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:

Postgraduate Diploma: Geographical Science

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
72965	Postgraduate Diploma: Geographical Science
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
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	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 replaces:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
16104	Postgraduate Diploma: Geographical Science	Level 7	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7	128	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The purpose is to produce diplomates who understand the concepts and principles of integrated environmental management and development in the local, southern Afiican and global contexts of spatial and temporal human and biophysical interactions of the environment. The qualification aims to produce diplomates who can apply their knowledge of spatial interdependencies and environmental management and development to the sustainable utilization of the South African natural and built environments.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

(1) An adequate 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 a number of ways:
(a) 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.
(b) Alternative access programmes such as the Science Foundation Programme (SFP).
(4) Continuation in, or access into, programmes at level 7 or above presupposes completion of the eight level requirement 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 matric exemption.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

To have e the ability to `read`, interpret and produce maps.
To understand the human and biophysical interactions.
To communicate the above effectively both orally and in the written form.
To be able to utilize information on the human and biophysical environment to formulate management strategies for the sustainable utilization and development of the environment.
To be able to gather and analyse information in the above context.
To be able to operate effectively as a member of a team in a problem-solving context.
To identify, synthesize and react to information needs within an applied context of the human and biophysical environments.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

(1) Learners will demonstrate their ability and proficiency in each of the seven learning outcomes. These are assessed by projects, assignments, tutorials, oral presentations and examinations up to level 7. The over-all exit-point qualifications at level 6 (Bachelors Degree) and 7 (Honours Degree) will be evaluated via individual and group projects within respective Capstone Modules at levels 300 and 700.
(2) All assessments are second examined with external examination at 300 and 700 course level.

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 ezch module in a qualification.

Capstone modules are specifically designed to assess the learner`s integration of knowledge and skills learnt throughout the programme and to demonstrate competence in the critical learning outcomes.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Learners may shift into the programme at any level provided they meet all the prerequisite requirements for that level. Students from Agricultural Colleges and Technikons with completed Diplomas may carry credits into the programme.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under 10. above 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), staff 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