SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Bachelor of Housing Development Honours

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
118645	Bachelor of Housing Development 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
Registered		SAQA 137/22	2022-02-03	2025-02-03
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-02-03		2029-02-03

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 Bachelor of Housing Development Honours aims to produce qualifying learners who are equipped with theoretical knowledge and technical skills in the field of housing. This will enable the qualifying learner to address housing-related challenges which are raised in the National Development Plan (NDP) and 2020 vision document. The qualification, therefore, focuses on enabling learners to develop a critical understanding of housing theory, policy and finance, residential layout and sub-division, housing implementation, project management and research.

Furthermore, the qualification aims to produce qualifying learners with good research skills. These will be useful in practice and the qualifying learners will be well prepared to further their studies at the master's level. These skills and competencies will allow qualifying learners to occupy positions as policy implementing agencies and analysts, project managers, property financiers, community development practitioners and settlement planners.

Rationale:
The need for housing practitioners to help address the myriad of developmental challenges in South Africa has been well established. Despite the provision of more than 4.3 million RDP houses between 1994 and 2014, the backlog remains high at 2.3 million and about 14% of the population live in informal dwellings (Africacheck.org, 2014). Service delivery protests attest to community dissatisfaction with the provision of services, and it is estimated that there are four times more protests over housing than any other services (Msindo, undated). 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 NDP 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals are key drivers of the curriculum.

The qualification meets the sector-specific needs because it will produce housing practitioners who have a sound understanding of housing policy, a holistic perspective of housing issues including social, economic, environmental, cultural, and institutional perspectives and skills in project management and evaluation are well placed to address the housing challenges of the country. The Bachelor of Housing Honours aims to produce qualifications with specialised knowledge in housing and well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills. While the focus is on preparing learners for the South African job market, the qualification also draws on international best practices and thus prepares learners for practice in the human settlement field globally. The qualification will also prepare learners for study at Master's level. This is achieved by the inclusion of a research methodology module and a research project.

Learners will benefit by acquiring critical knowledge and skills towards a housing qualification that meets all the disciplinary 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. Another vital benefit to communities is that the qualification draws on alternative learning pathways such as RPL, whereby persons who could not have accessed 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.

The qualification will serve to widen access for previously disadvantaged learners. Learning pathways are therefore two-fold, including both formal learning and the recognition of prior learning. Qualifying learners will be able to work in public, private, Non-Government Organisation (NGO) sectors as Housing Practitioners in various fields such as Project Managers, Directors, Managers, Heads of Departments, Implementing Agents, Real Estates Agents, and Property Developers and even start their own businesses.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with regards to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access:

Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.

To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted for modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit:

Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.

Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.
Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Bachelor of Arts in Housing Management, NQF Level 7.
Or

Bachelor of Human Settlement Development, NQF Level 7.
Or

A relevant qualification in the related field, NQF Level 7.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 128 credits.

Advanced Housing Theory and Practice, 16 Credits.

Advanced Housing Implementation, 16 Credits.

Advanced Housing Policy and Finance, 16 Credits.

Research Methods in Housing, 16 Credits.

Advanced Project Management and Evaluation, 16 Credits.

Residential Layout and Subdivision, 16 Credits.

Housing Research Project, 32 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Conduct independent research on issues relevant to housing as a sector and discipline.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of theoretical and technical references to urban design generally, and layout and subdivision in the built environment.
3. Apply the principles, concepts and hard skills of residential site layout and subdivision.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the housing implementation process.
5. Demonstrate competence to monitor progress in the housing implementation process.
6. Critically analyse existing housing policies and demonstrate the ability to formulate the housing policy.
7. Critically analyse different sources of housing finance and their appropriateness in housing development.
8. Demonstrate the ability to identify and manage social, financial, political, environmental, technical, and economic risks associated with the housing industry.
9. Demonstrate knowledge of the housing project management process.
10. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the influence of economic, social, political, technical, cultural, and institutional aspects on housing both globally and locally.
11. Demonstrate the ability to communicate academic, professional ideas effectively to a wide range of audiences, offering creative insights and rigorous interpretations and solutions to housing challenges.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will assess the Exit Level Outcomes in an integrated manner:

Formulate a research proposal on pertinent issues in housing.

