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:

Postgraduate Diploma: Population Studies

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
12041	Postgraduate Diploma: Population Studies
ORIGINATOR
University of Natal
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was CHE until Last Date for Achievement			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		Urban and Regional Studies
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	640	Level 7	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2013-06-30

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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
72987	Postgraduate Diploma: Population Studies	Level 7	NQF Level 08	640	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The Population Studies Programme is an academic and vocational programme designed to equip students with the key concepts and applied skills for them to understand and participate in the processes of and structures of population and demographic analysis, policy formulation and implementation. This programme also provides students with a number of applied skills - policy presentations, applied demographic techniques, research skills, and quantitative methods - to enable them to work in a variety of development oriented organisations such as state institutions, NGOs, and international development institutions. The research and quantitative skills equip students with the skills to conduct and interpret research, which is focused on population issues and is policy directed. Such academic, vocational and skills based training is crucial in South Africa given the stress on population developmental issues in our society. These require initiatives in regard to new developmental policy formulation and implementation so that the multiplicity of social economic problems can be addressed and development goals attained.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Completion of an appropriate Honours (or appropriate four year) degree with relevant subjects to enter the one year Masters program or completion of an appropriate undergraduate degree with relevant subjects to enter the two year Masters program at a satisfactory pass rate as determined by the director of programme and the School Board of Studies. Students are assessed according to their marks, a motivation, a short essay based on a set reading, and relevant developmental experience. The minimum requirement for immediate entry into the programme will be an upper second pass rate in their preceding degree. Students are expected to demonstrate good writing skills and be able to communicate both orally and in written form in English.

Previous development experiences are a major advantage to post graduate students. Maturity and general life experience is also taken into account.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

On completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate:

An ability to undertake self directed study

An understanding of demographic and soci-economic processes which inform population and development policy

An understanding of the stakeholders involved in the policy process

A knowledge of current policy concerns and outcomes, and their impact on social and economic development

An ability to identify policy related issues and evaluate their importance

An understanding of the social context in which development policies are constructed, and demonstrate a concern with enhancing the life chances of all persons

An ability to present arguments and perspectives orally and in written form

Have an understanding of the diversity of most contemporary societies, and the causes of population dynamics between and within societies

Ability to summarise and evaluate a substantial body of information

An ability to engage with the concepts, philosophies and a multiplicity of approaches to population studies

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The various methods of assessment in the programme aim to evaluate students' knowledge, skills and values. The research dissertation will test students' ability to integrate information, make use of demographic techniques and interpret the results, conduct research, be able to contextualise policy processes and implementation. It will also assess students' capacity to understand what is needed for population development, with values consistent with social responsibility, economic development and the redress of disadvantage.

Class work will take the form of continuous assessment as well as a written exam. In the post graduate programme the written exam may take the form of a specialised assignment, depending on the particular module. Assessment will also evaluate students' progress, and their continued commitment to the programme and its purpose. Class work will test student ability in both verbal and written presentation. This will assist in the variety of skills needed to present ideas to clients and colleagues in their future work environment.

Integrated Assessment

Learners will be assessed by class work, dissertation, and examination in accordance with the rules pertaining to the modules and level at which they are studying. All outcome levels will follow a process of continuous assessment, and sit down exams or assignments will be conducted on the completion of each module. At the master's degree outcome level, students will also be expected to complete a short dissertation.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

The programme encourages a multi-disciplinary approach in terms of access as well as fields of enquiry and skill acquisition within the modules comprising the programme. It is highly flexible with regard to initial access, accepting students from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds. However, once students are in the programme, and precisely because of its access flexibility, they are required to follow a set integrated structure of defined modules so that they can graduate with the necessary conceptual and applied skills to analyse population problems, formulate policy and operate as development practitioners. Students may take certain approved relevant electives in other programmes with the permission of the programme director.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The programme makes use of both internal and external assessors/examiners, and is subject to Faculty requirements and rules. The programme will also have an overall external assessor and advisor.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that, on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staffs are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of Faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66 % of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to a qualification, are externally examined.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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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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