SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Bachelor of Spatial Planning Honours

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
50373	Bachelor of Spatial Planning Honours
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
Honours Degree	Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction		Physical Planning, Design and Management
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	144	Level 7	NQF Level 08	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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
111001	Bachelor of Spatial Planning Honours	Not Applicable	NQF Level 08	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:

The purpose of the qualification is to provide graduates who will be able to register for the Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning (M URP) degree, which in turn will enable successful candidates to register as a candidate Professional Urban and Regional Planner in terms of the Planning Profession Act (No 36 of 2002). The qualified learner, as a Professional Urban and Regional Planner in Training, will be competent to conduct relevant and appropriate research, and under supervision of a registered Urban and Regional Planner, assist in providing professional services in the design, detailing, documentation, administration and supervision of development projects in the built and urban environment.

Rationale:

The submission of this professional qualification is necessitated by developments in die professional Urban and Regional Planning educational sector, as well as the higher education qualification structure. Whereas a learner could previously enter into the Master of Urban and Regional Planning without an Honours degree, it now becomes all the more important to align the programme in regional planning with professional developments and the envisaged new higher education qualification structure.

The qualification will provide graduates with mid-level knowledge, skills and values within the spatial planning field. These graduates will be able to register for the Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning (M URP), which in turn will enable successful candidates to register as a candidate Professional Urban and Regional Planner in terms of the Planning Profession Act (No 36 of 2002).

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Free State is the closest institution of its kind to the Free State, Lesotho and the Northern Cape to provide professional training for candidates that aspire to become professional town and regional planners.

The Department uses both Afrikaans and English as medium of instruction, making it accessible to candidates locally, nationally and internationally.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

A person may be admitted to the qualification in Spatial Planning if he/she is in possession of one of the following B-degrees, with the necessary academic background:

A Bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

A Bachelor's degree in commerce, administration or law.

A Bachelor's degree in Architecture; Civil Engineering; Land surveying; Quantity surveying; Construction management; Land- and property development management.

A Bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

A Bachelor's degree in commerce, administration or law.

A Bachelor's degree in Architecture; Civil Engineering; Land surveying; Quantity surveying; Construction management; Land- and property development management.

A degree with one of the following majors:

> Agricultural economics
> Anthropology
> Applied mathematics
> Botany, Business Management
> Computer Information Systems
> Economy
> Environmental Science
> Forestry
> Geology
> Geography
> Mathematical Statistics
> Psychology
> Public Administration
> Sociology
> Statistics

If a learner does not entirely meet the admission requirements, the Dean may, in consultation with the Head of the Department, in meritorious cases, recommend that some concessions be made in respect of the requirements, with the final decision resting with the Executive Committee of the Senate. Supplementary courses may be required as determined by the Head of the Department or a learner may be expected to do an extra year to complete the programme.

A person in possession of one of the above-mentioned qualifications will not automatically be accepted for the programme. Selection takes place and the Head of the Department could require a written motivation or personal interview.

Language skills in the language medium that a learner wish to be instructed (English or Afrikaans) will be assessed. An acceptable module in the use of language as determined by the Head of the Department, will have to be taken and passed at the learners' own cost should he/she not comply with the required standard.

A test for computer literacy will be conducted. If the student does not comply with the required standard he/she has to take and pass a computer literacy module at the learner's own cost.

This qualification, as a post-graduate B of Spatial Planning Honours, serves as an entry requirement for the Master's in Urban and Regional Planning, a structured research master's degree by coursework, as the professional degree required by the South African Council for Urban and Regional Planners to register as an Urban and Regional Planner in Training.

Ph D: 3 years

MURP: 1 year

B SP Hons: 1 year

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

Level, credits and learning components assigned to the qualification:

NQF level 7

Fundamental and Core learning: 96

Elective learning: 48

Total credits: 144

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Overall learning outcome:

The candidate will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

Communicate specialized theoretical and practical knowledge of the discipline of Urban and Regional Planning to others, and to apply and implement this knowledge as particular developmental solutions to varying problems within the wider context of the built and urban environment.

Visually, graphically and verbally communicate urban design ideas to the client in a creative and competent manner.

Specific Exit-level Outcomes:

1. The qualifying learner demonstrates in-depth knowledge appropriate to the discipline, and critical, analytical thinking to appreciate research, interpret, refine and modify existing knowledge of Urban and Regional Planning.
2. The qualifying learner shows developmental competencies at a range of different scales, from the urban, to the rural level.
3. The qualifying learner is able to communicate appropriately and effectively.
4. The qualifying learner has developed a broad understanding of the wider social and natural systems, which impact on Urban and Regional Planning, and has developed an appreciation for cultural and historical diversity.
5. The qualifying learner will be equipped to develop entrepreneurial skills and opportunities in a future career.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. The qualifying learner:

Demonstrates an ability to analyse and interpret knowledge critically.

Demonstrates ability to analyse and evaluate research material.

Is able to engage in critical debate in the field of study.

2. The qualifying learner is able to:

Formulate development questions critically.

Produce and demonstrate coherent and well resolved urban designs that integrate knowledge of the social, political, economic and professional context that guides land development.

Evaluate and appraise development briefs critically to ensure that the design response is appropriate to site and context and for reasons such as sustainability and budget.

Demonstrates an appropriate competence in the area of Technical design.

3. The qualifying learner demonstrates skill at communicating ideas and information to people from a wide range of backgrounds:

Orally.

Written.

Graphically.

4. The qualifying learner demonstrates:

An understanding of the influences on the contemporary built environment of individual buildings, the design of cities, past and present communities and wider global issues.

An understanding of the histories and theories (historical and current) of Urban and Regional Planning, development and its application in land use management.

An understanding of the implications of decisions taken on wider systems and the ability to critically appraise and take decisions about the qualities of a development (spatial, technical and social) within the scope of a complex environment.

The values required for participation in society as a respected and respectful citizen.

5. The qualifying learner demonstrates:

Initiative.

Entrepreneurial abilities.

Integrated assessment:

Competence is assessed, by means of continuous assessment and by demonstrating:

The ability to achieve the outcomes of the qualification:

A module mark via formative assessments such as:

> Assignments.
> Oral presentations and group work.

A summative assessment via either:
> Examinations or oral assessment.

When a learner achieves an elective module mark of 65%, he/she is promoted without having to be assessed on summative basis.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Institutions in the UK (such as Oxford Brookes) and USA (Wisconsin-Madison) offer a similar Master of Urban and Regional Planning, with admission of students from a variety of first degree disciplines. This Honours is a South African initiative which will align this Programme with future higher education developments.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification/programme, as a post-graduate B of Spatial Planning Honours, serves as an entry requirement for the Master's in Urban and Regional Planning, a structured research master's degree by coursework, as the professional degree required by the South African Council for Urban and Regional Planners to register as an Urban and Regional Planner in Training.

Ph D: 3 years

MURP: 1 year

B SP Hons: 1 year

MODERATION OPTIONS

In order to ensure that the assessment is fair, reliable and valid:

Internal and external examiners (academics and practitioners) assess the modules with core contents.

External assessors are selected and appointed on the basis of academic qualification and relevant experience in research and/or practice.

The regulating professional body (see below) conducts accreditation visits in which submissions in terms of the lowest pass and highest failure rates are reviewed so as to verify that the minimum standards as required by the profession are being met.

Regulating professional bodies:

South African Council for Town And Regional Planners (SACTRP):

Address:

The Registrar
S A Council Town and Regional Planners
PO Box 20030
HUMEWOOD
6013

National and International external evaluators from other universities, research institutions and practice.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

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:

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 the Free State