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 Arts Honours: Multimedia Design

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
71670	Bachelor of Arts Honours: Multimedia Design
ORIGINATOR
Greenside Design Center College of Design (Pty) Ltd
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 02 - Culture and Arts		Design Studies
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	240	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 0695/12	2012-07-01	2014-05-23
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2015-05-23		2018-05-23

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
93875	Bachelor of Arts Honours in Multimedia Design	Not Applicable	NQF Level 08	120	Complete
118947	Bachelor of Arts Honours in Multimedia Design	Not Applicable	NQF Level 08	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:

The purpose of this course is to equip the students with the necessary skills, knowledge and technological training in order for them to be able to be highly proficient as designers in their field. The fundamental principle of a degree course that incorporates both academic and professional phases is that on completion of the course, the student should be adequately equipped to take on a responsible professional appointment. The student should also have attained a solid foundation of both theory and practice, which will enable future growth and development.

The Bachelor of Arts Multimedia Honours degree continues to develop the student's critical, cognitive, creative, visual, verbal and written language skills and professional and technological skills and abilities, through research, investigation, analysis and application. At this Level, students are expected to exhibit these abilities in relation to solving sophisticated and complex problems of their own choosing, albeit in consultation with academic staff. Furthermore, apart from broad timetables that give deadline dates and lecturer availability, time and project management become the student's responsibility. The student is thus expected to achieve independence of thought, enquiry and practice in the field of design. The course intends to provide a grounding for students who aspire to become leaders in the design field, either on a managerial or a theoretical/philosophical Level.

The Bachelor of Arts Honours Multimedia Design course is delivered as a two year course, comprising of one year of professional practice/experiential learning and one year of academic study. The second year Bachelor of Arts Honours Multimedia year programme is offered as a full time or part time course. Course modules incorporate and develop those subjects undertaken in the first three years of study. Principles and Theory of Multimedia Design and Technology and Professional Practice are incorporated into both Multimedia Design Modules. Critical Studies is undertaken as a Seminar and Research paper module.

Rationale:

This qualification allows for students to obtain a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree over a minimum of a two year period for successfully completing 240 credit points in the field of Design and Multimedia Design. The rationale for the qualification is largely motivated by professional and academic reasons. Students who are awarded this professional qualification are highly qualified to work within the Multimedia Design industry, and have also completed an academic course that is based on international standards and industry performance. It is becoming increasingly apparent that international design companies are expecting their employees to have a minimum of a four year qualification.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Upon admission to this programme, Design Center assumes that the learner is competent in the language of instruction, and that they have successfully met with the admission criteria for that programme. A student is admitted to a programme when there is a reasonable expectation that the applicant will be able to fulfill and benefit from the objectives of the course and achieve the standard outcomes for the award. The student needs to have met the learning outcomes of the BA Multimedia Design programme, Level 6, in order to enroll for the Bachelor of Arts Honours Multimedia Design degree.

Recognition of prior learning:

Please see Design Center's policy on the recognition of Prior Learning, Annexure 1.

Access to the qualification:

The decision to admit an individual applicant is subject to a reasonable expectation that the applicant will be able to fulfill and benefit from the objectives of the course and achieve the standard required for the award.

Admission Requirements: First year of BA Honours Multimedia Design.

Entrants previously enrolled at Design Center must have passed the Bachelor of Arts Multimedia Design course. Students who are of a mature age or have completed and prior learning will be assessed in accordance with the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy. Transfer from other institutions and non standard entry directly into the First Year BA Honours year is exceptional.

An initial portfolio review with pertinent academic staff will determine the procedure for accrediting prior learning and credit transfers, thereby determining the most appropriate entry level to the course. Any or all of the following might apply:

Accreditation of previous learning, leading to educational qualifications. Documentation of the structure and content of previously completed courses will be required.

The demonstration of the attainment of necessary abilities, skills and knowledge base in order to cope with the course, through the submission of a portfolio of work undertaken over a specified period of time.

A covering statement or report, linking professional development to identified learning outcomes.

Admission Requirements: Second year of BA Honours Multimedia Design.

Entrants previously enrolled at Design Center must have passed the first year of the Bachelor of Arts Honours-Multimedia Design as well as completed their 36 week period of Professional Practice. In exceptional circumstances, where it is not in the student's interest to complete the Professional Practice component, this requirement might be waived. Under these circumstances the student needs to demonstrate through a written paper of around 3000 words, and a seminar on a given topic held at Design Center, that the learning outcomes of this year of study have been achieved.

