plan and review record.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Group Work and Community Facilitation
Facilitate participation towards a shared community purpose. You will examine group purpose, participation, group dynamics. Facilitate a supervised community-group session.
Learning outcomes
- Explain group purpose in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between participation and group dynamics.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing facilitation, conflict and evaluation.
Main topics
- Group purpose
- Participation
- Group dynamics
- Facilitation
- Conflict
- Evaluation
Practical task
Facilitate a supervised community-group session.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Poverty, Inequality and Livelihoods
Analyse disadvantage through household and institutional evidence. You will examine poverty measures, inequality, livelihood strategies. Prepare a livelihood analysis and justified support proposal.
Learning outcomes
- Explain poverty measures in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between inequality and livelihood strategies.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing vulnerability, social exclusion and policy responses.
Main topics
- Poverty measures
- Inequality
- Livelihood strategies
- Vulnerability
- Social exclusion
- Policy responses
Practical task
Prepare a livelihood analysis and justified support proposal.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Gender, Diversity and Social Inclusion
Examine unequal participation in institutions and communities. You will examine gender relations, intersectionality, discrimination. Review a programme for barriers to equitable participation.
Learning outcomes
- Explain gender relations in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between intersectionality and discrimination.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing representation, inclusive practice and evidence.
Main topics
- Gender relations
- Intersectionality
- Discrimination
- Representation
- Inclusive practice
- Evidence
Practical task
Review a programme for barriers to equitable participation.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Local Economic Development
Develop local economic responses from livelihood and enterprise evidence. You will examine local economy, livelihoods, enterprise support. Prepare a local development proposal with measurable outcomes.
Learning outcomes
- Explain local economy in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between livelihoods and enterprise support.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing infrastructure, partnerships and results.
Main topics
- Local economy
- Livelihoods
- Enterprise support
- Infrastructure
- Partnerships
- Results
Practical task
Prepare a local development proposal with measurable outcomes.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public Participation and Administrative Communication
Design accessible participation with accountable follow-up. You will examine stakeholders, consultation methods, accessible communication. Prepare a consultation plan and response-to-submissions report.
Learning outcomes
- Explain stakeholders in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between consultation methods and accessible communication.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing meeting practice, feedback and decision records.
Main topics
- Stakeholders
- Consultation methods
- Accessible communication
- Meeting practice
- Feedback
- Decision records
Practical task
Prepare a consultation plan and response-to-submissions report.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public Organisation and Management
Analyse coordination in public organisations. You will examine structures, delegation, coordination. Evaluate an organisation and propose a specific administrative improvement.
Learning outcomes
- Explain structures in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between delegation and coordination.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing organisational culture, performance and administrative reform.
Main topics
- Structures
- Delegation
- Coordination
- Organisational culture
- Performance
- Administrative reform
Practical task
Evaluate an organisation and propose a specific administrative improvement.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Public Policy Analysis
Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem framing in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between policy actors and options.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing policy instruments, implementation and evaluation.
Main topics
- Problem framing
- Policy actors
- Options
- Policy instruments
- Implementation
- Evaluation
Practical task
Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Policy Implementation and Service Delivery
Connect policy intentions with delivery responsibilities. You will examine implementation models, delivery systems, resources. Prepare an implementation plan and results framework.
Learning outcomes
- Explain implementation models in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between delivery systems and resources.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing frontline practice, coordination and performance evidence.
Main topics
- Implementation models
- Delivery systems
- Resources
- Frontline practice
- Coordination
- Performance evidence
Practical task
Prepare an implementation plan and results framework.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Build evidence systems for programme decisions. You will examine theory of change, indicators, baselines. Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain theory of change in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between indicators and baselines.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing data collection, analysis and use of findings.
Main topics
- Theory of change
- Indicators
- Baselines
- Data collection
- Analysis
- Use of findings
Practical task
Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Programme Impact and Evaluation Methods
Assess the evidence supporting claims about programme change. You will examine causal questions, comparison strategies, mixed methods. Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.
Learning outcomes
- Explain causal questions in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between comparison strategies and mixed methods.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing contribution, bias and interpretation.
Main topics
- Causal questions
- Comparison strategies
- Mixed methods
- Contribution
- Bias
- Interpretation
Practical task
Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Project Management Foundations
Organise a defined piece of work with a clear objective, scope and responsibilities. You will distinguish projects from continuing operations and prepare basic plans for time, resources and communication. The module develops practical records for monitoring progress and recording agreed changes.
Learning outcomes
- Define a project scope
- Build a work breakdown structure
- Report project progress
Main topics
- Project purpose
- Life cycle
- Scope
- Work breakdown
- Responsibilities
- Progress reporting
Practical task
Prepare a project charter, work breakdown and progress report for a small initiative.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Public Finance and Fiscal Policy
Study how governments raise and spend resources. You will examine taxation, public expenditure and borrowing, then assess the distributional and economic effects of fiscal choices. Cases connect policy objectives with budget constraints, service outcomes and the need for transparent public accountability.
Learning outcomes
- Explain a fiscal policy choice
- Assess distributional effects
- Interpret a public budget
Main topics
- Public goods
- Tax design
- Expenditure choices
- Fiscal incidence
- Public debt
- Budget policy
Practical task
Produce a budget policy note comparing two expenditure or revenue options.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Regional Integration and SADC Governance
Evaluate regional cooperation through institutional evidence. You will examine regionalism, sadc institutions, trade integration. Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
Learning outcomes
- Explain regionalism in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between sadc institutions and trade integration.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing mobility, shared resources and implementation.
Main topics
- Regionalism
- SADC institutions
- Trade integration
- Mobility
- Shared resources
- Implementation
Practical task
Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Leadership and Organisational Change
Compare approaches to leadership and examine how change affects people and work. You will practise diagnosing resistance, communicating a credible direction and distributing responsibility. Cases address leadership across hierarchy, culture and professional roles, with attention to power and ethical conduct.
Learning outcomes
- Compare leadership approaches
- Analyse resistance to change
- Design a participatory change plan
Main topics
- Leadership theories
- Power and influence
- Change diagnosis
- Communication
- Participation
- Change evaluation
Practical task
Develop and present a change proposal with stakeholder responses and review measures.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Workplace Learning and Professional Portfolio
Connect taught subjects with supervised or carefully designed simulated professional work. You will agree learning objectives, record tasks and evaluate your decisions against evidence. The portfolio makes your individual contribution visible and identifies areas requiring further practice or specialist supervision.
Learning outcomes
- Set assessable workplace objectives
- Document your contribution
- Evaluate professional learning needs
Main topics
- Learning agreement
- Professional conduct
- Work evidence
- Supervisor feedback
- Reflective analysis
- Improvement planning
Practical task
Compile a verified or simulated workplace portfolio with supervisor or facilitator feedback.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Integrated Business Research Project
Investigate a defined business problem by combining knowledge from several management subjects. You will frame a useful question, gather appropriate evidence and compare feasible responses. The final report explains the recommendation, implementation implications and limitations of the enquiry rather than claiming certainty.
Learning outcomes
- Frame a researchable business problem
- Analyse relevant evidence
- Defend a feasible recommendation
Main topics
- Problem definition
- Research ethics
- Evidence collection
- Analysis
- Recommendations
- Implementation evaluation
Practical task
Complete an individual business investigation and present the resulting improvement proposal.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Instructors
