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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: |
| Bachelor of Architecture Honours |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 118271 | Bachelor of Architecture Honours | |||
| ORIGINATOR | ||||
| University of KwaZulu-Natal | ||||
| PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
| - | HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
| Honours Degree | Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction | Physical Planning, Design and Management | ||
| ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
| Undefined | 120 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 08 | Regular-Provider-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Reregistered | EXCO 0821/24 | 2021-06-22 | 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 Bachelor of Architecture Honours (BArchHons) is to provide the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to be able to register as a Candidate Senior Architectural Technologist with the professional body, South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP). The qualification responds to the broader development needs, particularly focusing on the socio-economic redress and spatial transformation of historically disadvantaged communities in South Africa. The graduate attributes are guided by the academic knowledge, skills and values required of an NQF Level 8 qualification in architecture, while it corresponds to the professional competency attributes of the professional body. The qualification focuses on research-led, situated project-based learning within an interdisciplinary curriculum mode to develop graduate attributes to contribute meaningfully to industry and society. Rationale: The architectural profession has a stratified or hierarchical structure whereby professional registration categories align with the respective NQF levels of qualifications. The qualification aligns to the competencies required of the professional category of Senior Architectural Technologist for registration with the professional body, the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP). The qualification would ultimately articulate to Master's Degree NQF Level 9, which correlates with the designation of Professional Architect. The qualification will address the skills shortage in South Africa (Government Gazette No. 41728: National List of Occupations in High Demand: 2018 - Department of Higher Education and Training). The professional body, SACAP, has supported and recommended the qualification, as evident in the Letter of Support dated, 12 September 2019. The range of typical learners will be those that require professional registration as Senior Architectural Technologists with SACAP. These will comprise the following learner profiles: The most appropriate learning pathways are therefore two-fold, including both formal learning and the recognition of prior learning. The qualification is designed to be focused on the development agenda of South Africa, within the broader context of the Global South. In this regard, socio-economic redress and spatial transformation are strong underpinning values that define the ethos of the qualification in this broader context. The National Development Plan 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals are key drivers of the curriculum. Learners will benefit by acquiring critical knowledge and skills towards an architectural qualification that meets all the disciplinary and professional competencies while engaging within a transdisciplinary curriculum paradigm that situates learning within a broader socio-economic context. The benefit of this is that knowledge and skills can be transferred for the spatial transformation of communities in the developing context, especially the historically disadvantaged communities in South Africa. Further, the qualification allows for alternative learning pathways such as RPL, whereby learners who could not access higher education due to their socio-economic circumstances, may be able to advance their professional skills sets and their livelihoods. This will have a consequential effect on the general social and economic upliftment of the built environment through critical knowledge transfer within their own communities. |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Learners who have prior work experience in architectural practice, but do not possess a formal undergraduate qualification can be considered for the Honours Degree through RPL. RPL implementation in the qualification will be an enabling mechanism for: The RPL assessment recognises knowledge, skills and professional competence achieved through alternative learning pathways such as informal, non-formal and work-based experience. A portfolio of evidence (POE) will form the basis of RPL evaluation. The RPL evaluation process is based on the matching of learning outcomes, obtained via alternative learning pathways, with the exit level outcomes of the programme. For access and advanced standing, the matching will be aligned to the Exit Level Outcomes. Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: Or Or |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification consists of the following compulsory and/or elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8, totalling 144 Credits.
Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 128 Credits: Electives Modules, NQF Level 8, 16 credits (Select one module) |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Analyse and apply theories, research methods and techniques relevant to architectural practice. Identify, analyse and address complex or abstract problems drawing systematically on the body of knowledge and methods appropriate to the field of Architecture.
