The Postgraduate Diploma in Blended and Online Learning Design (PGBOLD) addresses the growing demand for flexible, accessible, and impactful education in Africa. As higher education evolves, skilled professionals are needed to drive online and blended learning initiatives that meet the diverse needs of students and institutions. 

PGBOLD is designed to support professionals in the fields of educational technologies, instructional and learning design to understand the foundations and develop critical skills, knowledge and orientations in blended and online learning design. Through PGBOLD, participants will strengthen their understanding of the current practices, issues and trends in the field globally and locally, to create and manage flexible, innovative, and contextually relevant learning designs and experiences for a diverse range of learning contexts.

PGBOLD participants include academic professionals and educators, instructional and learning designers, educational technologists and training professionals. Graduates of the PGBOLD will be well-equipped to: 

• Facilitate and lead blended and online learning design projects. 

• Support educational institutions and systems in their digital transformation. 

• Enhance learning experiences in corporate, NGO, or higher education contexts. 

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME 

Each cluster consists of a selection of courses that participants can choose from (see course schedule for courses offered in a specific year). Participants must choose three courses per cluster (30 credits in total). Courses can be taken in any order. However, cluster 4 courses need to be taken last and in order.

PGBOLD consists of the following four clusters:

1. Learning Design: Practices, Process or Emerging field? 
2. Learning Design for Social Justice 
3. Designing Digital Habitats 
4. Critical and Caring Reflective Perspectives on Learning Design 

Currently clusters comprise the following courses (courses might be added at future times):

Cluster 1: Learning Design: Practices, Process or Emerging Field? 

• EDN4601V Introduction to Learning Design* (10 credits) 
• EDN4603V Learning Design Models* (10 credits) 
• EDN4XXXV Learning Design in Practice (10 credits) 
• EDN4602V Design Thinking for Learning Designers (10 credits) 
• EDN4613V Project Management in Learning Design (10 credits) 

Cluster 2: Learning Design for Social Justice 

• EDN4604V Introduction to Designing for Social Justice* (10 credits) 
• EDN4606V Becoming a Learning Design Professional (RPL course)* (10 credits) 
• EDN4605V Co-creation in Learning Design (10 credits) 
• EDN4607V Learning Analytics for Learning Designers (10 credits) 

Cluster 3:  Designing for Digital Habitats 

• EDN4608V Platforms and Tools (10 credits) 
• EDN4609V Designing for Assessment (10 credits) 
• EDN4610V Producing Blended & Online Content (10 credits) 
• EDN4611V Facilitating Online (10 credits) 
• EDN4XXXV Designing with AI (10 credits) 

Cluster 4: Critical and Caring Reflective Perspectives on Learning Design  

• EDN4612V Learning Design Intervention: Design and Development* (10 credits) 
• EDN4613V Learning Design Intervention: Evaluation* (10 credits) 
• EDN4615V Learning Design Intervention: Showcasing Critical Reflexivity* (10 credits) 

NB: * indicates compulsory courses that must be taken. 

COURSE SCHEDULE 

Not all electives in a cluster might be offered every year. Two clusters and additional courses will run annually.  

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 

For more information on the courses visit the BOLD short course website.

ASSESSMENT IN BOLD 

Assessment consists of both group and individual tasks. There are no final examinations, and student grades are calculated based on course work and a final assessment.  Courses may offer a choice between scholarly and practitioner-oriented assignments. To successfully complete the PGDIP, a minimum of six scholarly assignments must be completed. To move into the MED in Education Technology students need a min of 70% GPA and no individual course mark under 65%.

TRANSFER OF CREDITS / SHORT COURSE ROUTE 

If a participant is interested in registering for a PGDIP, they should note the following: 

• Participants can take up to three BOLD short courses as stand-alone short courses before formally applying for the PGBOLD and will be awarded the credits via Recognition for Prior Learning via (RPL) Advanced Standing after being accepted into the programme as permitted by paragraph 2.6 of UCT’s Senate Policy on Continuing Education.  

• In order to apply for RPL, participants must meet the criteria for a PASS short course certificate and complete the course with a GPA of 70% or more. Completed BOLD short courses will need to be transferred into the PGDIP within two years of completing the short course. For more information view the UCT Continuing Education policy. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 

In line with the HEQSF and UCT’s Faculty of Humanities requirements, the admission requirement is a three or four-year bachelor's degree (Minimum NQF 7) obtained from a recognised university. The discipline of the prior degree should be cognate (Education, Information Technology, Information Systems, Design etc). A minimum of six months of relevant work experience is required.  

APPLICATION PROCEDURE  

To make a formal application you need to complete the Faculty of Humanities application for postgraduate admission on or before the 31 October. Please follow the links below and complete the forms with the greatest care to detail. 
  
Please find online application information and links below: 

Apply Online  

Once you have applied, you will be sent a form to solicit additional information to support the selection process.  You should hear from the Faculty within 6-8 weeks of your application. Please track your application on PeopleSoft.  For any queries with your online application, please contact the Admissions Office on (021) 650 2128 or Admissions-pg@uct.ac.za one of the staff members will be able to talk you through the process. 

REGISTRATION 

Registration takes place online in the last week of January. Please get in touch with the programme convenor to discuss course selection (pgbold@uct.ac.za) . Course descriptions and dates can be found here: https://cilt.uct.ac.za/blended-and-online-learning-design-short-courses  

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 

Participants who do not meet the requirements for entry into the PGBOLD will have to apply as early as possible but by the 31st of August at the latest, following the usual online application process (for more information on the RPL process visit UCT’s Faculty of Humanities RPL site).  

After application, they will be invited to complete the course ‘Becoming a Learning Design Professional’, which provides a pathway into the programme through a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route. As part of this course, participants will develop a personal and professional development plan, which can serve as evidence of experience and learning in the RPL application process.  In the event of successful entry into the PGBOLD programme, the course will be awarded the credits via Recognition for Prior Learning via (RPL) Advanced Standing. In the event of an unsuccessful application for the PGBOLD, the applicant may still be eligible to receive a short course certificate. 

CONTACT  

For more information, please email pgbold@uct.ac.za