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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Economics 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
15182  Master of Agriculture in Agricultural Economics 
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare 
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  Secondary 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
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The agricultural industry is a major sector in the South African economy in terms of meeting the increasing food demands, employment, adding value and linkages with the other sectors of the economy. The Faculty of Agriculture aims at educating learners for life and equipping with emphasis on small scale agriculture. In order to meet this objective, the Faculty of Agriculture, predominantly through the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Business Management.

The qualification in Agricultural Economics and Farm Business Management is designed to provide the learners with the analytical, reasoning and communication skills required to enter the agricultural economics and farm business management professions. The education will empower learners to make critical assessments of real-life problems that are pertinent to their chosen profession. Learners completing their studies in the qualification find employment in government, agribusiness, private consultancies, extension projects, education and in their own business.

The qualification will equip learners for life-long education and skills through actively promoting a range of development activities. It will endeavour to imbue in them enthusiasm and a love for learning, and research and promote independent and critical inquiry and research. Innovation, entrepreneurship and excellence will be encouraged and rewarded.

By successfully completing the research, the learner will have further demonstrated his/her capacity to make a significant contribution to agriculture. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Agricultural Economics, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Agriculture Honours in Agricultural Economics, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Learners demonstrate the capacity to design, conduct and write up research.
    2. Learners demonstrate an understanding of scientific procedures and an ability to cope with research techniques.
    3. Learners demonstrate an understanding of literature related to the research problem.
    4. Learners demonstrate the ability to write a dissertation that is linguistically, technically scientifically correct. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.
  • Write research proposals that indicate that learners are able to identify a problem or problems in agricultural economics and formulate research problems,
  • Formulate and test hypotheses,
  • Select and utilise research instruments that are relevant in the research of problems in agricultural economic and related fields,
  • Select and use appropriate data analysis methods to interpret the findings of an investigation,
  • Conduct fieldwork during the actual investigation if relevant to the research project,
  • Report the findings of the investigation and formulate recommendations that emanate from the findings.
    2. Identify and analyse different scientific procedures in terms of the problem being researched.
    3.
  • Critically read, interpret and analyze literature from different sources,
  • Search for literature on the identified research problem,
  • Compare the writings of different authors on the topic being researched,
  • Draw conclusions from different readings and indicate anomalies,
  • Create a theoretical framework provided by the literature review,
  • Compile a complete bibliography/list of references.
    4.
  • Write a dissertation that shows that the learner can express himself/herself clearly,
  • Write a dissertation that is linguistically correct and of an acceptable standard,
  • Write a dissertation that is technically and scientifically acceptable to the examiners.
    Integrated assessment procedures to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved. Through integrated assessment the learner will be required to demonstrate applied competence using a range of formative and summative assessment methods including assignments, seminars, practical reports and exams, where applicable. Assessment of the dissertation will be particularly important. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Science in Agricultural Economics, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

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

    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. University of Fort Hare 


    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.