Transfer from other institutions and non standard entry directly into the first or second year of the Bachelor of Arts Honours programme is exceptional. Students who are of a mature age or have completed and prior learning will be assessed in accordance with the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy. An initial portfolio with pertinent academic staff will determine the procedure for accrediting prior learning and credit transfers, thereby determining the most appropriate entry level to the course. Any or all of the following might apply:

Accreditation of previous learning, leading to educational qualifications. Documentation of the structure and content of previously completed courses will be required.

A covering statement or report, linking professional development to identified learning outcomes.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

The Bachelor of Arts Honours Multimedia Design degree is a 240 credit qualification at NQF Level 7. The number of Credit Points awarded to each subject relates to the number of hours per subject per year. This in turn is related to the weighting of the subject, which is expressed as a percentage:

First year of BA Honours Multimedia Design:

Subject; Credits; Weght (in pecentage):

Essay; 30; 25%.

Seminar; 30; 25%.

Completion of Professional Practice; 60; 50%.
Total; 120; 100%.

Second Year of BA Honours Multimedia Design:

Subject; Credits; Weght (in pecentage):

Multimedia Design Module 1; 30; 25%.

Multimedia Design Module 2; 60; 50%.

Research Paper; 30; 25%.
Total; 120; 100%.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The exit level outcomes for the BA Honours Multimedia Design programme are reflected in three areas: the Core Learning Outcomes; the Learning Outcomes for Second Year Bachelor of Arts Multimedia Design, and the Module Learning Outcomes for each Module in the programme. Please see Point 10 Integrated Assessment for a full description of the Assessment Criteria.

Core Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the course students should:

1. Have developed a critical analytical ability that allows for well considered, independent thought and opinions.

2. Be able to manipulate and articulate ideas, concepts and information visually, verbally, and in writing.

3. Have developed a discerning and sensitive perceptual ability.

4. Have developed the necessary cognitive and technological skills and knowledge base to solve complex design problems creatively.

5. Have developed research skills that can be successfully applied either in the working environment or in a programme of further study.

6. Have developed professional presentation skills.

7. Have developed organisational and planning skills necessary for a responsible position in the working environment.

8. Have developed interpersonal skills that allow for co-operation and support as well as independent action and leadership as appropriate to a range of situations.

Learning Outcomes for Second Year Bachelor of Arts Multimedia Design:

On completion of this course students should:

1. Provide evidence of the ability to think and act independently.

2. Demonstrate a high level of conceptual and perceptual ability.

3. Produce design solutions that are socially responsible.

4. Demonstrate that research has been thorough and applied appropriately.

5. Effectively communicate criticality and creativity in their approach to design.

6. Present work in a highly professional manner.

Module Learning Outcomes:

Multimedia Design Module 1:

Learning Outcomes:

After studying this module the student should be able to:

1. Produce a wide range of ideas for highly complex multimedia design briefs.

2. Produce design that demonstrates an awareness of social and environmental responsibility.

3. Demonstrate an ability to produce a high standard of digital and time based designs that are technically proficient and creative.

4. Produce, as well as source, all imagery, typography and sound communication in a way that demonstrates an understanding of the communication in relation to the design brief.

5. Demonstrate good presentation skills for both electronic and concept based presentations.

Critical Studies Research Paper, Module 2:

Learning Outcomes:

By the successful completion of this subject, the student should:

1. Be able to adopt a critical perspective on design and place an argument within current discourses addressing social, economical, political or cultural issues.

2. Be able to produce independent research material that contributes to the growing academic fields surrounding multimedia design.

3. Be able to use a wide variety of different resource materials and synthesise the information into a coherent argument.

4. Have an in depth knowledge and understanding of the ethics that surround the role of the South African designer.

Multimedia Design Major, Module 3:

Learning Outcomes:

By the successful completion of this subject, the student should:

1. Demonstrate critical, analytical, creative, professional and technical skills to an appropriate level of professionalism and sophistication.

2. Be able to demonstrate highly competent communication skills within multimedia projects.

3. Demonstrate very good time management skills and be able to set their own deadlines.

4. Be able to demonstrate initiative and a high degree of competence in creating and manipulating a variety of digital visual media using a variety of technological equipment.

5. Be able to produce an individual, professional and sophisticated interactive portfolio.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Integrated assessment:

The educational philosophy motivating the course content, structure and delivery is essentially a holistic one, seeking, not only to equip the student for employment opportunities upon graduation, but also to progressively develop the student's intellectual, creative, technological and perceptual abilities, thereby allowing for increasing competence and independence.

