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 Science in Postharvest Technology

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
14621	Master of Science in Postharvest Technology
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation		Primary Agriculture
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	180	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 1141/23	2021-07-01	2024-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30		2028-06-30

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

1. To train professionals as postharvest technologists to serve agriculture in the South and Southern African context.

2. Post-graduate-level knowledge in the field of Postharvest Technology.

3. Skills to understand and apply, manage and transfer knowledge of fresh produce handling from the farm to the table.

4. To study the complexity of food chain management to contribute to the national food supply of the country.

5. Specialisation in food safety, environmental issues, good farming practices, risk assessment and fair trade to compete on international markets.

6. Improve livelihood of South Africans by ensuring sustainable crop production, export and trade.

7. Opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Matriculation certificate

First degree: BSc

Honnours degree: BSc Hons

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1). Learning outcomes:

1. Understand principles involved in postharvest technology which includes sanitation and quality assurance product trace ability, cold chain principles, food safety and spoilage issues.
2. To produce professional postharvest technologists specifically qualified to provide management expertise in postharvest handling, packing, distribution and marketing of fresh produce.
3. Collect, analyse, interpret, select and critically evaluate literature in the field of postharvest technology

2). Critical cross-field outcomes:

1. Develops skills in design and implementation of appropriate technologies and operations including risk assessment and competitive intelligence.
2. Effective packhouse management, supply chain management and international marketing.

3. Comply to the ethics demanded by science and understand concepts in food chain management and trade.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Tutorial exercises in problem-solving, critical control points, risk assessment, strategic management and supply chain management (formative and summative)
2. Practical projects on a fundamental aspect of food chain management (formative and summative)
3. Computer-based assessments (formative and summative)
4. Oral tests (summative)
5. Written tests
6. Written examinations
7. Mini-dissertation and publication

Integrated assessment:

Portfolios
Simulations
Written examinations
Oral examinations

Other:
Written mini-dissertation

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification provides credits for the related qualification:
PhD (Plant pathology)

MODERATION OPTIONS

Minimum of one external examiner

Oral and written examinations

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

1. Qualifications required:
- MSc Plant Pathology, Entomology, Plant Production, Crop Protection , Agricultural Economics, Botany

2. Career experience required:
- Postgraduate project guidance;
- Postharvest Technology

3. Other criteria:
- Industry experience in the field of Postharvest Technology

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

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.	University of Pretoria