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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
112925  Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture 
ORIGINATOR
North West University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Primary Agriculture 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 10  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   2031-06-30  

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture is to provide training for an academic career in the field of Agriculture. It requires a learner to research the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. A learner may also present peer-reviewed academic articles and papers in partial fulfilment of the research requirements. The qualification provides learners with the opportunity to undertake independent research and advanced study under the guidance of a supervisor in a particular subject area within the field of Agricultural Science. Learners build on knowledge normally gained at Masters or equivalent level. The thesis presented must constitute a substantial contribution to the national and international advancement of knowledge and understanding in Agricultural Science through original research that meets international standards.

Rationale:
The rationale of the qualification is to provide learners with highly advanced knowledge. These learners demonstrate specific skills and applied competence in several specialist areas in Agriculture that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth. Consequently, learners may pursue gainful economic activity and possess the ability to make rewarding contributions to society. The qualification provides South Africa with significant numbers of experts in Agricultural Sciences to ensure that the local and international leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based scholarly activity. The qualification includes the development of new knowledge frameworks for the expansion of the field of the Health Sciences in general. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Competence at NQF Level 9 and computer literacy are assumed. Learners are expected to have a firm grounding in agricultural sciences and advanced expertise in research methods.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

Where learners do not meet the minimum admission requirements, RPL grants access to the qualification according to the Recognition of prior learning, credit accumulation and transfer, and assessment (CHE 2016) and the institution's RPL policy. The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences manages the RPL process.
  • The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences of the institution ensures that quality assurance processes address the specificities of the RPL process and that administrative and support systems, are in place.
  • The institution ensures that learners NQF meet level 9 competencies.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum admission requirement for this qualification is:
  • Master of Science in Agriculture, NQF. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of a compulsory module(s) at NQF Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 10, 360 Credits:
  • Thesis, 360 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Specific outcomes:
  • Demonstrate a depth of knowledge and high levels of theoretical understanding in a complex and specialised area of Agricultural Science.
  • Demonstrate intellectual independence and advanced research skills through the ability to apply sophisticated knowledge and research methodologies for the solution of complex, unfamiliar problems in the field of Agricultural Science and the competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines.
  • Deal with complexity, lacunae and contradictions in the knowledge base of Agricultural Science.
  • Autonomously generate, synthesise and evaluate information and concepts at highly abstract levels and make sound evaluations based on independently generated criteria.
  • Question and create responses to problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge.
  • Show mastery of the literature and state of research in a specific area.
  • Demonstrate research leadership within a field or across disciplines, including the ability to plan, resource, manage and optimise all aspects of research processes engaged in, within complex and unpredictable contexts.
  • Demonstrate high levels of responsibility, self-reflexivity and adaptability, concerning the ethical implications of research, the determination of socially relevant issues and research needs in South Africa, and the ability to relate these issues to international contexts. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following associated assessment criteria apply across all Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Generate and display specialised knowledge and high levels of theoretical understanding in a complex and specialised area within the field of Agricultural Sciences and across specialised or applied areas and make an original contribution to the knowledge society in the discipline they are researching on;
  • Apply and develop intellectual independence and advanced research skills, sophisticated knowledge and research methodologies to the solution of complex, unfamiliar problems in the field of Agricultural Sciences;
  • Apply and develop competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines in the field of Agricultural Sciences;
  • Generate, synthesise and evaluate information and concepts at highly abstract levels and make sound evaluations based on independently generated criteria;
  • Show mastery of the literature by producing original insights into new and complex ideas, information and issues in a specific area of the field of Agricultural Sciences;
  • Plan, resource, manage and optimise all aspects of research processes within complex and unpredictable contexts in the field of Agricultural Sciences.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Research proposal defence and feedback from the Research Committee and other feedback from the promoter (supervisor) forms part of Formative Assessment. For Summative Assessment, learners present a thesis in the form of integrated research findings, interpreted and linked to the existing literature but with a level of novelty, across the entire area of investigation. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
  • Country: Spain.
  • Institution: Universidade da Coruņa.
  • Qualification Title: Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Forestry Research.

    This qualification is similar to the Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Forestry Research offered by the above country in terms of the following:
  • Both qualifications share a similar purpose of training experts on the processes and management of the agricultural sector and are multidisciplinary. However, the Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Forestry Research focuses on the agrarian and forestry production of Galicia and the Atlantic biogeographic region of Europe. This qualification trains skilled experts in agrarian, forestry and agroforestry research. While the Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture is more open to general knowledge in the broad agricultural sector with more interest in Africa and South Africa.
  • The curriculum of both qualifications also differs as the research component of the Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Forestry Research qualification is complemented with research methodology modules. This structure makes it a research and coursework qualification while the Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture is solely research. Nonetheless, both qualifications have a course duration of 3 to 5 years full-time and part-time.
  • This qualification compares favourably with the Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture and Forestry Research offered at the Universidade da Coruņa. However, this qualification is unique as it focuses more on the South African context.
  • Country: Italy.
  • Institution: Institute of Life Sciences.
  • Qualification Title: Doctor of Philosophy in Agrobiosciences.

    This qualification is similar to the qualification offered by the above country in terms of the following:
  • Both qualifications are multidisciplinary and share relatively similar areas of speciality with a focus on a research-oriented career. They both require a master's qualification in a related field as an entry requirement and are offered in a course duration of 3-years full-time.
    > Genomics and Crop Science (Plant Biotechnology; Plant Genetics; Plant Physiology; Plant Genomics; Crop Sciences; Advanced technologies in Horticulture; Crop production and quality),
    > Agriculture,
    > Environment and Landscape (Multifunctional and sustainable agriculture, Organic and integrated agriculture, Crop production and quality; Agroecosystem management and functional biodiversity; Landscape Agronomy; Multicriteria analysis of food and non-food cropping systems; Agro-environmental comparison of cropping systems; Agriculture-territory-landscape).
  • This qualification compares favourably with the Doctor of Philosophy in Agrobiosciences offered at the Institute of Life Sciences. However, this qualification is unique as it focuses more on the South African context. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Crop Science, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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. North West University 


    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.