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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Postgraduate Diploma: Land and Agrarian Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
86186  Postgraduate Diploma: Land and Agrarian Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
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  Rural and Agrarian Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  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  2014-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2015-12-31   2018-12-31  

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
97070  Postgraduate Diploma in Land and Agrarian Studies  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
  • To contribute to an emerging national framework of life-long learning within the land and agrarian reform sector which includes a variety of in-service short courses and university-based programmes.
  • To meet the demand in the land and agrarian reform sectors in both South Africa and in the Southern African region for post-graduate training in sector-specific conceptual and policy analysis skills, and to service a range of career options within these sectors (e.g. planners, policy makers, fieldworkers).

    Rationale:

    To meet an identified demand in the land and agrarian reform sectors in both South Africa and in the Southern African region for Postgraduate training in sector-specific conceptual and policy analysis skills, and to service a range of career options within these sectors (e.g. planners, policy makers, fieldworkers). 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The student must have a basic understanding of the sustainable livelihoods approach to integrated development, the role of agriculture in economic development, the main features of South Africa's agrarian structure, approaches and methods used in rural enterprise planning, and of the legal framework within which reform takes place. The student must be able to communicate effectively with peers and the wider community, through writing and oral presentations.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Access to the programme can also be provided in terms of the university's Recognition of Prior Learning policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In the Recognition of Prior Learning process students have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course to support the student's admission. The PDC will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the candidates' interest in Land and Agrarian Studies as an adjunct to their existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Students must have obtained an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. sociology, history, economics, political science, geographical and environmental studies), or must have met specified criteria for Recognition of Prior Learning. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Postgraduate Diploma: Land and Agrarian Studies, NQF Level 7, 120 Credits.

    Learning components:

    Postgraduate Diploma: Land and Agrarian Studies:
  • LAS 701: The land question in Southern Africa: historical perspectives.
  • LAS 703: Land and agrarian reform in contemporary Africa: comparative perspectives and policy debates.
  • LAS 704: The economics of agrarian systems.
  • LAS 706: Sustainable rural livelihoods and integrated development planning.
  • LAS 707: Sustainable natural resource management in land and agrarian reform.
  • LAS 708: Legal and socio-legal dimensions of land and agrarian reform. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    By the end of the programme, qualifying learners will:
  • The student will demonstrate a sound understanding of the historical origins of land and related agrarian questions in Southern Africa and of the multiple, inter-related and hence complex character of policy issues which emerge from that history.
  • Engage in Policy Debates on the land question and Land reform issues.
  • Explain land restitution land tenure and land reform in southern and particular South Africa.
  • Land Reform Implementation Policies.

    Critical Cross Field Outcomes:
  • Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions, using critical thinking, have been made.
  • Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, or organisation.
  • Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical, and/or language skills in the modes of written and/or oral presentation. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Assessment takes place according to strict assessment criteria as outlined in the prescribed module descriptor. Lecturers set assignments, class tests and the final assessment papers in terms of module outcomes viz. Adequate level of relevant text comprehension to be demonstrated, adequate range of relevant sources to have been accessed and relevant problems to have been grasped, and appropriate theoretical and practical assignments and case studies as well as solutions to problems to have been presented.

    This ensures that assessments maintain a certain standard in accordance with the standards as set out in the syllabus. An external moderator moderates assessment papers set. The same principle applies to the final marking of the assessments. This ensures that skills and concepts are mastered, thereby maintaining a standard of assessment relevant to this offering.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Within each module students will be subject to continuous evaluation via assignments, projects and presentations, the precise combination varying with the nature of the module. In addition, each module will be examined through a written examination. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Qualifications from the following countries were compared Norway Botswana and Zimbabwe with common core and elective components of qualifications. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    A student who has completed all their modules up to 120 credits and obtained at least 60% may proceed into the Master of Philosophy: Land and Agrarian Studies. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The programme will be moderated via a system of external peer review and evaluation. The minimum qualifications for assessor will be a Doctor of Philosophy plus 3-5 years research experience in the specific focus area. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2009; 2012. 

    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.
     
    1. University of the Western Cape 


    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.