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: Agriculture: Agronomy

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
16979	Master of Science: Agriculture: Agronomy
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State
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	240	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 091/21	2021-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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

Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods to conduct independent research by means of laboratory, glasshouse, clima cabinet or field trails or in combination.

In business and industry

Responding to the needs of the community

In the public sector

In the trade unions

In life-long learning and the appreciation of the value of education and society.

Qualifiers will demonstrate knowledge, skills and applied competence in the field of study that provide opportunities for continued personal growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Learners who register for this qualification can:

Learn from predominantly written material

Communicate what they have learnt comprehensively in the medium of instruction

Learn and take responsibility for their own progress

Recognition of prior learning

The qualification recognises formal and non-formal prior learning (incorporating experiential learning) at a Higher Education and Training Certificate Level 7 in agriculture or a functional equivalent

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The planned combination of learning outcomes are integrated with critical cross-field outcomes for this Qualification:

Practical Competency:

The demonstrated ability/skill to achieve the major Skills/Applied Competency of the qualification.

Foundational Competency:

The demonstrated understanding, by the Learner, of the embedded knowledge that underpins the end result/outcome.

Reflective Competency:

The demonstrated ability/skill to integrate or connect our performances and to reflect on, evaluate and adopt the above competencies.

To successfully complete the certificate the learner will have to demonstrate his/her learning via module specific learning outcomes as well as critical cross-field learning outcomes.

Critical cross-field outcomes will include those specified in the learning outcomes for approved modules in the certificate and as appropriate to the learner's field of practice.

1. Planning and execution of research in the field of agronomy or horticulture
2. Analysis, evaluation and interpretation of research data
3. Presenting scientific results according to a prescribed format in a logical and structured manner

The learner will be able to:

1. Depending on the specific research project, learners will have practical experience and/or a theoretical background in one or more of the following areas: crop and stress physiology, screening for secondary metabolites with application potential in agronomy, development of new crops and new uses for existing crops, chemical manipulation of crops for increased yield potential, weed control, fertilization or cultivation techniques.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

A learner should provide evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills and attitude) by means of the following:

1. Knowledge of relevant, concepts, principles and hypotheses
2. Application of appropriate techniques
3. Demonstration of skills
4. Production of a thesis

Integrated assessment

Competence is achieved, through continuous assessment by demonstrating the ability to achieve the outcomes of the Qualification

Written thesis providing evidence that the research meets the criteria required at this level

After successfully completing examinations in prescribed and selected course work.

Assessment documents are moderated to ensure that:

They conform to the scope and context of the competency as stipulated in the qualification

They are constructed in such a way that the Assessor assesses the critical outcomes applied, during the Learners activity performances, towards achieving an outcome

Assessments are:

To include confirmation of the Embedded Knowledge component to ensure that the Foundational Competency is achieved

To be verified by Internal Verifiers to ensure valid, credible, true and fair results

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical: Candidates who have successfully completed the M Sc Agric degree may apply for Ph D studies

MODERATION OPTIONS

A system of external peer review and evaluation of departments including evaluation of the standards and assessment practices per Department.

Qualifications: The minimum academic and workplace experience requirements at a level above the level of moderation.

Appropriate professional criteria will be drafted in the case of workplace assessment

Mentorship: All junior and new members of staff are mentored by senior members as they work together in teams. All assessment done by external assessors is quality controlled by internal staff.

Any moderation criteria as determined by the ETQA.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic staff of the University of the Free State complies with standards set by Senate and will exercise their assessment within the approved quality assurance system of the University. Assessors will also meet all criteria as stipulated by the relevant ETQA.

Assessors are:

Subject matter specialists

Registered with the awarding body

Accredited by the awarding body after achieving competency against Unit Standards of competence for Assessors

To be administrated, advised and coached by an Internal Verifier

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 the Free State