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:

Master of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural and Environmental Instrumentation

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
72929	Master of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural and Environmental Instrumentation
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal
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		Secondary Agriculture
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	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

To produce graduates who have technological skills training in the area of agricultural and environmental instrumentation - sufficient to apply these skills in micrometeorological investigations of field and confined environments. Included in this are the necessary skills training to investigate the movement of energy and water in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum using sophisticated field-based technologies.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

1. Sufficient exposure to physical Science or Biology.
2. An adequate level of development of knowledge and skills in mathematics.
3. Adequate literacy skills in English.

These can be demonstrated in the following ways:

Matriculation exemption with at least 40% at Higher Grade or at least 60% at Standard Grade for Mathematics and at least 40% at Higher Grade or at least 60% at Standard Grade for Biology or Physical Science.

Alternative access programmes such as the Science Foundation Program (SFP).

4. Continuation in, or access into, programmes at level 7 or above presupposes completion of the exit level requirements at level 6 at the required standard.
5. Students who have completed a diploma at an Agricultural college or Technikon may be admitted, provided they meet the criteria above.
6. The SFP provides access to students who do not have a formal or adequate Matriculation exemption.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. To understand the use and application of environmental instrumentation in field investigations of the soil-plant-atmosphere system.
2. To be able to implement instrumentation technologies for the purpose of measurement and control strategies for field systems.
3. To be able to gather, analyse, interpret and synthesize appropriate information collected from field investigations using environmental instrumentation.
4. To be able to work co-operatively in a team in a problem-solving context.
5. To effectively communicate the above both orally and in written form.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Learners will demonstrate their ability and proficiency in each of the five learning outcomes. These are tested via examination in each module (which can also qualify for stand-alone certificates if passed) and the examination of the research project.
2. All assessments are second examined with external examination for the research project.

Integrated assessment:

The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.

The research project, submitted in written form for examination, is specifically designed to assess the learners' integration of knowledge and skills learnt throughout the programme and to demonstrate the learners' competence in each of the five learning outcomes. In examining the research project, the examiner will determine if the student has demonstrated knowledge and instrumentation skills in the solution of a problem that has potential or immediate commercial value or assists in the management of environmental or agricultural resources.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Learners can accumulate certificates until they have enough (64 credits) to register for the Research Project module. Alternatively, they could formally apply to register for a research masters.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under Assessor Criteria will suffice.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that, on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staffs are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of Faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66 % of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to a qualification, are externally examined.

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:

When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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 KwaZulu-Natal