Explore your options in the creative economy

Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation

1 year, Full Time | NQF LEVEL: 8 | SAQA ID: 111396

Overview

The AFDA Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation provides students with a rigorous education in convergence of business and technological innovation, equipping students with the necessary skills to identify a business opportunity, apply innovation theory and launch a new business venture using new technology.

The intent of this qualification is to economically boost the creative economy, by hosting an innovation incubator that develops tangible businesses through a diverse cohort of students. As is standard for Postgraduate level of studies and will be in this qualification, there is a greater focus on research along with learning outcomes in innovation and entrepreneurship to follow an Undergraduate degree. Our understanding in developing a collaboration-driven Postgraduate Diploma which can be filled with students from Undergraduate degrees of various specialisations and electives, whether in business, entertainment or otherwise, is that diversity enhances innovation. Students will not necessarily learn the foundations of business as an Undergraduate BCom may teach, however should enter the program with a keen interest in business and entrepreneurship. Students will learn about generating new ideas, researching, innovating and look at applying their previous area of specialization (discipline) or an area of great interest to them into their role as part of a dynamic and diverse group of individuals. This group will collaborate to develop a business model that harnesses their collaborative disciplines.

The campus facilities will offer these business groups a dynamic office space/ innovation lab cultivating a prime environment for start-ups and entrepreneurial development. This includes access to equipment and new technologies such as VR and AR to leverage business opportunities utilising these or other technological mediums.

TERM BREAKDOWN:

Term 1: Teams are created and a business model concept is researched and presented.

Term 2: Team members propose their individual discipline contributions (roles) within the chosen business model, and the business is piloted to run into Term 3.

Term 3: Teams run their business venture. The business model and individual discipline contributions are reviewed and adapted based on presentation and market feedback.

Term 4: Teams continue to run and revise their business venture. The revised business model is presented to a panel of potential investors to develop and grow the business, and team members go through reflection of the process of developing a business venture.

 CAREERS:

Job security is a natural and valid question to ask following Postgraduate studies in today’s economy. The Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation is developed in such a way that students can graduate with a tangible business to run. And so instead of having to find a job, the business would not only generate work for you but can create more jobs in the creative economy for many more as the business grows.

QUESTIONS & CONSULTATIONS:

We would like to invite you to meet with the Heads of School for Business Innovation and

Technology who have not only come from rich education and business backgrounds but have

participated and had influence in the development of the programme and curriculum themselves

respectively. They also have a core role in running the programmes on each of our Johannesburg

and Cape Town campuses. Please contact the Marketing and Recruitment Department to request

a consultation booking:

Cape Town: Stephen Drake

Johannesburg: Busisiwe Hlatswayo

 

A RELEVANT UNDERGRADUATE QUALIFICATION (NQF LEVEL 7) FROM AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION:
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Advanced Diploma

 

ALL AFDA GRADUATES (of the Undergraduate BA & BCom degrees) QUALIFY TO ENTER THE POSTGRAD DIPLOMA IN INNOVATION.

Ideation Studies: Not only will students be taught the rich diversities of theories surrounding business innovation, they will also learn how these contribute to the development of business models that make use of exponential technologies. During this learning process, students will develop the concepts necessary to develop their own innovative business models that can exploit the analogue-to-digital value gap through technological innovation opportunities. They will also be provided with knowledge of the context of business practices in the creative industries, and the role of the creative industries within society at large, with the intent to inform the potential business opportunities they wish to explore.

Discipline Studies: Concepts explored in Ideation Studies will be realized through students’ Discipline Studies where students apply their discipline skills of choice in syndicate groups around a proposed business venture. They research the required discipline skills to enable the innovative business model in the most cost effective and productive manner.

Contextual Studies: Driven by the need for critical thinking, collaboration and investing in the world, as well as by the importance of developing rewarding careers and a sense of personal fulfilment, students will lead their own learning in these key 21st century skills required to develop their innovative businesses in productive teams.

Business Model Studies: Here, students are given the opportunity to systematically apply the concepts and theories explored in Ideation Studies, the goals they have set for themselves in Contextual Studies, as well as their chosen discipline, in order to realize a new entrepreneurial venture. They will develop the idea of their business concept, research and test it, activate their business model for market feedback, and then reflect on this feedback, adapting their model in order to prepare for its launch into the real world. This project-led approach to learning allows students to develop a meaningful and productive relationship with the acquisition of new knowledge. Their project is assessed through the student’s performance in Ideation Studies and their navigation of contextual issues during the business development process.

Reflection Studies: The project process culminates in Reflection Studies, guiding students to critically reflect on their experiential project-led learning as the means to evolve their business. Here, students are encouraged to link their theoretical learning and the application of their discipline to the creation of their business, mapping their growth, and deciding how what they have learned will inform their career development, their investment in the world, and their own personal fulfilment.

Study this course at these campuses

Johannesburg Cape Town

Course type

Postgraduate Degrees

Duration

1 year, Full time

2020 FEES request information apply now

THE GOAL

  • To graduate with an accredited and registered qualification

  • To be part of an internationally recognized education institution

  • To be empowered with competitive, professional and innovative skills

  • To become part of a network of highly talented artists, entrepreneurs & practitioners

  • To contribute to nation-building by growing the creative economy

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REGISTRATION & ACCREDITATION

AFDA is registered as the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance, and is a private higher education institution which offers higher certificate and degree programmes. It is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a private higher education institution under the the Higher Education Act, 1997. Registration certificate no. 2001/HE07/012. Our programmes are accredited and we participate productively in the ongoing reaccreditation and quality assurance processes of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) to ensure the quality of our programmes.
Disclaimer: AFDA reserves the rights to make changes or withdraw information or course offers without prior notice. Where possible, AFDA will endeavour to notify all persons and/or organisations affected as a result.