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: Semi-Arid Environmental Studies

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
15201	Postgraduate Diploma: Semi-Arid Environmental Studies
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation		Nature Conservation
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	240	Level 7	Level N/A: 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 06120/18	2018-07-01	2018-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31		2022-12-31

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

1. To develop the capacity for analysing aridity and semi-aridity data and information, and for generating holistic solutions to semi-arid environmental problems.

2. To equip students with the knowledge, awareness and understanding of problems in semi-arid environments, and to enrich them with community-based strategic planning skills for coping with semi-aridity.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

1. A Bachelor 's degree of the University of Venda in any of the following areas: Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Urban and Regional Planning, and Earth Sciences.

2. Qualifications from recognised tertiary institutions equivalent to those above, especially with relevance to environmental, climatologically and hydrological studies.

3. A Diploma in an appropriate area of study plus prior learning experience considered by the School of Environmental Sciences as relevant to Semi-Arid Environmental Studies.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

* Skills for identifying, understanding and assessing the common characteristics of semi-arid environments, and for generating cross-cutting and cost-effective approaches for semi-arid environmental management.

* Ability to evaluate, interpret and apply techniques for addressing problems arising from semi-aridity.

Specify critical cross-field outcomes:

* Considering that studies in semi-aridity cover a wide-ranging field of learning, vital cross-field outcomes will arise from this dedicated training programme through the systematic adoption of existing entry routes in closely related areas of studies within the School of Environmental Sciences; Critical elements are already emphasised by School programmes which promote planning, geographic, hydrologic, geologic and environmental/resource management capabilities.

* Important cross-cutting outputs will also arise from student interaction with the wide spectrum of Semi-Arid Environment stakeholders, including community-based and non-governmental organisations, local and provincial government, and the business community.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

* Assignments, community-based case studies, and written tests and examinations in the prescribed modules.

* Seminars and presentations on semi aridity management aridity issues.

Integrated assessment:

Simulations
Written examinations
Oral examinations

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Related qualifications:
Master of Environmental Sciences
(Semi-Arid Environmental Studies)

This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification(s):
Master of Environmental Sciences
(Semi-Arid Environmental Studies)

MODERATION OPTIONS

*A method of internal peer moderation of examination papers will be utilised before the papers are submitted for external moderation.
*In accordance with the University regulations, as much as possible, all modules will be externally assessed.
*The comments from external examiners will be discussed with the Director of the Institute to ensure that the quality of the programme remains of an acceptable standard.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

1 Qualifications required:
* Internal Assessors: M. Sc or Ph. D in a field closely related to Semi-Arid Environmental Studies.
* External Assessors: Ph. D in a field closely related to Semi-Arid Environmental Studies.

2 Career experience required:
* Internal assessors must be at least of the lecturer level
* External assessors must be at least of the senior lecturer level, with a minimum of five years university teaching experience in a relevant subject area.

3 Other criteria (please specify):
* The external examiner must show an evidence of strong research work in an area closely related to Semi-Arid Environmental Studies.
* Experience as an external examiner will be an added advantage.

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 Venda