Honours in Training Evaluation

BUS4100W – Coursework

BUS4002H – Research Project

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in this course.  It is the only programme of its kind in South Africa and focuses on how we use training to address the skills shortage in the country.   However, to eradicate the skills shortage, training needs to be effective, otherwise we are wasting our resources.   In this programme the main focus is on training that works and delivers the skills, knowledge, attitudes and values we need in our organisations.

Who should enrol for this programme?

This programme is aimed at students who want to pursue a career in human resource development.  In other words, if you are interested in learning, training and development, it is for you. It is also aimed at people who are currently working in training, as this programme will enable them to make their training initiatives more effective.  

Here are three of our former students and the jobs they are doing:

Andrea Kidd is an HR Consultant for HR Outsource.  She said this about the TRE programme:  “the course has given me an analytical view on HR issues. I use the needs analysis techniques learnt, as an effective method for addressing the specific needs of my clients and I frequently apply the programme development skills learnt, to customise training and development programmes for different organisations”.

Pinkie Douglas is a Learning and Development Practitioner for Standard Bank, Botswana.    She explained that the TRE course helped her tremendously: “I use the skills learnt in our stats module in my budgetary day to day tasks. My job requires me to be a needs analysis guru and the TE module covering this area of expertise was crucial for these tasks. Lastly, the course allowed me to present various materials to the class, which built my confidence as a facilitator”.

Abigail Neethling is the HR Manager of the Customer Equity Company.   She presents the company’s induction programme and has been able to use her evaluation skills to improve the programme.  She also uses her needs analysis skills to identify performance gaps which can be addressed by means of training interventions.

What are the admission requirements?

In order to qualify for selection into the programme, you should have a bachelor’s degree and knowledge of social research methods/statistics. Academic performance and the University’s employment equity policy are also taken into account when we do student selection.

Can I do this if I work full time?

Classes are scheduled from 10h00-12h00 and from 14h00-16h00 on a Monday only, to enable people who work full time to do this programme.   All learning activities, like lecturer consultation, research project work, etc. are scheduled on a Monday.   This means that you only spend one day per week, over a period of approximately 28 weeks, on campus.

How long is this programme?

The Honours programme is a one-year, full time programme. The course starts in February and ends in November.

What does the programme consist of?

The central theme of the programme is effective training; in other words, how to judge the merit of training. In this programme you will learn how to apply specific methods, principles and models to find out if a training programme works and how it works.

The programme consists of two parts: a coursework section and a research project. The following modules make up the coursework component (click here for more details):

• Introduction to programme evaluation
• Research design for training evaluation
• Training needs analysis
• Programme design
• Evaluation models for training
• Statistics for training evaluation

For the research project, students work in teams and evaluate any one aspect of a real-life, workplace training programme.

How do I apply?

Students applying for the Honours programme should complete the Section’s Application Form and submit it by 25 November in the year preceding that for which the application is made.  No late or incomplete applications will be entertained.

Students are also required to submit the official University application form (please click here) to the Admissions Office.

You will be informed whether you have been selected into the programme by the first week in December of the year preceding your study year.   Attending the full orientation programme in February of your study year is a precondition for your registration as a student.

Cost and financial assistance

Please go to the University website and check the cost of the programme under the relevant course codes (BUS4100W and BUS4002H).   For planning purposes, in 2009 the cost of the full programme was approximately R24,000 (please note, this will change in 2010 and is just an approximate cost for planning).

Limited financial support is available in the form of scholarships, bursaries and student loans. Please contact the Postgraduate Funding Office for more information (pgfunding@uct.ac.za).  Please note that some scholarships require application by June of the year preceding your study year.   You are advised to apply in June even if you do not know by then whether you have been selected into the programme. International students should note that funding is limited and are advised to apply for sponsorship in their own countries.

Student housing

Should you want to know about student housing at Cape Town University, please contact res@uct.ac.za.  

Who should I contact if I wish to ask or discuss anything else?

Please contact Ms C Duffy at Carren.Duffy@uct.ac.za or 021-6503428.