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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Diploma in Agricultural Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
100739  Diploma in Agricultural Management 
ORIGINATOR
Cape Peninsula University of Technology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Diploma (Min 360)  Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Secondary Agriculture 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2033-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
78611  National Diploma: Agricultural Management  Level 6  NQF Level 06  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with required technical knowledge and managerial competencies for managing agricultural enterprises effectively as part of a production team. Learners can solve problems regarding financial planning, business management and human resource management within an agricultural context.

The primary focus of the revised HEQSF aligned qualification remains the management of an agricultural business. However, the important component of financial planning and management reflects clearly in the reformulated purpose statement. The relevant knowledge, skills and values should be clearly defined as technical knowledge and managerial competencies. The revised HEQSF specifically mentions the importance of both technical knowledge and practical competencies.

To keep the curriculum relevant in a constantly changing environment, it is the responsibility of individual subject lecturers to update the content and module notes of their subjects. To keep up with new developments and trends, the institution must send lecturers to attend industry information days and forums. Lecturers consult industry role players regarding the continuing relevance of the subject content and invite them as guest speakers/lecturers. They stay up-to-date by reading new scientific publications and popular articles.

Such new developments help to address one of the main needs that the learners identify, namely eminent employability. Although employability directly relates to a solid disciplinary knowledge base and the capability to apply this knowledge, employers particularly stressed the importance of good interpersonal relations required in an ideal employee. The agricultural management skills address the needs of the industry, and also reflect the rationale of the qualification.

Rationale:
Agriculture is one of the primary pillars of the economy of the Western Cape, generating almost 23 % of the total value added by the agriculture sector in South Africa. Although only 12 % of the total agriculture land is in this province, the Western Cape produces between 55 % and 60 % of South Africa's exports and 20 % of the country's total production of agriculture products. It is therefore clear that education and training in agriculture and related fields provides to a large and constant demand for skilled labour.

This qualification is considered to be generic since both Plant and Livestock Production systems form part of the module. The purpose statement emphasises the importance of a balance between theoretical knowledge and managerial competence in the module in the purpose statement of the qualification. The technical subjects in the module have both a theoretical and practical component to accentuate the close relationship between theory and the application thereof in industry. The WPBL component of the module (and project-based WIL subjects offered in the third year of study) serves excellently in facilitating the combination of theory and practice of all subject areas in the mind of the learner. It also serves in meeting the prescription of the HEQSF that learners should have gained experience in a workplace context. Where a certain subject serves as a prerequisite for subjects offered by other lecturers, good communication is imperative for proper alignment between subjects.

This qualification articulates to an Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Management, as a specialist qualification, better equipping learners for the world of work. It could also articulate to similar qualifications at other tertiary institutions, provided that the learner meets the minimum requirements of the other institution. The teaching/learning and assessment policies of the department remain the same. Although the WPBL component decreases, learners remain active in the industry for a full production cycle (basically a whole year) to complete their third-year projects.

