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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma: Nature Conservation 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
85226  Postgraduate Diploma: Nature Conservation 
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
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Nature Conservation 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  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 
Purpose:

The Purpose of this qualification is to develop students who can integrate various conservation issues into applied research addressing a wide range of conservation issues.

Qualifying students will be able to conduct integrated research on various conservation issues. Students will be able to research and interpret the influence of various key issues on the environment and effect outcomes.

This qualification provides the conservation industry with multi-and interdisciplinary researchers who will be able to holistically address conservation-related issues. Due to articulation with related disciplines, students will be able to influence other industries with regard to conservation needs and issues.

Rationale:

Southern Africa has large natural areas, which consist of enormous numbers of plant and animal species in a great diversity of habitats. The sustainable management of these indigenous biological natural resources, such as unique ecosystems, biodiversity and species, is crucial for the survival of humankind and continued sustainable economic development of the conservation industry.

This qualification will provide students with the capacity to view conservation concepts at a multi-and interdisciplinary level.

Qualified students will be able to integrate contemporary conservation related issues into the management and research of conservation areas. Students will also be able to participate in multi-and interdisciplinary research. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Students enrolling are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or learning areas:
  • The ability to learn from written material in the language of tuition.
  • The ability to communicate what they have learned comprehensibly in the language of tuition.
  • The ability to take responsibility for their own progress with limited support, and independently adjust to a variety of contexts or learning environments.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Recognition of Prior Learning can be used to grant:
  • Access to the qualification to those learners who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission.
  • Credits towards the qualification.

    The Recognition of Prior Learning process will be conducted according to Unisa's Recognition of Prior Learning policy and may involve, among other things, the submission of portfolios with evidence of prior learning, challenge examinations, and interviews with assessment panels.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Applicants must be in possession of at least:
  • An Advanced Diploma: Nature Conservation from UNISA.
  • An appropriate Bachelor's Degree.
    OR
  • A cognate qualification at NQF level 7.

    Students with disabilities will be granted admission wherever the nature of their disability does not preclude them from achieving the outcomes of the qualification. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    All modules are at NQF Level 8 and are compulsory.
    Total credits for the qualification: 120 Credits.

    Modules:
  • Conservation Biology, 12 Credits.
  • Freshwater Management, 12 Credits.
  • Environmental Education, 12 Credits.
  • Wildlife Welfare, 12 Credits.
  • Contact session 1, 12 Credits.
  • Community Based Resource Management, 12 Credits.
  • Climate Change, 12 Credits.
  • Research Methodology, 36 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Conduct multi-and/or interdisciplinary research under supervision to address various local, regional and global conservation issues.

    2. Critically discuss biodiversity and its implications for conservation strategies.

    3. Evaluate the status and ecology of freshwater resources in Southern Africa.

    4. Define environmental education and its role in conservation within Southern Africa.

    5. Evaluate the status of animal welfare in Southern Africa.

    6. Define community based resource management and its role in conservation.

    7. Critically discuss climate change and its implications for conservation in Southern Africa.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in this qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

    1.1 Various research methodologies are evaluated in terms of suitability of application.
    1.2 Applicable research methods are used in collecting, analysing and interpreting data.
    1.3 Theories within the context of topical conservation issues are critically discussed.
    1.4 Research results are presented in both written and oral formats.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

    2.1 Biodiversity is defined and its value described in terms of conservation strategies.
    2.2 Challenges of sustainable development are identified and critically evaluated with regard to conservation strategies.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

    3.1 The status and ecology of freshwater systems are established.
    3.2 Applicable and/or appropriate legislation is critically discussed.
    3.3 Challenges of and to sustainable utilisation of freshwater resources are identified and critically evaluated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

    4.1 Elements of environmental education are described in terms of conservation.
    4.2 Appropriate environmental education strategies pertinent to Southern Africa are identified and critically discussed.
    4.3 Challenges facing environmental education with regard to community and governmental involvement are identified and discussed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

    5.1 Animal welfare versus animal rights are critically discussed.
    5.2 Appropriate legislation with regard to conservation of wildlife in Southern Africa is identified.
    5.3 Ethical wildlife management considerations pertinent to national and transfrontier situations are discussed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

    6.1 Community based resource management with regard to sustainable development and conservation is described in the Southern African context.
    6.2 The role and application of community based resource management in terms of conservation and sustainable development is critically evaluated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

    7.1 The science behind climate change is discussed.
    7.2 Global climate change projections with specific focus on Southern Africa are identified.
    7.3 Impacts and adaptations (with reference to communities and ecosystems in Southern Africa) are critically discussed.
    7.4 Mitigation strategies are examined and proposed.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Applied competence - that is, the integration of foundational, practical and reflective competence - will be assessed in a variety of ways and instances during the course of the programme. For example, students will be asked to conduct interdisciplinary research on various conservation topics involving the application of knowledge, as well as reflection.

    In the various modules of the qualification, students will be required to provide evidence of integrated knowledge, research skills and values. Integrated assessment will be conducted during the course of the programme, including but not limited to written assignments, practical activities, and examinations.

    All assessment will meet the criteria of the relevant UNISA policies and procedures. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Nature Conservation as required in Southern Africa is unlike that applied in the countries that at present offer formal tertiary qualifications in this area. Many of the formal tertiary qualifications acquired by conservation practitioners throughout Africa were obtained through South African institutions.

    This qualification and the component modules have been compared with similar qualifications and training courses (formal and informal) from the countries given below. No similar qualification could be found and the comparison was therefore limited to those where some of the content was identified. All are similar to the Unisa Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation.

    University of Sydney, Australia:

    Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Wildlife Health and Population Management).
    This course brings together the disciplines of animal health and wildlife population management, providing students with a coordinated approach to recognising and solving problems in field populations.

    Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland:

    Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Biology and Conservation.
    This qualification covers areas such as the dynamics of populations and communities in natural and fragmented landscapes; the importance of behavioural ecology to conservation; the extent of biodiversity and the nature or rarity, and how zoos and protected areas fulfil an essential role in the preservation of our natural riches. Also included is a detailed examination of the history, habitats and faunas of the neotropical rainforests and sub-Saharan Africa, with the opportunity to travel to one of these destinations.

    Sheffield Hallam University, England:

    Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management (Wildlife and Landscape Conservation).
    This programme develops technical and field skills in ecology and nature conservation; it focuses on the survey, evaluation and management of existing sites, as well as the restoration of damaged land. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:

    This Qualification articulates horizontally with any cognate Postgraduate Diploma or Honours Degree at NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:

    This Qualification articulates vertically with any cognate Master's Degree at NQF Level 9. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • For Unisa, second examiners act as moderators for examination purposes. These are senior academics or qualified industry representatives. All modules have external examiners/moderators who are senior academics from other universities and/or qualified industry representatives.
  • All moderation will be done according to relevant Unisa policies and procedures. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Unisa lecturers and/or industry specialists act as assessors for the qualification. Assignments are assessed by qualified lecturers.

    The following criteria are specified for assessors:
  • Assessors should hold at least the equivalent degree to that which is being examined.
  • Assessors need to be competent in conducting assessment.
  • Assessors who have not yet undergone assessor training will be given the opportunity to do so wherever possible. 
    		•

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

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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 


    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.