SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Diploma in Landscape Architecture 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
100747  Diploma in Landscape Architecture 
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
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Diploma in Landscape Architecture will develop practice-orientated landscape learners, skilled in the art and science of landscape technology. They will be professional Landscape Technicians, with a general competency in design, construction, and maintenance of sustainable outdoor spaces, in both a design office and construction environment.

The qualification will produce leaders in landscape technology in Africa with the needed specialised plant knowledge, practical landscape construction skills as well as technical abilities to produce landscape specifications and landscape construction drawings.

The qualification will cover competencies in design, construction, and maintenance of sustainable outdoor spaces in both design office and construction environments are covered.

Rationale:
The vast diversity in the green and built environmental industry necessitates competent qualifying learners to have a diverse range of design, construction, and horticulture-related skills. The South African Council for Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP) and South African Landscape Institute (SALI) has identified these skills as scarce.

This aligned Diploma in Landscape Architecture strives to establish a high level of ethical conduct within the art and science of Landscape Architecture with honesty, dignity and integrity in the broad interest of stakeholders.

The qualification provides training in Landscape Architecture at Diploma level in South Africa and fulfils the need of the core competencies for professional registration in landscape design. Upon completion, industry-ready learners who meet the national landscaping industry's requirements could be eligible for registration with SACLAP. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution s' mission and vision, widening of access promote through Recognition of Prior Learning. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process of identifying the knowledge and skills of an applicant against a qualification or part thereof. The process involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal, non-formal and formal learning. The RPL process is multidimensional and multi-contextual, aimed at the individual needs of applicants and is handled per an institutional RPL policy by a unit dedicated to this activity. The RPL process includes guidance and counselling, as well as the preparation of a body of evidence to be presented by the RPL learner to meet institutional requirements. An appeal procedure is also in place to accommodate queries.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies.
    Or
  • National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4, granting access to Diploma studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Levels 5 and 6 totalling 360 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 140 Credits:
  • Integrated Design Studio 1, 20 Credits.
  • Design Drawing 1, 6 Credits.
  • Construction Drawing 1, 6 Credits.
  • Landscape Maths and Structures 1, 7 Credits.
  • Computer Skills 1, 9 Credits.
  • Botany 1, 8 Credits.
  • Integrated Design Studio 1, 24 Credits.
  • Design Theory 1, 6 Credits.
  • Site Analysis and Planning 1, 6 Credits.
  • Construction Drawing 1, 9 Credits.
  • Construction 1, 6 Credits.
  • Plant Material Studies 1, 7 Credits.
  • Professional Practice 1, 6 Credits.
  • Design Theory 2, 6 Credits.
  • Professional Practice 2, 6 Credits.
  • Mechanisation 3, 8 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules Level 6, 220 Credits:
  • Integrated Design Studio 2, 20 Credits.
  • Construction Drawing 2, 8 Credits.
  • Construction 2, 6 Credits.
  • Plant Material Studies 2, 7 Credits.
  • Growth Media Technology 2, 7 Credits.
  • Integrated Design Studio 2, 20 Credits.
  • Design Theory 2, 6 Credits.
  • Construction Drawing 2, 8 Credits.
  • Construction 2, 6 Credits.
  • Plant Material Studies 2, 7 Credits.
  • Plant Protection 2, 7 Credits.
  • Professional Practice 2, 6 Credits.
  • Integrated Design Studio 3, 24 Credits.
  • Design Theory 3, 6 Credits.
  • Construction Drawing 3, 10 Credits.
  • Construction 3, 6 Credits.
  • Sports, Turf grass and Irrigation 8 Credits.
  • Professional Practice 3, 6 Credits.
  • Landscape Architecture Workplace-Based Learning 3, 52 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Communicate effectively through verbal, written/electronic and graphic means within the context of the built environment and a multi-discipline professional environment.
    2. Apply business skills and ethics within a landscaping enterprise.
    3. Apply ethical principles to design and construction processes in both the built environment and natural landscape.
    4. Apply design principles, technical skills and construction knowledge to landscape projects.
    5. Identify, classify and describe characteristics of plants so that recommendations can be made toward the placement and utilisation thereof in landscape design and construction.
    6. Maintain plant material to ensure optimum utilisation in the built environment.
    7. Assist in the preparation and submission of tender documents. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Appropriate and effective use of communication techniques and landscape architectural graphic conventions.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Develop a landscape office management plan.
  • Produce basic financial statements and programmes for a small landscape business.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Show an understanding of the Landscape Professional environment and codes of conduct within the various organisations (SACLAP, SALI, ILASA).

