INTRODUCTION

The Bachelor of Science in Monitoring and Evaluation (BME) degree programme is designed to meet the growing demand for qualified project monitors and evaluators in various organisations and programmes. It is intended for the following groups of people:

1. School leavers who want to pursue a monitoring and evaluation  course
2. Holders of qualifications such as Project management who wish to pursue a monitoring and evaluation training.
3. Holders of professional qualifications engaged in monitoring and evaluation of projects

The BME degree programme is a ZCAS Programme offered and administered by the ZCAS University. Therefore, students register at ZCAS and the teaching and examination of the Programme also take place at ZCAS.  In administering the Programme, ZCAS observes quality assurance standards including the appointment of qualified lecturers to teach the courses.

RATIONALE

As the Zambian economy continues growing, the demand for qualified project monitoring and Evaluation practitioners who have fundamental understanding of project concepts and practices and an appreciation of the role of monitoring and evaluation in society is also on the increase. ZCAS presents an opportunity to produce personnel who will help to raise the standard of monitoring and Evaluation practice in the country and the region.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of the programme, candidates should be able to:

• demonstrate a thorough grounding in the fundamental theories, concepts, principles and practices of monitoring and Evaluations;
• demonstrate the critical abilities of analysis, interpretation, evaluation and judgement as applied to Monitoring and Evaluations, project management;
• contribute to organisational strategy formulation, implementation and evaluation;
• conduct and analyse research relating to monitoring and evaluation activities and actions; and
• develop balanced, critical and constructive judgements of monitoring and evaluation theory and practice.

AIM

The aim of the BME programme is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the analytical and high-level monitoring and Evaluation skills required to deal effectively with rapid technological, organisational and environmental change in a modern business setting. The programme develops a conceptual, systematic and mature approach to the identification, analysis and solution of monitoring and evaluation problems in the private and public sector. The programme further equips students with the knowledge and critical understanding of the interrelationships between the different project activities within an organization.

Admission criteria

To qualify for admission to the BME degree programme an applicant must have any of the following:

1. five credits at ‘O’ Level including English and Mathematics;
2. any relevant three year relevant diploma from a reputable and recognised college or university;
3. three ‘A’ level passes including English;
4. any degree from a recognised institution.

Regulations governing the award of Bachelor of Science in Monitoring and Evaluation degree

Duration of study

The course of study for the award of the BME degree shall be completed in a period of:

• not less than four and not more than six academic years in the case of full time students;
• not less than five and not more than seven academic years in the case of evening students;
• not less than four and not more than seven academic years in the case of distance education students;
• not less than five and not more than seven academic years in the case of part time students;
• provided that for top-up degrees, the duration may be shorter, but not less than one year.

Student progression

A programme of study shall be taken in the sequence approved by the ZCAS University Senate.

Full time students

• A full-time student shall register for and take four courses in any semester of the academic year; provided that a student may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to take one additional course whether carried over from the previous academic year or additional in any one semester.
• A full time student who passes all the courses taken during the academic year of study shall be allowed to proceed to the next level of study.
• A full time student who fails in one course in any academic year may be permitted to proceed to the next level of study; provided that the student repeats the course at the first available opportunity.
• A full time student who fails some or all of the courses in the first semester of an academic year shall be allowed to proceed to the second semester courses; provided the student repeats the failed course at the first available opportunity.
• A full time student who fails some or all of the courses in the second semester of an academic year shall be required to repeat those courses before proceeding to the next level of study, provided that the student has passed the first semester courses.
• A full time student who fails all the courses in any academic year shall be excluded.
• A full time student who fails a course twice is subject to exclusion; provided that, subject to successful appeal, the student may be permitted to repeat the course for the third and final time.
• Exclusion is applicable in compliance with the preceding regulations in Year 1 and Year 2 only.

Evening students

• An evening student shall register for and take three or four courses each semester; provided that a student may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to take one additional course whether carried over from the previous academic year or additional in any one semester.
• An evening student who passes all the courses taken during the academic year of study shall be allowed to proceed to the next level courses.
• An evening student who fails in one course in any academic year may be permitted to proceed to the next level courses; provided that the student repeats the course at the first available opportunity.
• An evening student who fails some or all of the courses in the first semester of an academic year shall be allowed to proceed to the second semester courses; provided the student repeats the failed courses at the first available opportunity.
• An evening student who fails some or all of the courses in the second semester of an academic year shall be required to repeat those courses before proceeding to the next level of study, provided that the student has passed the first semester courses.
• An evening student who fails all the courses in any academic year shall be excluded.
• An evening student who fails a course twice is subject to exclusion; provided that, subject to successful appeal, the student may be permitted to repeat the course for the third and final time.
• Exclusion is applicable in compliance with the preceding regulations in Year 1 and Year 2 only.

