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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in African Languages for Professional Contexts 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
88222  Bachelor of Arts Honours in African Languages for Professional Contexts 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University 
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Language 
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 status, role and functions of the indigenous African languages in the public and business sector have become key topics in discussions on language planning and policy in government and in the private sector in many countries on the African continent. The general purpose of the qualification is to equip students with the theoretical knowledge and applied competences that will enable them to develop a principled comprehension of the factors that are relevant to effective language policy and planning for the African languages in a multilingual context. They will also have the knowledge and competence to address the successful analysis, planning, implementation and management of discourse practices of African languages in multilingual professional contexts (in public, private and educational sectors). The challenges concerning the advancement of the African languages in education, the broad public sector and in the business sector are, however, still huge. This programme aims to contribute to addressing these challenges through producing graduates who are competent in the academic fields of language policy, planning and discourse analysis for the African languages.

Rationale:

The Bachelor of Arts Honours: African Languages for Professional Contexts contributes to satisfying the critical need for language practitioners who possess advanced knowledge in the field of professional discourse in the African languages; and who possess a holistic comprehension of the complex issues pertaining to the promotion of the status and advancement of the use of the African languages in professional contexts. These contexts include the public and business sectors, where the African languages have been largely inhibited in their use. The qualification will contribute to fulfil the need for language planners, language and communication practitioners and language educators who possess the knowledge and applied competencies for designing and implementing a multilingual language policy in which the African languages figure prominently.

The need for the promotion of the status and use of the African languages for professional (public and private sector) contexts crucially necessitates the delivery of graduates who have the capacity to initiate, plan and implement strategies and projects relating to language policy and planning, and who have a principled holistic understanding of how discourse in the African languages can be produced and used in the public and corporate spheres. In terms of the qualification outcomes, graduates will fulfil the need for expert professionals who are able to apply their knowledge and competences in the practice of planning and implementing multilingualism in professional contexts. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is expected that the learner should be able to:
  • Read and critically evaluate academic texts in the language medium of learning.
  • Communicate information and their own ideas orally and in written texts, using accepted standards of academic writing at NQF Level 7.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure for admission to the qualification will be used in accordance with the official University policy for this process. This policy will be applied in relation to applicants' work-related experience in professional contexts (e.g. education, government and business sectors) where they were involved in addressing issues relating to the promotion of African languages.

    Access to the Qualification:

    Access to this qualification is granted to learners with:
  • A Bachelor of Arts with (an) African language(s) as a major.
    OR
  • Admission through the formal procedure of recognition of prior learning. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Bachelor of Arts Honours: African Languages for Professional Contexts consist of three compulsory modules at NQF Level 8.
    Modules:
  • Pragmatics of African languages, 30 credits.
  • Professional discourse in African languages, 30 credits.
  • Language policy and planning for African Languages (Research module), 60 credits.
    Total: 120 credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate an advanced theoretical knowledge of language policy and planning, pragmatics and discourse analysis, as applied to African languages in public and business sector contexts.

    2. Demonstrate a principled understanding of how the promotion of the use of African languages in professional multilingual contexts relates to values, ideologies, attitudes, social identities and relationships.

    3. Construct, interpret and analyse spoken and written discourses in the African languages in institutional and organisational domains, for both internal and external communication.

    4. Relate professional discourse practices in African languages to broader issues concerning language and society in the implementation of multilingual language policy.

    5. Identify and analyse problems relevant to the development and sustainability of a multilingual language policy in institutional and organisational contexts, for the creation of a culture, sensitive to discourse practices in African languages.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    All Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are embedded appropriately in the modules and will be assessed within the context of the relevant Exit Level Outcomes. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrate a comprehensive, integrated knowledge of theoretical approaches in the interpretation of Language Policy and Planning for practice.
  • With reference to theory-based arguments, evaluate and critique current research on Language Policy and Planning in terms of existing language policy and plans formulated for professional contexts.
  • Identify, analyse and present solutions to complex problems concerning the status and role of African languages in Language Policy and Planning in multilingual professional contexts.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with the current scholarly literature in the fields of language policy and planning, pragmatics, and discourse and genre analysis, and applied research relating to the African languages in the context of multilingual language policy.
  • Select appropriate research methodologies for pragmatic investigation or analysis of a research problem.
  • Identify, analyse and present theory-based solutions to complex phenomena in discourse of African languages in independent investigations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • From research findings, justify the importance of promoting the use of African Languages in professional multilingual contexts.
  • Identify and critique the role and influence of values and attitudes within relationships in a social context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Effectively present the findings of independent investigations of discourse analysis of African languages to a range of audiences.
  • Conduct research on a topic of Language Policy and Planning for African languages in a multilingual professional context and present the findings according to institutional requirements.
  • Communicate the arguments and proposals to a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Present principles of communication types in professional contexts and intercultural competence.
  • Analyse and articulate the nature of discourse analysis in professional contexts in relation to the implementation of multilingual language policy.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Analyse problems related to sustainability regarding multilingual language policy within institutional and organisational contexts.
  • Provide innovative solutions to address problems identified in discourse practices for the African languages.

    Integrated Assessment:

    The University has a formal Assessment Policy which regulates all assessment practices in qualifications and which fulfils diagnostic, formative and summative functions. This policy prescribes assessment criteria that ensure the attainment of assessment validity, reliability, transparency, fairness, attainability and timeous feedback. Academic honesty is ensured through a formal policy on the curtailment of plagiarism.

    The qualification assessment requirements entail: a series of six - eight major written assignments and three major tests through which formative and summative assessment of the respective fields of study in the qualification are achieved.

    The research assignment, comprising 30 Credits, constitutes the major summative assessment. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification can be compared with the following international qualifications which deal with language studies:

    United Kingdom:

    The Open University offers a Degree in modern language studies, which gives the learner a choice of studying two modern languages from a choice of French, German and Spanish. The qualification provides learners with a range of career opportunities.

    Australia:

    The University of Sydney offers a Bachelor of Arts that is has a range of about 15 languages to choose from as the major subject. Learners are able to complete a double major with the intersection between the humanities and any other field inter alia, science, commerce and engineering.

    The University of Western Sydney also offers a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Languages, with Linguistics as a fourth year of study, which builds on a three-year Degree in languages.

    The Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Languages and Applied Linguistics is offered both full-time and part-time at the Nathan Campus of Griffith University, the Auckland University of Technology and the National University of Singapore.

    Even though the qualifications used for comparison are not based on African languages, the concept is similar to this South African qualification. In-depth comparison of content would not really serve. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualification articulates horizontally with any cognate Postgraduate Diploma or Honours Degree in Language Studies at NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with any Master's Degree in Language Studies at NQF Level 9. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    All the modules in the programme are subject to internal and external moderation in accordance with the official University policy on internal and external moderation. The evaluation of the assessments made through the moderation process is considered for the purpose of reviewing the assessment types utilised for the programme. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors must:
  • Have a Higher Education qualification that is one level above the qualification and modules being assessed.
  • Be experienced tutors with experience in the particular module. 
    		•

    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. Stellenbosch University 


    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.