Although each level of study involves a number of subjects, the assignments are designed to inform all subject areas. The marking schedules for these projects thus integrate learning outcomes between subject areas and projects.

The rationale for assessment methods is based on Design Center's policy of assessing the application of knowledge, skills and processes through appropriate assignments, projects and portfolio reviews, which maximise the student's opportunity for development and ensure just and fair assessment of their abilities. In order to achieve this Design Center employs the following principles:

That assessments are valid. They are designed to measure what they intend to measure. Thus an assignment which requires logical deductions is not assessed for creativity.

That assessments are reliable. They are not subjective opinion with no relation to standards of quality accepted by a broader educational framework.

They are transparent. It is clear how they relate to the aims and learning outcomes of the course and are easily understood by students, staff, external examiners etc.

They are diverse. Different abilities require different methods of assessment. An examination, which requires an ability to memorise data, may not be the best vehicle for assessing the ability to synthesize varying ideas.

Design Center practices three kinds of assessment:

Diagnostic assessment is used to determine whether students have any learning difficulties. In most cases students be will directed to agencies outside of Design Center for diagnostic assessment. Students with reading and writing difficulties have access to in house testing and a subsequent language module, which addresses these problems.

Formative assessment is used to give students feedback on the progress they are making. This feedback takes the form of marking schedules, critiques of student work or written feedback on essays, assignments and projects.

Summative assessment establishes what a student has achieved at the end of each project, module and programme of study. This assessment is reflected on a separate portion of the marking schedules as marks for particular subjects. Subject marks accrue throughout the year towards an end of year aggregate. Subject marks and therefore the aggregate are reassessed both internally and externally to determine whether they are a true reflection of the student's ability.

Assessment Procedures for first and second year of Bachelor of Arts Honours Multimedia Design:

Formative Assessment:

All design projects, papers and seminars, as well as the research paper will be assessed by pertinent academic staff on an ongoing basis. Assessment will take the form of verbal group critiques, individual consultations, and written comments on work submitted. Dates for submissions will issued by the Course Leader at the beginning of the Academic year. Student will be informed in writing of shortcomings needing to be addressed in sufficient time for adaptation and correction before final submission, provided that they have successfully met all set deadlines.

Summative Assessment:

Summative assessment for the first year of the Bachelor of Arts Honours programme takes place at the end of the year and summative assessment for Design Module 1 of the second year takes place at the end of the first term and for Design Module 3 at the end of the year. The pertinent academic staff and the External Examiner will assess Work. The Research Paper will be assessed independently by pertinent academic staff and the External Examiner at the end of the second term and a final mark agreed upon by both parties. All student work and final marks will be submitted to the Examination Board at the end of the academic year for consideration for the award of BA (Hons) Multimedia Design. The Examination Board will determine the students' final results.

Principles of Assessment:

1. Assessment determines whether the student has fulfilled the objectives of the course and achieved the standards necessary to pass or for the award.
2. Assessment determines each individual student's performance in relation to the course objectives, and to an accepted national standard.
3. Assessment determines (when the student has not met the stipulated submission requirements for the course due to extenuating circumstances) whether compensation for partial failure, or opportunity for reassessment can be granted.
4. The standard of the award, the objectives of the course, and the student's performance in those areas which can be assessed will determine the recommendations of the Board of Examiners.

Assessment Procedure:

1. Assessment will take place on the dates specified in the year planner.
2. All modules/subjects stated in the definitive document will be assessed, and the minimum standards for each of these as laid down in the definitive document must be attained.
3. Assessments will be performed by a Board of Examiners.
4. Students will be informed of the Board's recommendations in writing.

Members of the Board of Examiners:

The Board shall consist of the following members:

A chair who shall be the Head of Department responsible for the management of the programme.

A secretary who shall be responsible for the arrangements for convening and servicing meetings of the Board.

Members of the academic staff who teach on the programme.

An external examiner or external examiners, nominated by Design Center and appointed by the Nottingham Trent University.

A verifier from the Nottingham Trent University.

The Role of the Board of Examiners:

The Board:

Assesses student performance in terms of the stated objectives and standards required for each course and makes recommendations to the Academic Board.

Receives, considers and agrees on all assessment requirements.

Operates the approved assessment regulations and makes recommendations to the course committee where it has found that they are inappropriate.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The Nottingham Trent University has been acting in the role of verifier for this course since 1993. They conduct site visits to Design Center on an annual basis to check that the standard of this course is comparable to other courses of the same nature, and to check that the assessment procedures are fair and accurate. Since January 2002, The Nottingham Trent University's role has changed to one of accreditation. Design Center's relationship with the International Federation of Interior Designers/Architects (IFI) and the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda) has served to keep the lecturers and courses up to date on international trends, standards and courses.

