SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Bachelor of Computing Honours

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
77023	Bachelor of Computing Honours
ORIGINATOR
Monash 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
Honours Degree	Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences		Information Technology and Computer Sciences
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	125	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 0480/09	2009-07-01	2012-03-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2013-03-30		2016-03-30

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
88606	Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences Honours	Level 7	NQF Level 08	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:

The Bachelor of Computing (honours) programme is a Career-focused Honours Degree designed to produce graduates who satisfy the computing needs of industry, government and commerce, and who can expect employment in the fields of applications programming, systems programming, systems analysis, project management, database design and management, data communications and a range of specialised positions. Learners develop career-focused knowledge, skills and attitudes in the areas of software development, computer technology and information systems. In addition, they gain experience in applying such knowledge in a workplace context and they develop skills in oral communication, teamwork and problem solving.

Upon completion of the course students will, depending on their choice of electives, have advanced skills in the design, implementation and testing of computer software and systems, and the design and administration of databases and networks. This degree also prepares learners for research and further in-depth study at NQF Level 8.

Rationale:

National and regional goals place high priority on the development of information technology skills-particularly the high-end skills like programming and management of technology. Communication networks are being expanded throughout the country, a second fixed-line telecom operator is imminent, and organisations are increasingly deploying networks and electronic interfaces to conduct their business. Without a steady supply of technical personnel trained to the highest standards of the industry, these initiatives will flounder and regional development, together with international competitiveness, will suffer.

In its document, "Towards an Information Society Policy for South Africa", the National Information Technology Forum lists a number of information technology factors critical to the success of the South African economy:

Key among these are:

Develop an International Approach:

"It is essential that South Africa develop an approach to the global information society that is based on its realities as a developing country, (and have) goals within an international information order".

ICT in the Economy:

"It is crucial for South Africa to be able to develop applications to meet its own needs".

Education, Training and Human Resources:

"A major national effort is required to ensure adequate education".

Promoting Innovation, Research and Development:

"For South Africa to meet its own needs, it must have capacity to develop indigenous IT solutions".

Monash University, with its global presence, focus on internationalisation and strong research emphasis, is a powerful partner in the process of achieving these goals. With its information technology programmes that are fully aligned with these objectives, Monash South Africa will, by engaging effectively with industry and society, play a key role in building the capacity critically needed in this country.

The Bachelor of Computing (Honours) programme will provide the opportunity for students to move beyond the Bachelors degree level to specialise in one or more areas of IT. It also develops the research skills needed to move students into the Masters and Doctoral programmes, thus providing a pool of highly skilled people to meet these national goals.

Although there are honours programmes in IT offered by many of the public universities in South Africa Monash South Africa is unique in that it offers courses designed to be both globally and locally relevant. Because of the extensive international input that underpins the content and drives the development of this course, we believe it is a unique and highly desirable product that will help keep South Africa in the forefront of global business competitiveness.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

To be eligible for the Honours year, students should have fulfilled the requirements for the Bachelor of Computing External applicants should have fulfilled the equivalent of these requirements. Learners should also have the study skills expected of a graduate. They should be able to source information from a wide variety of sources and should be able to work independently. They should be able to present their work effectively, both in written and verbal formats.

Recognition of Prior Leaning:

A learner may receive advanced standing based on prior work completed at honours level where appropriate work has been undertaken.

At present the learner is required to submit details of such experience to the faculty, and each application is handled on a case-by-case basis where the school evaluates the experience against the background of course requirements.

Monash South Africa has developed a Recognition of Prior Learning Policy which is overseen by the Admissions and Advanced Standing Committee based on recommendations from discipline specific assessors and Student Services.

Access to the Qualification:

To be eligible for the Honours year, students should have fulfilled the requirements for the Bachelor of Computing with at least a credit average in their third year units. External applicants should have fulfilled the equivalent of these requirements.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

N/A

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Successful learners will:

Be instilled with intellectual and cultural curiosity as a preparation for autonomous, self-directed and life-long learning.

Have a broad and critical understanding of knowledge in their field and how it relates to other fields.

Display a professional approach to work, and a responsibility towards community and personal development.

Have an understanding of different cultures that enriches experience and challenges assumptions.

Have an understanding of how to formulate and approach a research problem and to undertake a significant independent research project, and to present research results orally and in a written report.

Have an in-depth knowledge of the content of the electives chosen.

Be able to formulate problems and to design solutions in the specific area of knowledge.

Be au fait with current theories and methodologies in the specific area of knowledge.

Be able to apply current technologies to problems in the specific area of knowledge.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Competence is evident when the learner is able to:

Display a curiosity about knowledge.

Undertake independent investigation of topics of interest.

Display an understanding of the broad issues in their chosen field of study.

Be able to discuss current issues in their field of study. Analyse information and any competing theories in the particular units of study and articulate the implications.

Read and interpret academic and professional texts.

Understand which other fields of knowledge relate to their chosen field.

Behave in a professional and responsible manner.

Demonstrate a behavioural value system that is sensitive across a range of social contexts.

Formulate the research proposal.

Complete the research proposed.

Present the research results in a written report and an oral presentation.

Depending on the electives chosen, students should be able to:
> Formulate problems relevant to the specific area of study and design appropriate solutions.
> Articulate current theories and describe methodologies. Compare and analyse opposing theories and views.
> Describe the technologies relevant to the specific area of knowledge and demonstrate how to apply at least one of them to a relevant problem.

