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 Agriculture in Pasture Science

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
15193	Master of Science in Agriculture in Pasture Science
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		Primary Agriculture
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	144	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 0695/12	2012-07-01	2014-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2015-12-31		2018-12-31

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
96544	Master of Science in Agriculture	Not Applicable	NQF Level 09	180	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The first purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with postgraduate-level knowledge, specific skills, and applied competence in general and specific areas of animal science that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

The second purpose is to provide the Agricultural industry in South Africa, which underpins all aspects of the economy, with significant numbers of graduates with the high levels of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in pasture science and related agricultural sciences necessary for the identification and strategic solution of real-life problems facing the industry.

The third purpose is to provide South Africa with a cadre of highly competent researchers who will have clear and growing understanding of scientific developments in agricultural research and thus be able to active participants in the generation and reconfiguration of knowledge so as to meet the ever changing agricultural needs of the South African society. The M.Sc. Agric. Programme in Pasture Science provides a certain degree of specialization and proven competence in research, thus empowering the learner and opening up better career opportunities.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

A B.Sc. Agric. Hons. Degree or B.Sc. Agric. Hons status where a learner may have another appropriate qualification or qualifications and/or modules which together confer the B.Sc. Agric. Hons status. An adequate background in Pasture Science is essential. The University rules (relating to admissions) in force at the time should be consulted. (Exceptionally, on academic merit and under certain conditions, learners may be considered for the M.Sc. Agric. programme who have an appropriate B.Sc. Agric. degree but do not have a B.Sc. Agric Hons. qualification).

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

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 and scientifically correct.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Write research proposals that indicate that learners are able to identify a problem or problems in Pasture Science and formulate research problems

Formulate and test hypotheses

Select and utilize research instruments that are relevant in the research problems in Pasture Science and related fields

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 analyze different scientific procedures in terms of the problem being researched

3.

Critically read, interpret and analyze literature from 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 learners 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.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Successful completion of the M. Sc. Agric. (Pasture science) programme would make the qualifier eligible to apply to register for a Ph.D. in Pasture Science or related discipline at any university.

MODERATION OPTIONS

External moderator/examiners with at least the same qualifications as described above (for 10) are chosen from sister academic institutions or from recognized institutions in this country or beyond our borders. They are all well qualified in the area of study and must be approved by Senate.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

All assessors/supervisors (and co-supervisors, if appointed) are experts in their discipline and will usually have at least a Masters degree, preferably a Ph.D., and appropriate research experience, time and competence to supervise a research project.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

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.

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