Universities and Online Degrees Guide

The Independent Institute of Education

Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Governance

The Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Governance in Business and Management is offered by The Independent Institute of Education.

Program Length: 1 YEAR.

Subjects: 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Governance offered by the Independent Institute of Education at the Faculty of Commerce

The IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Governance (PGDip (Corporate Governance)) is designed to enable understanding, implementation and interpretation of the critical role of corporate governance in business sustainability and economic growth. This is especially relevant because the relationships between corporations, their stakeholders and the societies in which they function are complex and ever changing. This is the case across the public and private sectors. There is a strong focus on internal corporate governance and internal corporate governance mechanisms, as these mechanisms are used by shareholders to mitigate the conflict between managers and shareholders such that firm value is maximized.

This programme is academically rigorous and enables students to gain the appropriate knowledge and analytical skills than can be applied in a variety of organisational settings, including the corporate, governmental and non-profit sectors. The programme enables those seeking either entry or profession in their career to extend their skills and knowledge base to better comprehend, critically evaluate and interpret the workings of doing business in Africa and internationally.

Career Opportunities

The programme is an enhancement to any field in business and any role in organizational leadership, particularly at senior management and board director level. Specific prospects in Corporate Governance as a field include:

• Corporate Governance Manager
• Legal and Compliance Manager
• Corporate Governance Consultant
• Company Secretary
• Risk Advisor
• Internal Control

Programme Outline

The Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Governance focuses on both policy and strategic challenges, for senior managers working with boards or dealing with governance issues and directors within private and government entities. This programme will equip learners and enhance their skills in practicing corporate governance in their own place of work.

The programme structure consists of 8 modules, with a number of 15 credits per module and the qualification is at an NQF level 8.

Module 1: Ethics and Business Ethics

The philosophy and multiple levels of ethics and business ethics, ethical decision-making and resolving ethical dilemmas are covered. The module also covers value systems in the modern corporation and its moral obligations; the social contract; the inclusive stakeholder approach and corporate power; the development of a code of ethics and ethical leadership.

Module 2: Corporate Governance 

This module covers corporate and business performance; the business environment; corporate control; business survival and success; sustainability, growing concern, business opportunities and entrepreneurship; corporate citizenship; establishing a corporate governance framework and principles; shareholder engagement and activism.

Module 3: The legislative environment to corporate governance 

The module explores legislation, regulations and governance codes and will also deal with corporate misconduct and malpractice. The South African legislative environment (The King Codes, the JSE listing requirements, the Companies Act, the PFMA, the MFMA and a few more relevant acts), and some international legislative environments such as the Sarbanes-Oxley act of the USA and the Combined Code of the UK are looked at. Corporate Governance in the contexts of the public sector, non-profit sector and SMEs are addressed in this module. Practical matters such as the memorandum of incorporation and shareholder agreements are also be dealt with.

Module 4: Board matters 

This module focuses on the power of the board, composition of the board, non-executive directors, board meetings, shareholder meetings, conduct of the board, conduct of directors and board committees.

Module 5: Leadership, directors and officers 

This module focuses on corporate citizenship and leadership, board performance, director’s performance and remuneration, the board chairman, the CEO and the company secretary.

Module 6: The combined assurance model 

This module focuses on all aspects of the combined assurance model, including internal audit and external audit. The audit committee will be dealt with in more depth, including the legislative environment for auditors in South Africa.

Module 7: Strategy, stakeholders and risk 

This module focuses on the integration of the business model, the business strategic objectives and strategies, risks and opportunities, risk management, internal control, governance and remuneration, performance, future outlook and stakeholder engagement. Business rescue also forms part of this module.

Module 8: Financial, sustainability and integrated reporting 

This module focuses on the disclosure and transparency, annual financial statements, financial standards, the triple bottom line, the GRI, sustainability reporting, CSR governance, sustainable development governance, integrated reporting, sustainability assurance and integrated assurance.