Integrated Assessment:

Unit assessment is based on a mixture of examinations, practical assignments, unit tests and project work. In general, the objectives outlined above for the course are assessed as follows:

Knowledge outcomes are assessed principally through examinations and unit tests that require students to demonstrate their knowledge of fundamental concepts and their use and application.

Understanding outcomes are assessed principally through examinations, unit tests and assignments that require students to explain concepts and demonstrate their application to the solution of practical problems, and by interviews in which students are required to explain and modify their solutions.

Skills outcomes are assessed through examinations, practical assignments and group work that require students to use the tools and techniques they have been taught to create appropriate solutions to specified problems.

Attitudinal outcomes are assessed through the students' participation in project work and group assignments which require them to plan and work collaboratively and ethically.

The syllabus contains information on the specific educational outcomes of each unit and the manner in which learners will be assessed, (summative and formative), in each section to evaluate whether they have achieved the specified outcomes.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

There are honours programmes in IT offered by many of the public universities in South Africa.

However, Monash South Africa is unique in that it offers courses designed to be both globally and locally relevant. The Bachelor of Computing (Honours) is an example of this. Because of the extensive international input that underpins the content and drives the development of this course, we believe it is a unique and highly desirable product that will help keep South Africa in the forefront of global business competitiveness.

Monash has formal academic links with more than 100 institutions around the world, and was the Australian case study in the OECD Internationalisation Quality Review Process (1996).

Since the early 1990s, Monash has delivered programs, with local partners, in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Monash South Africa degree courses are also offered by Monash in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Australian Computer Society accredits this course as meeting the requirements for professional- level membership.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Monash University has committed itself to fostering lifelong learning opportunities and developing more flexible program award structures and articulation options.

Vertical Articulation:

Pathways to Monash Undergraduate Degrees:

Students with a Bachelor's Degree in IT would be granted admission to the Bachelor of Computing (Honours) degree. Where students have a bachelor's degree from another institution, the content of the work covered would be examined to ensure that the student has the necessary background in the computing subjects.

It is anticipated that a Bachelor's Degree in computing from other South African universities would articulate into this degree. For example a graduate from the RAU Academy for IT with a bachelor's degree would be granted admission to this degree. Monash South Africa will seek to develop articulation arrangements with other South African universities as opportunity presents and as such action is considered appropriate by relevant authorities.

Pathways from Monash degrees:

A graduate of the Bachelor of Computing (Honours) degree would be eligible to enter the Master of IT program offered by Monash. This program is not yet offered on the South African campus and accreditation for that program will be sought once there is sufficient demand for it.

A graduate of the Bachelor of Computing (Honours) degree should be eligible to admission to the Master's programs in other South African universities. Such an arrangement would have to be sought on an individual basis from each institution.

The Monash Bachelor of Computing (Honours) degree is recognised worldwide and provides entry to a wide range of graduate programs at certificate, diploma, Masters and Doctoral level offered by Monash University and at universities across the world.

Horizontal Articulation:

Pathways within Monash:

Applicants who have been admitted to Monash are eligible to transfer between degree programs provided they fulfil the relevant entry requirements. Where a learner wishes to transfer, he/she will be given specific credit for any overlapping units between the degree programs and block credit for any electives that have been undertaken.

Because of the short duration of the Honours degree, transfers may be inappropriate.

Learners wishing to transfer to a South African university should be able to transfer and receive appropriate credit for completed units. Such an arrangement would have to be sought on an individual basis from each institution.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Under Monash University regulations each faculty has a Board of Examiners that is responsible for evaluating the results of the performances of all candidates enrolled in the faculty. The Board advises its faculty board on any matter relating to the method of assessment of candidates' performances.

The Chief Examiner is responsible for moderation of results across all campuses, where the Chief Examiner for each unit will be the chairperson of the department/school concerned or any other person appointed by the relevant faculty board, on the nomination of the chairperson.

Assessors and moderators will have qualifications and/or experience recognised by Monash as appropriate for the relevant discipline area. An assessor will normally hold a doctoral or master's qualification or equivalent accreditation and standing.

In South Africa, an external moderation process is in place. Examinations and a sample of the student's submissions will be reviewed by a local expert in the field.

The process of appointing external examiners is as follows; The appropriate academic staff member nominates an external examiner. The nomination, a detailed curriculum vitae and a motivation for the nomination is submitted to the Head of School who forwards it to the School Education Committee. If there are no objections to the nomination, the nominee is approached with a view to appointment as an external examiner.

The level of qualifications and experience required from external examiners and moderators is as follows:

Academic qualifications; the moderator/examiner must possess a doctoral qualification or significant experience (usually a minimum of 4 years) within their field of expertise.

Teaching experience; the moderator/examiner must have at least 4 years teaching experience at university level.

Specific teaching experience in the relevant or a comparable unit: the moderator/examiner must demonstrate his/her expertise in the nominated field through his/her substantial teaching experience in a comparable unit or cognate field.

The status of the institution where they teach; the moderator/examiner must be an employee of a university.

The moderation policy of the Faculty of Information Technology applies to all units and requires that all summative as well as formative assessment where learners achieve more than 80% or less than 50% as well as a representative sample of all assessment be evaluated by moderators. All relevant information is made available to the moderator.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

NOTES

This qualification has been replaced by qualification 88605, which is "Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences", Level 7, 360 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.

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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.

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