Distance Education students

• A distance education student shall register for and take a minimum of three courses and a maximum of four courses each semester; provided that a student may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to take one additional course whether carried over from the previous academic year or additional in any one semester.
• A distance education student who passes all the courses taken during the academic year of study shall be allowed to proceed to the next level courses.
• A distance education student who fails in one course in any academic year may be permitted to proceed to next level courses; provided that the student repeats the course at the first available opportunity.
• A distance education student who fails some or all of the courses in the first semester of an academic year shall be allowed to proceed to the second semester courses; provided the student repeats the failed courses at the first available opportunity.
• A distance education student who fails some or all of the courses in the second semester of an academic year shall be required to repeat those courses before proceeding to the next level of study, provided that the student has passed the first semester courses.
• A distance education student who fails all the courses in any academic year shall be excluded.
• A distance education student who fails a course twice is subject to exclusion; provided that, subject to successful appeal, the student may be permitted to repeat the course for the third and final time.
• Exclusion is applicable in compliance with the preceding regulations in Year 1 and Year 2 only.

Part Time students

• A part time student shall register for and take not more than three courses in any semester of the academic year.
• A part time student who passes all the courses taken during the academic year of study shall be allowed to proceed to the next level courses.
• A part time student who fails in one course in any academic year may be permitted to proceed to the next level courses; provided that the student repeats the course at the first available opportunity.
• A part time student who fails some or all of the courses in the first semester of an academic year shall be allowed to proceed to the second semester courses; provided the student repeats the failed courses at the first available opportunity.
• A part time student who fails some or all of the courses in the second semester of an academic year shall be required to repeat those courses before proceeding to the next level of study, provided that the student has passed the first semester courses.
• A part time student who fails all the courses in any academic year shall be excluded.
• A part time student who fails a course twice is subject to exclusion; provided that, subject to successful appeal, the student may be permitted to repeat the course for the third and final time.
• Exclusion is applicable in compliance with the preceding regulations in Year 1 and Year 2 only.

Deferred Examinations

A student who is unable to attempt a scheduled assessment may be awarded a deferred assessment subject to a successful application based on extenuating circumstances. A deferred assessment shall be graded normally, i.e. the student shall be awarded the actual mark obtained in the assessment or a final grade of between D and A+ in the course.

Supplementary examinations

A student who has failed a course with a D+ grade may be awarded a supplementary examination in the failed course, provided that the student has passed the continuous assessment for that course.

Supplementary examinations may be awarded in up to two courses in any semester of an academic year. A supplementary examination is marked on a pass/fail basis.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

In all the courses listed, except BME442 Dissertation, the distribution of marks shall be as follows:

Continuous assessment                                                                            40%   

1 test                                                                                                         30%

1 assignment                                                                                          10%

Final examination                                                                                           60%

Total                                                                                                               100%

The test and final examination shall consist of one examination paper in each of the courses listed and shall normally be of three hours duration.

GRADING

To be eligible for the award of the BME degree, a student must have:

• Passed all the 32 Courses.
• Adhered to the requisite course combinations in each semester.

In the grading of final examination results, the following scale will apply:

CLASSIFICATION OF THE DEGREE

• In calculating the grade of the degree, the following points shall be applied to the grades obtained.
  2. A+  5 points
  3. A    0 points
  4. B+  5 points
  5. B    0 point
  6. C+  5 point
  7. C    0 point
• The grading of the BME is based on all grades obtained in the last two years (i.e. 16 courses). No points are awarded where a course has been repeated.
• The points for classification of the degree shall be as follows:

Distinction                                                      28 – 40 points

Merit                                                               20 – 27.5 points

Credit                                                              12 – 19.5 points

Pass                                                                 0 – 11.5 points

EXEMPTIONS

• A student who has, prior to admission to the BME, attended, at ZCAS or elsewhere, courses of instruction and passed examinations equivalent in standard to courses and examinations which form part of the programme of study may, subject to approval, be exempted from attendance of classes and examinations in those courses. Automatic exemptions will apply to candidates in possession of specific professional and academic qualifications as outlined below. For all other candidates, exemptions will be granted on a case by case basis.
• Holders of the full Diploma in Project management or Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation professional qualifications are entitled to automatic exemptions in the following courses:
  1. BME 211 Entrepreneurship & Development
  2. BME 231 Participatory project Design
  3. BME 212 ICT for Project Management
  4. BME 142 Principles of Project Management
• No exemptions are available in respect of third and fourth year courses regardless of the candidate’s qualifications.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Each year of study will be divided into two semesters and full-time students are expected to take four courses in each semester while evening and part-time students are expected to take three courses.  Except for BME442 Dissertation courses in the final year, the rest of the courses are structured in such a way that semester one courses are not a pre-requisite of semester two courses in each year.  The course structure is as shown in Tables 1 to 4 below.