Based on the national scarce skills targets highlighted in the National Skills Development Strategy III (Department of Labour) and other sources, the following occupations are the target of this qualification:
  • Agricultural consultants.
  • Farmers and farm managers as well as.
  • Operational managers (both manufacturing and non-manufacturing).
    The purpose statement and the following two exit level outcomes of the qualification indicate how to address these in this qualification:
    i) Manage viable and sustainable agricultural production systems underpinned by sound financial management practices;
    ii) Demonstrate the dynamics and legal implications of managing human resources within an agricultural context.
    The Diploma in Agricultural Management is placed within the context of the climatic conditions of the Western Cape and focuses specifically on agricultural management of plant production and livestock production. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience.
    In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, or equivalent. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 5, 6 totalling 360 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 5,103 Credits:
  • Agricultural Operations Management 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Soil Science 1A, 10 Credits.
  • Plant Production 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Marketing Management 1A, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Computer and Numeracy Literacy, 10 Credits.
  • Livestock Production 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Engineering 2B, 10 Credits.
  • Pasture Science 2B, 10 Credits.
  • Research Methodology 3, 15 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 6, 257 Credits:
  • Agricultural Soil Science 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Operations Management 1B, 16 Credits.
  • Resource Management 1B, 14 Credits.
  • Agricultural Marketing Management 1B, 12 Credits.
  • Agricultural Production Management 2A, 16 Credits.
  • Livestock Production 2B, 14 Credits.
  • Plant Production 2B, 14 Credits.
  • Agricultural Law 2A, 16 Credits.
  • Agricultural Marketing Management 2B, 14 Credits.
  • Plant Production 2A, 12 Credits.
  • Livestock Production 2A, 12 Credits.
  • Production Systems Management 3, 30 Credits.
  • Management Information Systems 3, 15 Credits.
  • Agricultural Practice 3, 30 Credits.
  • Agricultural Labour Practice 3, 15 Credits.
  • Agricultural Environment 3, 15 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Manage viable and sustainable agricultural production systems underpinned by sound financial management practices.
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of environmental factors and their implications for sustainable and economically viable agricultural production.
    3. Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics and legal implications of managing human resources within an agricultural context.
    4. Integrate basic business management principles as they relate to agricultural production. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyse and describe the production and financial processes in agricultural systems, define problem situations that may arise and contribute actively to developing solutions for these problems. Through individual and group assignments and projects, case studies, portfolio development, class discussions, quizzes, field trip reports and poster design the learner needs to exhibit the ability to select relevant and appropriate information suitable for decision making in sustainably managing agricultural systems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Analyse and describe the natural production environment and its vulnerability to agricultural production systems.
  • Select relevant and appropriate information and suggest suitable methods and strategies to effectively manage agricultural production systems to ensure sustainable natural and other resource management.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyse and describe the human resource management process in agricultural production systems, identify and define problem situations that may arise and contribute actively to solving these problems.
  • Identify and apply relevant and appropriate actions and decision making in sustainably managing human resource problems and processes in agricultural production systems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Demonstrate ability to analyse and describe the agricultural production processes in agricultural systems and identify, define and develop business processes to contribute actively to the management of agricultural business processes.
  • Apply business principles in developing and integrating basic business practice to support business decision making in sustainably managing agricultural production systems.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated assessment forms part of continuous assessment at the institution and takes the form of an appropriate mix of both formative and summative assessment methods.
    Formative assessment in this qualification, consists of a variety of tasks such as problem-solving individual and group assignments and projects, case studies, portfolio development, class discussions, quizzes, field trip reports and poster design.
    Summative assessment takes place at the end of a section of work/quarter or semester to assess learners' achievement against the learning outcomes of the qualification and subject(s). In this qualification, it consists of written assessments in the form of written class tests and examination conducted during and at the end of the academic semester/year.

    Integrated assessment in this qualification takes place in the third year of study. Learner assessment is holistic using project reports, a portfolio of evidence and an oral presentation related to the needs and requirements of the agricultural industry. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The national and international comparison was conducted to determine the extent to which qualification and subject structures compare with similar offerings at similar institutions. The international comparison exercise occurred in terms of institutional requirements.
    Guidelines include the following:
  • Determining the scope of the benchmarking exercise;
  • The selection of a variety of reputable HE institutions internationally (and nationally);
  • The selection of comparable qualifications and aspects from these qualifications;
  • Analysis and evaluation of qualification design of the selected qualifications;
  • Conclusions and recommendations for curriculum renewal at the institution.
    In terms of this qualification, the international benchmarking exercise revealed the importance of sustainable production is evident in a large number of modules offered in agriculture and related fields. Diploma qualifications offered internationally vary from one to three years of full-time study and vary in terms of scope, depth and cognitive demand. Nationally qualifications offered at different HEIs such as the National Diploma in Agricultural Management offered by UNISA (only distance learning), NMMU, Central University of Technology are similar in qualification design. However, there are differences based on the needs of the agricultural industry in the region and climatic context (e.g. winter rainfall in Western Cape influences the focus of the qualification in this region). 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Diploma in Agriculture, NQF Level 6.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Management, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Cape Peninsula University of Technology 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.