SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Master of Science in Dietetics

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
9403	Master of Science in Dietetics
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Promotive Health and Developmental Services
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	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

Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods to render a specialised professional service, in a specific aspect of nutrition and to do research under supervision.

Responding to the needs of the community

Responding to business and industry needs

In life-long learning and the appreciation of the value of education and society.

Qualifiers will demonstrate knowledge, skills and applied competence in the field of study that provide opportunities for continued personal growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Learners who register for this qualification can:

Learn from predominantly written material;

Communicate what they have learnt comprehensively in the medium of instruction;

Learn and take responsibility for their own progress.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The qualification recognises formal and non-formal prior learning (incorporating experiential learning) at a Higher Education and Training Certificate Level 7 in dietetic sciences or a functional equivalent.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The planned combination of learning outcomes are integrated with critical cross-field outcomes for this qualification:

Practical Competency
The demonstrated ability/skill to achieve the major Skills/Applied Competency of the qualification.

Foundational Competency
The demonstrated understanding, by the Learner, of the embedded knowledge that underpins the end result/outcome.

Reflective competency
The demonstrated ability/skill to integrate or connect our performances and to reflect on, evaluate and adopt the above competencies.

To successfully complete the qualification the learner will have to demonstrate his/her learning via module specific learning outcomes as well as critical cross-field learning outcomes.

Module specific outcomes will include capabilities relating to module knowledge and the understanding thereof within a specific context, and capabilities relating to integrated knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines within the field.

Critical cross-field outcomes will include those specified in the learning outcomes for approved modules in the certificate and as appropriate to the learner's field of practice.

1. Conducting research under supervision in a specific field of dietetics/nutrition
2. Documenting and rationalising the research in an acceptable, scientific way
3. Identifying the problems in the field of dietetics/nutrition and offer solutions through scientific research to the benefit of the profession
4. Applying this knowledge to the benefit of the profession
5. Understanding the nutritional problems and needs of the country and the ability to bring forward solutions that would satisfy national and international standards of excellence.

The learner will be able to analyse and apply the basic principles relevant to the following:

1. Draw up a complete protocol
2. Select and define a suitable research area
3. Document the research systematically and logically and report concisely
4. Use the research methods, techniques and procedures correctly
5. Use the relevant literature effectively
6. Rationalise the problem statement and conclusions
7. Solve the stated problem and achieve research goals
8. Make logic conclusions and generalisations
9. Present a technically well-produced dissertation of the research, make a contribution to the present knowledge in the relevant field of nutrition
10. Publish the results in an accredited Journal, apply the new knowledge in solving the identified problem(s).

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

A learner should provide evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills and attitude) by means of the following:

1. Formative evaluation - the process, developmental nature and end-product (outcome) are important
2. Theory and practice are integrated.

Integrated assessment:

Competence is achieved, through continuous assessment by demonstrating the ability to achieve the outcomes of the Qualification

The learner should provide evidence of a specialised and high level of competencies, knowledge and attitudes in a specific area of nutrition/dietetics, through conducting a research project and writing a dissertation in a specialised field of study, according to the standards set by the university and professional board.

Assessment documents are moderated to ensure that:

They conform to the scope and context of the competency as stipulated in the qualification.

They are constructed in such a way that the Assessor assesses the critical outcomes applied, during the Learner's activity performances, towards achieving an outcome.

Assessments are:

To include confirmation of the Embedded Knowledge component to ensure that the Foundational Competency is achieved.

To be verified by Internal Verifiers to ensure valid, credible, true and fair results.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical: It gives access to Postgraduate studies in Nutrition/Dietetics at Ph.D. level and various other postgraduate certificates and diplomas.

Horizontal: It gives access to Postgraduate studies in Nutrition/Dietetics at Master's level, various other postgraduate certificates and diplomas at other universities and institutions -nationally and Internationally.

MODERATION OPTIONS

A system of external peer review and evaluation of departments including evaluation of the standards and assessment practices per Department.

Qualifications: The minimum academic and workplace experience requirements at a level above the level of moderation.

Appropriate professional criteria will be drafted in the case of workplace assessment.

Mentorship: All junior and new members of staff are mentored by senior members as they work together in teams. All assessment done by external assessors is quality controlled by internal staff.

Any moderation criteria as determined by the ETQA.

Professional Board of Dietetics of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic staff of the University of the Free State complies with standards set by Senate and will exercise their assessment within the approved quality assurance system of the University. Assessors will also meet all criteria as stipulated by the relevant ETQA.

Assessors are:

Subject matter specialists

Registered with the awarding body

Accredited by the awarding body after achieving competency against Unit Standards of competence for Assessors

To be administrated, advised and coached by an Internal Verifier.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 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 the Free State