2. Critically review information gathering, synthesis of data, evaluation and management processes in specialised contexts to develop creative responses to problems and issues in the field of Architecture. 3. Interrogate multiple sources of knowledge in an area of specialisation such as Architecture and Urbanism to evaluate knowledge and processes of knowledge production in Architecture. 4. Select and apply appropriate standard procedures, processes or techniques to unfamiliar problems in a specialist field of Architecture. 5. Identify and address ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different ethical value systems to specific contexts. 6. Apply, in a self-critical manner, learning strategies that effectively address his or her professional and ongoing learning needs and the professional and ongoing learning needs of others in the field of Architecture. 7. Take full responsibility for own work, decision-making and use of resources, and limited accountability for the decisions and actions of others in varied or ill-defined contexts in the field of Architecture. 8. Operate effectively within a system, or manage a system based on an understanding of the roles and relationships between elements within the system in the field of Architecture. 9. Present and communicate academic and professional ideas and proposals effectively to a range of audiences, offering creative insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues appropriate to the context in the field of Architecture. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9: |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| The proposed qualification is aligned to the standard competencies of the regulatory validating body, South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), a full signatory of the international validating body, the Canberra Accord.
The Canberra Accord validation is based on the UIA-UNESCO Charter for Architectural Education which specifies the learning outcomes required for the registration of professional architects. The Royal Institute of British Architects [RIBA] also defines the learning outcomes for RIBA Part 2 Alignment for registration as candidate architects. The Canberra Accord signatory countries offer either the 5-year Bachelor of Architecture Degree or the 2-year Master's Degree following a 3 year Bachelor's Degree as per the current UKZN programmes in architecture. The University of Sydney is the only identified exception, which offers an Honours Degree. The South African context is unique, as the HEQSF requires an NQF Level 8 qualification before articulation to a Master's Degree (NQF Level 9). Accordingly, the Architecture programme at UKZN opted for a one-year NQF Level 8 Honours programme followed by a one-year NQF Level 9 Masters programme. This further affords the advantage of "stop in stop out" learning which assists learners with difficult economic circumstances who would need to work in between their studies, a reality facing the majority of our postgraduate students. Another unique feature is the tiered structure of architectural professional registration in South Africa. Whereas the other Canberra Accord signatories only validate professional architects, the South African Architectural profession has four categories of registration. In this regard, the BArchHons aligns to the professional registration category, Senior Architectural Technologist, while the subsequent Master's Degree meets the competency requirements of Professional Architect. The Bachelor of Architecture Honour's Degree followed by the Master of Architecture at UKZN would meet all the required learning outcomes required for Canberra Accord international validation while responding to the socio-economic and spatial realities and challenges of South Africa. In addition, the proposed qualification has been compared to one international institution and the validating body. Country: Australia Institution: University of Sydney Qualification Title: Bachelor of Architecture Honours Duration: One year Entry Requirements: Confirmation from an appropriate member of full-time or fractional academic or research staff that they are willing to supervise learners. Structure and Content The curriculum includes the following modules: The range of assessments includes portfolio, graphic, written and oral presentations. Focus is on research and critical enquiry defined. The qualification offered at the University of Sydney provides an additional one year of study for high achieving learners from the Bachelor of Architecture cohort. To qualify for entrance, learners are required to achieve a minimum 70% average pass in the Bachelor's Degree. The focus of the qualification is primarily on expanding the research capabilities of high achieving learners. The culmination of the qualification is an independent research project, which enables learners to develop deeper levels of thinking and research in a particular interest related to architecture / built environment. Graduates of the Honours qualification who wish to become Professional architects are required to complete a Master's Degree. The similarities between the South African qualification and Sydney qualification is the primary focus on enabling learners to develop research capabilities. Both qualifications offer a course in research methods and include a research project. Critical thinking and ethical practice are promoted in both qualifications. The primary difference is that South African qualification enable all learners who have completed the Bachelor's Degree in Architecture to apply for entrance into the Honours Degree, whereas the Sydney qualification is exclusive to high achieving graduates only. The strength of the South African qualification is in the focus on enabling all learners who aim to become registered architects to have capabilities of research and advanced research-led design processes in architecture and the built environment. Hence, the Sydney qualification enables research capabilities in a broad sense whereas the South African qualification is focused on a research-led design approach to respond to the socio-economic context of the developing world while enabling learners in understanding the broader social, economic and environmental context of research. Conclusion: The University of Sydney and the South African qualification, both advance best practice through actively promoting advanced scholarship through research and research-led design in architecture. Both qualifications aim for advanced critical inquiry and advanced synthesis of research in design. The additional advantage of the South African qualification is that it is an exit level qualification that meets the competencies for professional registration as a Candidate Senior Architectural Technologist. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
| 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. |
| 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. |