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:

Bachelor of Technology: Explosives Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
62324	Bachelor of Technology: Explosives Management
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
B Tech	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Manufacturing and Assembly
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	480	Level 7	Level TBA: 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		2024-12-31

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

Purpose:

A person acquiring this qualification will be able to apply explosives technologies as well as advanced management skills, which are appropriate to the cost-effective management of products and processes in an explosives related environment.

A qualifying learner would be able to manage and lead people in manufacturing, product and process development, manage quality systems and contribute to the strategic management of the organisation.

This qualification will contribute to the full development of the learner within explosive material manufacturing fraternity by providing recognition, further mobility and transportability within the chemical and related manufacturing fields.

The skills, knowledge and understanding demonstrated within this qualification are essential for social and economic transformation and contribute to the progression and economic growth within the manufacturing fraternity.

This qualification will allow a person to advance to learning such as research related M Tech or D Tech qualifications NQF 8.

Rationale:

This qualification reflects the workplace-based need of employers and employees within the explosives and armaments industry as well as the Departments of Defence, Labour and Minerals and Energy, both now and for the future.

The survival of the industry depended for a long time on the transfer of knowledge and skills from one skilled person within the industry to another.To run the risk of just a few people having all the knowledge and skills is an unhealthy affair. The Explosives Industry in South Africa provides employment to thousands of people and generates many millions of rand of income each year and is therefore an important role player in the overall economic picture of the country. A survey conducted during 1997/98 throughout the South African explosives industry, identified that the current immediate need on the supervisory level had been addressed by introducing a special short course "Explosives Technology for Supervision and Management", but the shortage of knowledge and skills development in advanced management and explosives technology fraternity is still outstanding, and formal recognition is in big demand within the explosives manufacturing sector.

The range of typical learners is individuals' that wants to advance their career, personal development, using the National Diploma: Explosives Management NQF 6 as basis or wish to advance to other related educational qualifications within the Higher Education Band.

The qualifying learner would be able to apply explosives technologies as well as advanced management skills, which are appropriate to the cost-effective management of products and processes in an explosives related environment.

A qualifying learner would be able to manage and lead people in manufacturing, product and process development, manage quality systems and contribute to the strategic management of the organisation.

This will provide valuable training, embedded knowledge and fundamental experience towards a career within explosives and ammunition industry. Career options such as technologists or project managers in research and development, product and process development, manufacturing and quality assurance in the explosives and ammunition fraternity by adding value to the individual and also to the economy/ industry.

This qualification provides the learner with accessibility to be employed within the explosives and ammunition manufacturing and related industries and will be providing portability and articulation possibilities within the manufacturing and engineering contexts and providing access to membership of National Institute of Explosives Technology, (NIXT).

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

A knowledge, comprehension and application of:

Leading individuals, groups and teams to achieve enterprise goals.

Explosives technologies, and managerial skills in entrepreneurial development.

Apply technologies pertaining to pyrotechnic and commercial explosives.

quality management and safety principles

with exposure to explosive operations would be beneficial.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL):

This qualification may be achieved in part or completely through the recognition of prior learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. A learner wishing to be assessed towards this qualification may arrange to do so without attending any further training or education. The assessor and the learner will jointly decide on the most appropriate method to be taken.

Access to the qualification:

National Diploma in Explosives Management, NQF level 6.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

Level, total credits required credits and learning components assigned to the qualifications

Learning components:

Fundamentals

National Diploma Explosives, Credits 360, NQF level 6

Research Methodology, Credits 14, NQF level 7

Total credits 374

Core

Explosives IV, Credits 24, NQF level 7

Management IV, Credits 26, NQF level 7

Explosives Project IV, Credits 32, NQF level 7

Total credits 82

Electives

SHE Management III, Credits 24, NQF level 7

Total credits 24

Total credits 480, NQF level 7

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Implement strategy to give direction to the enterprise in a dynamic environment.
2. Supervise and lead people in testing and manufacturing of explosives and explosives filled items.
3. Apply Safe, Health and Environmental (SHE) management principles when providing leadership and managing staff.
4. Apply appropriate skills and knowledge to conduct a research project.
5. Apply the basic principles of research methodology.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Implement strategies on all management levels.

Integrate the actions in and between all levels of management during implementation of strategies.

Interpret the internal and external environment to select and plan an appropriate strategy.

Develop measures and criteria to evaluate the achievement of the organisation's vision, mission, objectives and policies.

