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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Development Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
111843  Master of Development Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered-data under construction" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2021-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2022-06-30   2025-06-30  

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 purpose of this qualification is to assist learners in the critical evaluation and debating of important development related issues in order to design, implement and evaluate development policies and development initiatives in a sustainable human-centered manner. This is achieved through a balanced system of structured, elective and research-based modules. Learners of the qualification will be able to interpret and execute applied development research and critically reflect on development policy.

Rationale:
The Centre for Development Support has completed several rapid scan assessments identifying a large demand for qualified development managers and development workers in the public, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and private sectors in Southern Africa. This training field is relatively untapped and a definite niche market exists to deepen the understanding of development issues. The qualification definitely meets the developmental expectations and needs of society within the developing world. The Centre for Development Support within the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at the institution therefore presents an inter-disciplinary qualification with lecturers from 16 different departments and centres at the institution and several other collaborating Universities across South Africa. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Where learners do not meet the minimum admission requirements, RPL may be used to grant access to the qualification. RPL will be applied according to the Recognition of Prior Learning, Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT), and Assessment policy. This will relate to both access to the qualification as well as for credit recognition or exemption towards achieving the qualification. The institution will ensure that quality assurance processes that address the specificities of the RPL process (including applications, assessment, and reporting and management systems) are implemented; and that administrative and support systems, both prior and subsequent to RPL assessment, are in place.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • A relevant qualification at NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 9:
  • Development, Underdevelopment and Poverty, 20 Credits.
  • Governance and Development, 20 Credits.
  • Development and the Environment, 20 Credits.
  • Applied Development Research, 20 Credits.
  • Project Management for Development, 20 Credits.

    Elective Modules:
  • Mini-dissertation, 60 Credits.
  • Conflict and Development, 20 Credits.
  • Health and Development, 40 Credits.
  • Local Economic Development, 20 Credits.
  • Comprehensive Dissertation, 100 Credits.
  • Human Settlement and Development, 20 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship and Development, 20 Credits.
  • Tourism and Development, 20 Credits.
  • Gender and Development, 20 Credits.
  • Rural and Agrarian Development, 20 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Critically reflect on current and future development approaches and development initiatives in Southern Africa.
    2. Design strategies to address underdevelopment and alleviate poverty in the Southern Africa context.
    3. Monitor and evaluate development initiatives (i.e. Programmes and projects).
    4. Formulate and plan applied development research methods in order to make a real contribution in solving development-related problems.
    5. Construct development research findings into development decision making and development policy making.
    6. Influence development programmes and projects in a financial and environmental sustainable and human-centred manner. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:
    The assessment strategy for the qualification utilizes alternative sources of learner assessment, as it is more suitable for this qualification. These can include assignments, portfolio's and other relevant means of assessment. The qualification furthermore provides for a constructivist classroom where learners have a choice about which tasks they complete and which tasks are evaluated. Furthermore, learners often participate in the decision-making process of establishing the criteria to be used in the evaluation process. They establish the rubrics for rating the criteria, and they engage in peer and self-evaluation. Self-evaluations guide learners in making decisions about what they know and what they need to learn, which in turn influences which tasks they complete next. When lecturers encourage learners to become more actively engaged in the evaluation process, they relinquish control, embracing a more effective assessment structure. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable with similar qualifications offered in various higher education institutions internationally. 

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

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master in Political Science, Level 9.
  • Master in Environmental Management, Level 9.
  • Master in Gender Studies, Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor in Political Science, Level 10.
  • Doctor in Environmental Management, Level 10.
  • Doctor in Gender Studies, Level 10. 
    		•

    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.