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 Social Science: Community Resources

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
15817	Master of Social Science: Community Resources
ORIGINATOR
University of Natal
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 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	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 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
81347	Master of Social Science: Community Resources	Level 8 and above	Level N/A:Pre-2009 was L8+	128	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The interdisciplinary program of Community Resources provides graduates with the skills necessary to assist in the empowerment of communities through managing, improving, creating, and preserving the community resources of personal growth, food supplies and processing, the environment (incl. housing), health and nutrition, community organisation, and community based social services. The qualifications offered include an elective subject towards a Bachelor of Social Sciences, a BSc Consumer Studies (Hons), BSocSci Hons (Community Resources), MSc in Consumer Studies, both a course work and research Masters in Social Science (Community Resources) and a PhD.

Graduates at the various levels should show evidence of deepening understanding and greater skill levels at the outcome levels. Graduates are expected to be employed in the development arena and should be critically aware of the issues confronting the beneficiaries in poor communities. The curriculum is designed to enable graduates to provide creative solutions to the problems experienced, both on the macro and the micro levels. The unique coupling of community development and entrepreneurship produces graduates with the ability to help self-reliant communities who can contribute to the formal economy. Graduates are life-long learners, (particularly of the higher degrees) and should be able to contribute to new knowledge in this field through component research capability. They are expected to be employed by NGOs as social development project managers or as project evaluators, by government as extension personnel, in social awareness and employee assistance sections of commerce and industry and as contributors to policy.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

At least a good second class pass (more than 60%) in obtaining a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours); or a substantial equivalent deemed adequate by the University of Natal.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Identify and solve development related problems in a creative and critical manner

Work effectively and cooperatively with others from relevant disciplines to apply an integrated approach to problem solving in development

Provide ethical leadership, superior development-project management and judgement within their field of expertise

Be self motivated, meet personal objectives within the work environment with an effective work ethic

Be life long learners in this social field

Have critical ability to collect, analyse and evaluate development related information

Exhibit basic numeracy skills and familiarity with information technology (have advanced computer expertise in word processing, spreadsheets, analytical programmes, and produce acceptable presentations)

Have good writing and oral presentation skills for both academic and community audiences

Show creativity and enterprise skills in working with communities

Use relevant academic tools (such as effectively and responsibly)

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the general field of enquiry

Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of specific areas of enquiry in the programme.

Understand the interrelationships amongst various areas of the field of knowledge.

Analyse components, issues, factors, structures, etc.

Grasp the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the area of study.

Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of current critical debates.

Summarise, compare, and evaluate a substantial body of knowledge.

Construct a sustained argument; formulate questions and work towards solutions.

Command the conceptual discourse of the field of study.

Solve problems, both theoretical and applied.

Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the discipline.

Contextualise this study within the social environment and historical understanding.

Develop a clear understanding of the historical and contemporary state and possible future of the disciplinary areas in which he/she is working.

Command academic English at an appropriate level.

Demonstrate familiarity with information technology at an appropriate level.

Understand diversity.

Manage individual study.

Work efficiently within groups.

Present findings at an appropriate level, both orally and in writing.

Integrate information, conduct research, and contextualise aspects of language, literature and/or culture and understand what is needed for social development, with values consistent with social responsibility and the redress of disadvantage.

Integrated Assessment

A variety of summative and formative procedures will be employed, such as course work, assignments, essays, seminars literature reviews, group projects, oral presentations, tests and examinations.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

There are articulation possibilities with other programmes in Social Science, Consumer Studies, Human Ecology, Development Studies, Rural Development and related disciplines.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under Assessor Criteria will suffice.

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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