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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Science Honours in Applied Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
19269  Bachelor of Science Honours in Applied Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems 
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
Honours Degree  Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Earth and Space Sciences 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 7  NQF Level 08  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 
Remote Sensing and GIS technology is one of the fastest growing industries globally, on a par with I or greater than IT and computer science. It is being applied in nearly every facet of life. The South African and African GIS and Remote Sensing community have identified the lack of and expressed an urgent and major need for training in the fields of Remote Sensing and GIS within South Africa. At present the only qualifications within this field offered at South African tertiary institutions are an Honours in GIS and an MSc at the University of Stellenbosch, a distance learning postgraduate diploma (UNIGIS) and various short modules (2 -6 weeks) encompassed within Geography, Geology or Surveying Degrees. This is not adequate to fulfil the needs and requirements of employers.

The purpose of this qualification is to address the shortage of training in this field and to supply South Africa and the African continent with competent practitioners in the practical application of Remote Sensing and GIS. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
Prior accredited learning in the form of a Bachelor of Science level degree which include GIS as a major in third year (GIS 311 and GIS 321). Alternatively students in possession of a Bachelor of Science level degree without a GIS major in third year may attend a short intensive course (introduction to GIS) prior to commencement of the honours programme and can be admitted should a pass mark of 60% be achieved in this course.

Where such can be demonstrated and assessed, additional and relevant learning may also be recognised. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
The BSc (Hons) Applied Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems graduate:

1. Will demonstrate an in depth understanding of the fundamentals, and major principles and theories of Remote Sensing and geographical Information Systems and applied sciences as well as selected more specialized principles and theories;

2. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the major and specialized course field as a foundation for the sciences of these fields and will demonstrate an appropriate understanding of cross-disciplinary applications in this knowledge;

3. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the practical techniques and applications appropriate to the major and specialized course fields;

4. Will demonstrate competence in identifying, seeking, retrieving, synthesising and communicating information accurately;

5. Will develop and demonstrate appropriate attitudes, values and an appropriate sense of responsibility as relevant to the component courses and modules; 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
The BSc (Hons) Applied Remote The BSc (Hons) Applied Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Sensing and Geographical Information Systems graduate:

1. Will select and use fundamentals, key concepts and specialized principles in the analysis and interpretation of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems problems;

2. Will use the laws and knowledge of the major and specialised course fields in solving problems within those fields and will be able to pursue applications across disciplinary boundaries:

3. Will be able to identify and utilise the appropriate techniques and applications in solving basic and specialised Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems problems;

4. Will be able to execute basic and more advanced software functions and undertake data acquisitions and data quality checks.

5. Will be able to interpret their investigations in terms of relevant, comparative background information;

6. Will be able to present in verbal, graphic and written forms, clear, concise reports on their investigations;

7. Will conduct all investigations and applications in a professional manner;

8. Will adhere strictly to the principles of unbiased investigation using the appropriate scientific method.

Integrated Assessment:

Assessment techniques vary from module to module. Theory will be assessed by means of seminar papers, oral presentations, worksheets, assignments and an examination paper per module. Practical aspects of the course will be assessed using practical assignments, work portfolios and via real-life experience in terms of vacation work for various companies. The project will be evaluated continuously through oral presentations and a final research report, which is also presented at an "internal symposium".

Formative assessment
  • background knowledge evaluation
  • ongoing evaluation throughout the module
  • Demonstration of practical skills and know-how
  • Review of drafts
  • Learner attitude appraisal
  • Oral interaction

    Summative assessment
  • Assignments
  • Class tests
  • Report appraisals
  • Examinations
  • Oral presentations
  • Acceptance of practical, vacation work by commercial companies. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Vertically, qualifiers will be able to progress to a Masters in GIS or Remote Sensing at the University of Fort Hare as a Masters by thesis. In addition to this, various other South African tertiary institutions offer Masters courses in GIS and specialist areas of Remote Sensing (e. g. radar at UCT). In particular this applies to the MSc Programme in GIS at Stellenbosch University as well as a newly proposed MSc Programme in Applied Remote Sensing to be offered via a 'virtual' university that aims to draw on expertise from UCT, Stellenbosch, University of the Western Cape and potentially Fort Hare University (agricultural remote sensing area).

    Recognition of prior learning towards either core and/or fundamental credits where appropriate and/or towards elective credits.

    Certain horizontal articulation possibilities exist within many BSc (hons) courses:
  • BSc (Hons) Geography
  • BSc (Hons) Computer Science
  • BSc (Hons) Agriculture
  • BSc (Hons) Zoology
  • BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
  • BSc (Hons) Botany
  • BSc (Hons) Geology
  • BSc (Hons) Statistics
  • And others 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    A system of external Remote Sensing and GIS practitioners in the various fields of speciality will be introduced to assist in the teaching and examining of the modules as well as in the supervision and examining of projects. Practical work undertake as vacation work for external companies will, by necessity, have to adhere to high nationally set standards.

    Internal examination with internal second examiners and moderation by external examiners (relevant peers in teaching and/or research institutes). 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Minimum Criteria: MSc degree or equivalent in the relevant subject matter, together with a minimum of five years research and teaching experience. 

    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.