Design Center believes that the BA Honours Multimedia Design programme is internationally comparable, and is equivalent to the standard of leading postgraduate Multimedia Design and New Media courses around the world.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

In a horizontal articulation, the number of credit points and hours are the same as those required of other Honours Arts Degrees, and to some extent are considerably higher.

In a vertical articulation, students who have passed the BA Multimeida Design degree at Design Center will qualify for the Bachelor of Arts Honours Multimedia Design programme. Students who successfully pass this degree programme will be able to register for their Masters degrees at other institutions of higher learning.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Rules and Procedures for the appointment of assessors/examiners and moderators:

All final assessments, whether for the purpose of issuing an exit level award (Bachelor of Arts Honours Multimedia Design) or to determine progression from one Level to the next, are subject to consideration by the Examination Board. The Examination Board is comprised of Pertinent Academic Staff, who have been selected by nature of their qualifications and ability in delivering the specific programme, the Year Tutor of the programme under evaluation, the Course Leader, the External Examiner/s and the Nottingham Trent University Verifier. It is essential that the Examination Board team as a whole represent sufficient and wide ranging experience to assess the required subject matter.

The External Examiner/s:

Design Center External Examiners are appointed for a period of three years and the following conditions must be satisfied. Nominations for the appointment of an External Examiner are approved by Design Center's Academic Board. The outgoing External Examiner must remain available for one further assessment to ensure a smooth transition for the newly appointed Examiner.

External Examiners must be appointed six months prior to the first assessment that they will be required to undertake to allow for adequate introduction to the programme to take place:

The External Examiner's academic/professional qualifications must be appropriate to the programme to be examined both in terms of level and subject.

The External Examiner should have appropriate standing, expertise and experience to maintain comparability of standards as indicated by:
> Post and place of work.
> Range and scope of experience.
> Current and recent active involvement in research/scholarly/professional activities in the field of study concerned.

The External Examiner should have recent external examining or comparable related experience to indicate competence in assessing students in the subject area.

External Examiners should be drawn from a variety of institutional/professional contexts; an appropriate balance between academic and professional practitioners should be reflected.

There should not be more than one examiner from the same institution within the same team of external examiners.

There should not be reciprocal external examining arrangements between Design Center and an External Examiner selected from another institution.

The External Examiner, on completion of tenure, may not be replaced with another examiner from the same institution for a period of 5 years.

The External Examiner should not hold more than two other external examiner appointments concomitant with that to Design Center.

The External Examiner should be impartial in judgment and should not have previous close involvement with Design Center or the Nottingham Trent University which might compromise objectivity.

The External Examiner may not, in the preceding 5 years have been a member of staff, a governor, a student or a near relative of a member of staff, or hold a position or act as a consultant on the development of the programme for which they are being appointed.

The Nottingham Trent University Verifier:

The Verifier is a member of the University's Validation Services Sub-Committee. This is a sub-committee of the University's Academic Board. The Verifier has a role distinct to that of the assessors and examiners. The role of the Verifier is to verify that the assessment procedures as laid down are operating fairly and correctly, and that all pertinent staff, examiners and students are aware of their rights and responsibilities and that the examination and assessment process is impartially and professionally conducted. Additionally the Verifier must ensure that the standard of work submitted is of an appropriate and comparable level to that of the University, for which the award/progression is being considered.

The Verifier is at all times impartial and may act as a mediator or offer advice on occasion of requirement for interpretation or clarification of issues relevant to the assessment process. The Verifier ensures that that the final assessment process is rigorous and that all technical undertakings are completed in a proper manner. The Verifier must also be satisfied and confirm that the External Examiner is fully conversant with the requirements and level commensurate for consideration of the award or progression being assessed.

Rules and procedures for instructions to assessors/examiners and moderators:

The External Examiner must be briefed on their task as soon as possible following appointment. This briefing will be held at Design Center in a meeting with the appropriate course team and staff and will include the following:

The Dates of the External Examiner's meetings.

The External Examiner's role in relation to the Examination Board.

The objectives of the programme being assessed.

Its syllabuses and teaching methods.

The methods of assessment and marking criteria and strategy.

The regulations of the programme including compensation for failure.

Opportunities for re-assessment.

Design Center's requirements and conditions for the award

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

NOTES

This qualification has been replaced by Qualification ID 93875, which is the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Multimedia Design, NQF Level 08, 120 credits.
.

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.

NONE