Description
Choosing Public Relations focuses on the qualification skills to equip the student to establish and maintain beneficial relationships between organisations and business. It is essentially relationship management on which an organisation depends for its survival. This qualification also focuses on business management in the public and private sectors.
Public Relations also considers non-market groups such as
- regulators,
- politicians,
- activists,
- investors,
- trades unions and
- employees
There is an enormous shortage of experienced graduates in the public relations discipline, and it is imperative that these positions be filled with competent practitioners.
The management and other non-financial components of this qualification provide a well-rounded platform for success in management positions in all sectors of the market.
Enrolment
Enrolment is the process that follows registration. Registration performs an eligibility evaluation and collects all the required details and essential documents of proof. Once a candidate has been successfully vetted, payment takes place followed by enrolment on the Online Learning Management System.
Enrolment creates an online profile for the student that is emailed to inform. Access to the programme is immediate and the student can commence studies. However, a Student Welcome Call is made by a Student Success Coordinator who explains the environment, the allocation of an Online Academic Tutor, and the issue of a Student Planner to schedule learning, assignments, and examinations.
Accreditation and Schedule
This is a part-time diploma. It is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and SAQA. It must be completed between a minimum of three (3) years up to six (6) years.
Career Options
This elective stream, i.e. Public Relations ads the focus area, through this elective, shows how to establish and maintain beneficial relationships between organisations and business and also consider non-market groups such as regulators, politicians, activists, investors, trades unions and employees.
With a Diploma in Management, Students can pursue a career as a:
- Financial Manager
- Financial Executive
- Senior Accountant
- Financial Investment Advisor
- Actuarial Analyst
- Business Advisor
- Human Resources Practitioner
- Marketing Manager
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Owner
- Public Relations Manager (Private and Public Sector)
- Media Consultant
Certification
Upon successful completion of your programme, you will receive a certificate depicting Diploma in Management. An academic transcript accompanies. These documents are issued at the annual graduation ceremony. These are also couriered to the student’s provided address.
Learner Material
The Diploma in Management is an online programme.
The pedagogy has been adapted for eLearning and utilises modern engagement practices to encourage retention and understanding through gamified quizzes, content presentation, and assessments.
Materials, due to the online delivery of the programme, are digitally available from the Learning Centre. Physical copies can be downloaded and printed by the Student.
Any prescribed materials, such as textbooks, can be purchased by the Student from physical or electronic bookstores.
*Textbooks are not covered by the course fees, and must be purchased separately.
Assessment
Assignments
Assessments consist of one assignment (formative assessment) and a final examination (summative assessment) for each subject. Assignments must be passed, and any failed assignments attract a penalty fee to remark. Assignments are pre-requisites for the exam, that require registration. Assignments run within a prescribed time period.
- Assignments contribute 60% towards the final mark
Failure to submit compulsory assignments on time results in a penalty fee that applies for a late submission. Exams cannot be taken if assignments are not submitted.
A student who submitted assignments for a specific subject, and fails that subject, do not have to re-submit further assignments prior to writing the supplementary examination. The assignment mark is automatically carried over. However, if the assignment mark is low, and the student wishes to re-do the assignments, they may apply to Lyceum Online for the new assignments (at the prescribed fee) and may then re-submit the assignments on or before the new due date.
Exams
There are two examination opportunities within the contract period, in May and October.
- Examination contributes 40% towards the final mark.
Basis
All assessments (formative and summative) are set and moderated by Lyceum Online Academics with exit level assessments moderated by external academics as required by the Council of Higher Education (CHE).
To qualify to write an examination, a student must have completed the formative assessments. In the first year, it is a multiple-choice question assessment and a written assignment. These are released to the students in the Learning Centre under assessments at the appropriate time in the academic calendar. The student must use their MS-Office to write the assignment and submit it in PDF format in the Learning Centre. The Online Academic Tutor (OAT) marks it online and gives student constructive feedback and grades
Fees & Re-writes
No examination fees are applicable for the first time you write any subject within the contract period, therefore if any subject is written for the second time within the same contract period, examination fees apply.
Students can select to write any number of subjects during the first or second examination opportunity. Should the student fail in the first opportunity; the exam can be rewritten upon payment of the prescribed supplementary examination fee. Failure to pass at the second opportunity, the examination can be written during the first chance of the next cycle only, upon payment of the supplementary examination fee.
Failure to pass exhausts all opportunities. The student must re-register for the subject before a further examination may be attempted.
Progression
The Diploma in Management is an NQF Level 6 qualification that can be progressed onto a degree at NQF level 7.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements are as follows:
- A Grade 12 Certificate with admission to diploma studies
- An achievement rating of 3 (40% – 49%) in 4 recognised 20 credit-bearing subjects
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
- English at grade 12/ NQF level 4 or equivalent
- Age Exemption (23 years or older)
- At least five years of post-Secondary School experience in the field in which the student wishes to study students can apply for RPL access.
- Proof of English language proficiency
- National Senior Certificate or equivalent
- At least five years of post-Secondary School experience in the field in which the student wishes to study students can apply for RPL access.
- Mature age applicants, 45 years and older without a school leaving qualification, may apply for conditional exemption
- Foreign Students whose first language is not English, may be required to provide proof of proficiency in English prior to admission to the programme.