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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Development Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96469  Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Development Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare 
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 07 - Human and Social Studies  People/Human-Centred Development 
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
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

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:
To help students understand issues of management of development in developing countries, research process, and be able to master writing and thinking skills including logical and coherent argumentation, and be able to address poverty and policy management issues.

Rationale:
  • The qualification is a multidisciplinary field which takes students from other disciplines. Thus it plays the role of bridging the gap into our Masters and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes.
  • The qualification empowers with skills in Development Planning and Public Policy which is related to Economic Development. The department is part of the South African Development Studies Association (SADSA).
  • Since Development Studies is a multidisciplinary study, the Department encourages and invites applications from students, public servants, development practitioners, social activists and others. Career opportunities after completion include the following, Educationists, Policy Makers, Diplomats, Trade Union Officials, Research Officers, Planners, Social Impact Assessors, Development consultants, Social, Civil and Human Right Activists, Employees of Government and Non-Governmental Organizations, Development Officers , and Rural extension officers.
  • One year based programme. Face to face mode of interaction. Students engaged in internal assessments through assignments, tests, class participation, seminar presentations and written examinations moderated internally and externally.
  • It exposes students to be academics with enriched scholarly and practical experience and outcomes. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Special admission to the programme may be given, subject to the approval of the Head of Department (HOD), to students who possess an undergraduate Degree in the relevant areas but do not meet the admission requirements specified. Where necessary the department will use faculty policy.

    Entry Requirements:
    Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) or Undergraduate (UG) Degree in appropriate field with minimum 60% aggregate achieved for major subjects at 3rd year level; or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with at least one subject in the social sciences and an aggregate of 60% for all subjects at exit level. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Compulsory Modules:
  • Research Methodology in Development Studies, 32 Credits.
  • Development Management in the Developing Countries, 32 Credits.
  • Research Project, 32 Credits.

    Elective Modules
  • Political Economy of Health in Developing Countries, 16 Credits.
  • Gender Issues and Social Change, 16 Credits.
  • Strategies and Organisation of Rural Social and Economic Change, 16 Credits.
  • Development Strategies and Planning in Sub-Saharan Africa, 16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Students will be able to understand the conceptual and theoretical aspects of the development complex and to make pragmatic Interventions in policy and planning in society.
  • Students will demonstrate ability to apply different approaches to research including case studies and survey research.
  • Ability to manage development projects and programmes in addressing poverty issues. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Assignments and group discussions.
  • Research paper required.
  • Research papers, Seminar presentations, group discussions and debates.
  • Continuous assessment through class tests, group presentations and assignments.
  • Written examinations to all.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative assessments comprise of continuous assessments through class lectures, seminar presentations, group discussions, debates, class tests, group presentations and assignments.

    Major end of semester exam is the summative assessment. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Focus of the programme on the management of development in Africa and the global economy makes the course to compare favourably internationally. Ability to work in both the urban and rural contexts in investigating and formulating different strategies and policies for development, including carrying out institutional policy and strategic planning at all levels of governance. The course compare favourably nationally as the department had input from the Western Cape department of Anthropology and Sociology. The department have international Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students who are taking the programme. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Vertically, qualifiers may enrol for the Master of Commerce in Development Studies or other post grad studies in other fields. Horizontally, learners can have access to other studies in the Faculty of Management and Commerce or outside the faculty with the same NQF level. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    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 Fort Hare 


    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.