Conduct a literature search.

Collect and analyse data.

Present findings in a research report.

Develop a concept plan based on housing policy and design principles.

Design a settlement in a form of a layout plan in each location.

Present design plans, in writing, orally and graphically.

Define the legislative framework that guides housing delivery.

Implement housing project.

Produce a project programme.

Produce a final step-by-step sequence of the housing project implementation.

Examine existing housing policies.

Formulate new policies.

Compare different sources of housing finance.

Evaluate the appropriateness of sources of housing finance in housing development.

Relate availability of housing finance to housing delivery process.

Discuss the various risks associated with the housing industry.

Use knowledge of project management to develop an assimilated project.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualification is comparable to the following international qualifications offered in the United Kingdom and China:

Country: United Kingdom
Institution: The Cardiff Metropolitan University
Qualification Title: Bachelor of Science in Housing Honours
Duration: over three years on a full-time basis.
NQF Level and Credits:
This is a level 3 qualification with 120 credits.

Similarities:
The South African qualification is similar to the Cardiff Metropolitan University qualification in terms of the following aspects:
The entry requirements for this qualification are five GCSE passes with English and Maths, and additional requirements specific to Irish and Scottish school leaving certificates.

The qualification comprises of the following modules:

Dissertation, 40 Credits.

Homelessness, 10 Credits.

Project Management & Social Enterprise, 10 Credits.

Housing, Community and Culture, 10 Credits.

Housing and the Economy, 10 Credits.

Understanding Policy, Developing Strategy, 10 Credits.

Managing in Organizations, 10 Credits.

Evaluating Quality, 10 Credits.

Addictions, 10 Credits.

Practice Placement, 20 Credits.

Assessment:
Integrated assessment is conducted through traditional essays and examinations as well as reports, research, projects, and portfolio development.

Country: China
Institution: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Qualification Title: Bachelor of Arts Honours (Housing Management)
Duration: Two years on a full-time basis.

Similarities:
The South African qualification is similar to the Cardiff Metropolitan University qualification in terms of the following aspects:
The entry requirements for the qualification are recognised Bachelor's degree or Diploma.
Qualification structure:
The qualification comprises 9-18 general credits and 51-54 discipline-specific credits indicated below:

Building studies

Building maintenance

Housing management

Human Resources management

Integrated housing studies (double module)

Integrated housing study

Laws of housing

Property development

Property investment and appraisal

Property management and practice

Business comm n Chinese

Property management practices in China

A learner's applied competence and successful completion of leaming in the qualification is conducted through the test, reports.

Kong Polytechnic universities and the South African qualification all advance best practice through actively promoting advanced scholarship through teaching and learning, policy, and research-led human settlement practice. All qualifications aim for advanced critical thinking and inquiry in providing research-based socio-economic solutions to the problems affecting communities at a broader scale.

Differences:

The South African qualification and the Bachelor of Science Housing Honours (Cardiff Metropolitan) include a research project, which the Hong Kong Polytechnic does not have.

The duration of the three qualifications differs with the institution's qualification offering a one-year full-time qualification, Cardiff Metropolitan offering a three-year full-time qualification and the Hong Kong Polytechnic offering a two-year full-time qualification.

The qualification is offered over three years of study while the South African qualification is offered over one year of study.

The only qualification which includes work-integrated learning is the Cardiff Metropolitan University which has a Practice Placement of 20 credits whereas the South African qualification does not include Work Integrated Learning.

The South African qualification is registered at NQF Level 8 while the Cardiff Metropolitan is registered at NQF Level 3.

Conclusion:
Best practices have been identified from leading institutions locally and abroad, ensuring that the curriculum and content are relevant and addresses the needs of both industry and prospective learners. The South African qualification is comparable to the above international qualifications in terms of structure/content, credits, and assessment.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Postgraduate Diploma in Community and Development Studies, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Development Studies, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Community and Development Studies, NQF Level 8

Bachelor of Housing, NQF Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Social Science in Development Studies, NQF Level 9.

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.

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