Implement, monitor and control the selected strategy according to business needs.

2.

Identify and demonstrate understanding of the application of environmental and performance tests on explosive filled items.

Interpret test analysis and solve related problems.

Manage production of a single product lines.

Manage production schedules and product lines according to business needs.

Develop production procedures to be safe and operator friendly.

Identifying and solving problems using critical and creative thinking in planning and conducting manufacturing and development projects in the field of explosives technology.

Managing manufacturing, conducting development projects and solving problems involve the ability to work effectively with production personnel, technicians and other scientists.

Contributing to the full personal development of the learner by developing a plan for continued professional growth, which includes self-knowledge of strengths and weaknesses, awareness of the role of professional bodies and keeping abreast of relevant literature.

3.

Adherence to specific industrial practices including good manufacturing practice (GMP), good laboratory practice (GLP) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is ensured.

Compliance to environmental, health and safety legislation and their related regulations such as the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and the Occupational Health and Safety Act is ensured.

Workplace safety protocols are established and monitored.

The influence that explosives have on society in terms of the environment, health and safety is recognized and propagated.

Ethical guidelines for professional work are promoted.

Ensuring compliance with the health and safety legislation, good laboratory and manufacturing practice and established workplace safety protocols as applicable in the field of explosives technology.

Ensuring that science and technology are used effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others, especially in an explosives area.

Interpreting and assessing of results and identifying problems in the workplace by integration of related systems like quality systems with other management systems.

4.

A relevant research project is identified, a literature survey done, the necessary research work done and the project submitted in the prescribed format.

Identify a relevant research area.

Do a literature survey and make a project proposal.

Carry out the necessary processes and formulate a conclusion.

Conduct a development project within agreed time limits, equipment and human resources.

Integration of the following focus areas for example management, quality systems, environmental health and safety and explosives technologies should be demonstrated in the research project.

5.

Identify research needs and set objectives.

Use the relevant techniques for collecting information.

Conduct research and interpret data according to accepted research methodologies.

Managing and presenting information from the working environment of explosives technology effectively and precisely.

Integrated Assessment:

The applied competence (practical, foundational and reflexive competencies) of this qualification will be achieved if a candidate is able to achieve all the exit level outcomes of this qualification.

Identifying and solving problems, team work, organising one-self, using of applied science, the implication of actions and reactions in the world as a set of related systems must be assessed during any combination of practical, foundational and reflexive competencies. Assessment methods and tools are developed to determine the integration of applied knowledge and skills.

A detailed portfolio of evidence is required to prove practical, applied and foundational competencies of the learner.
Assessors and moderators should develop and conduct their own integrated assessment by making use of a range of formative and summative assessment methods. Assessors should assess and give credit for evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience.

During integrated assessments the assessor should make use of formative and summative assessment methods and should assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies, that includes specific and critical cross-field outcomes.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Benchmarking was done against international standards and qualifications from the NVQ from Britain, New Zealand Qualification Authority, the American Qualification Curriculum and Assessment Authority Frameworks and the US Manufacturing Skills Standards.

No direct comparable qualification could be found, the closest were a New Zealand's qualification National Certificate in Extraction Industries Level 2-4 (Land operations using explosives). Given South Africa's competitive edge and leader in this field world wide, it explains why no other related qualifications were found.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical articulation to M Tech or D Tech: Explosives Management NQF 8 and horizontal articulation into other related research related qualifications.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this qualification must be registered and appointed by the provider Technikon according to existing moderation guidelines of the HEQC.

Any institution offering learning of this qualification must be accredited as a provider with the relevant HEQC.

Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the HEQC, according to the HEQC policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.

Moderation should also validate the achievement of competencies and assessment processes as described in exit level outcomes and integrated assessment options as described in the qualification.

For explosives related subjects the appointment of a moderator should be done in consultation with the National Institute of Explosives Technology (NIXT).

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

For an applicant to register as an assessor, the applicant needs:

Interpersonal skills, subject matter expertise and assessment experience. The assessor needs to be competent in the planning and conducting of assessment of learning outcomes. The subject matter experience must be well developed within the field of explosive operations and quality assurance practices.

The assessor must have completed:

A similar qualification or from the same family of qualifications, at or above NQF 8.

Six years' management experience in the field of explosives.

The subject matter experience of the assessor can be established by recognition of prior learning. Assessors need to be registered with the relevant Education and Training Quality Assurance Body.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

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 South Africa