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Calculate and understand questions on ratios, scale and slope in a landscape context.
  • Apply standard landscape construction detailing to new but relevant settings.
  • Evaluate a site and produce a set of landscape drawings (from conception through design to construction detailing) for a small to medium-scale residential or public project, demonstration and application of combined subject knowledge.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Identify, select and place plants in a planting plan that responds to the specific landscape context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Create a planting maintenance plan.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Measure, calculate and set-up a bill of quantities for a landscape architectural project.
  • Complete a basic costing for a landscape tender.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The overall assessment strategy of this qualification is based on continuous assessment in keeping with institutional policy and requirements. The qualification consists of formative, summative and integrated assessment methods. The institutional assessment policy and practices promote constructive alignment of the Exit Level Outcomes and student-centred learning activities. The assessment tasks are pitched against the appropriate SAQA Level Descriptors of the NQF level associated with each module in the curriculum. Assessment practices will be fair, reliable and valid. It will also be in keeping with academic disciplinary and professional field norms and standards.

    Learners will also gain exposure to the workplace in terms of work-directed theoretical learning, project-based (including the development of products/artefacts) and problem-based learning (e.g. case studies).

    Formative assessment is aimed at enhancing the learner success and provides learners with an opportunity to reflect critically on their learning and to improve their levels of accountability and time management. The formative assessment usually consists of a variety of assessment tasks relevant to the field of study. In this qualification, it will consist of class quizzes, worksheets, tutorials, 2-minute essays, blackboard tests and clicker questions in order for learners to monitor their progress and test their understanding of content.

    Summative assessment will take place at the end of a section of work/quarter or semester and is aimed at assessing the learner's attainment against the Exit Level Outcomes. Summative assessments are internally and externally moderated based on institutional policy and requirements. Summative assessments usually consist of a variety of formal assessment tasks relevant to the field of study. In this qualification, it will consist of 2 to 3 summative assessment tasks per semester which will include a wide variety of tasks including presentation, research projects, group and individual tasks, tests, exams and practicals.

    Integrated assessment spans a number of Exit Level Outcomes and might even be applicable to more a number of subjects/modules. Integrated assessment tasks are aimed that the holistic development of the learner and contribute to the learners' personal and professional development in the field of study. Integrated assessment in this qualification will take place in the third year of study and learners will be assessed mainly using project reports, a portfolio of evidence and logbooks. Design-based subjects such as the Integrated Design Studio Project will be based on continuous assessment i.e. a number of tasks and projects will be assessed throughout the semester which provides students with the opportunity to evaluate their progress. This ensures that there is an even distribution of summative assessment throughout the semester. For each project the learners are required to set up design crits with lecturers in order to receive formative feedback on their design projects. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Internationally, similar qualifications are found in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Canada. Comparability, in terms of the qualification, module structure and content were compared to the following institutions offering Diplomas in Landscape Design: Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore; Unitec (Institute of Technology), Auckland, New Zealand and Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada. These institutions were selected for comparison because their 2- 3-year Diplomas in Landscape Architecture are similar to the modules offered at South African Universities of Technology.

    Similarities in modules between all qualifications include design-based subjects (Landscape Design Studio 1, Singapore Polytechnic; Design through experience, Unitec) and horticultural-based subjects (Plants and Landscape Technology, Singapore Polytechnic; Plants and Context, Unitec and Botany for Horticulture and Introduction to Plant Identification, Kwantlen Polytechnic University). This supported the duel nature of the course to locate itself between design and horticultural skills.

    International qualifications also emphasised modules that teach communication skills, particularly in the first-year level and AutoCAD draughting (for examples: Oral Communication. At the Singapore Polytechnic uses Introductory Computer Applications while Introduction to Professional Communication and Landscape Draughting is found in the qualification offered at the Kwantlen Polytechnic University, CAD at Unitec). 

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

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

    Vertical articulation possibilities:
  • Advanced Diploma in Landscape Construction 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.