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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Rural Development 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
97283  Bachelor of Arts Honours in Rural Development 
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda 
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  Urban and Regional Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  133  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 Bachelor of Arts Honours in Rural Development [B.A. Honours (Rural Development)] is designed to adequately ground the learners in rural development imperatives and equip them with skills as well as with knowledge of how to conduct solution-oriented research. Thus, with the B.A Honours (Rural Development) learners will be prepared for studies in Masters and PhD studies.

Upon successful completion of the qualification, the learner will be able to:
  • Interrogate the knowledge from multiple sources about the rural development landscape.
  • Show an understanding, and an ability to use diverse methods, techniques and tools to solve rural community challenges.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the complex nature and operations of non-governmental organisations (NGOs); community-based organisations (CBOs); cooperatives; and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs).
  • Apply techniques of independent scientific research and enquiry process.
  • Manage a project in a rural area based on an understanding of the roles and relationships between elements within the rural communities.

    Rationale:
    The Bachelor of Arts Honours in Rural Development, at NQF Level 8 is a professional Degree that seeks to address poverty and underdevelopment that haves become major societal challenges throughout the world. As long as these problems persist, the search for sustainable solutions will remain on the global social justice and development agendas.

    In South Africa, more than 47 % of the people reside in areas that are classified as 'rural' (Statistics South Africa, 2003). Almost 75 % of the rural population lives in poverty. Lack of consensus of what constitutes poverty; ineffective leadership for development; substandard communication infrastructure; high levels of household food insecurity; sub-optimal provision of basic services, the HIV and AIDS pandemic; lack of employable skills which precipitate high underdevelopment and unemployment rates; poor infrastructure; high illiteracy rates; lack of community voice due to inadequate involvement in decision making processes (especially children, women and youth) and the perception that rural people are 'un-bankable' are some of the major issues that constrain development in Southern Africa. Moreover, the search for appropriate and sustainable solutions to the land question and climate change continue to dominate the agenda of rural development.

    This qualification seeks to address the problem of implementation of policies and programmes development practitioners in private establishments, government bodies and NGOs face. It also assists with further development of competencies of identifying, analysing and addressing typical diverse and complex socio-economic development problems. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Learners may be admitted based on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) (Selection testing; interviewing; and assessment of portfolio of evidence) Individuals will be declared competent on the basis of the provisions of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy of the institution. The inclusion of RPL will benefit a large number of people who will find an opportunity to acquire a formal qualification or gain access to higher education.

    Entry Requirements:
    For admission to this qualification, learners are required to have the following in order to be considered for admission:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Sociology, Anthropology, Development Studies, Environmental Sciences, Education, Economics, Political Science or any other development-oriented field. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 133 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules:
  • Research Project, 30 Credits.
  • Rural Development Theories and Practice, 21 Credits.
  • Research Methods 1, 18 Credits.
  • Project Management, 12 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship, 12 Credits.
  • Institutions for Rural Development, 14 Credits.
  • Contemporary Issues in Rural Development, 14 Credits.
  • Research Methods 2, 12 Credits.

    Elective modules (Learners need to choose one):
  • Ethics in Community-Based International Research, 8 Credits.
  • People, Culture and the Environment, 8 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Interrogate knowledge from multiple sources about the rural development landscape.
    2. Show an understanding, and an ability to use diverse methods, techniques and tools to solve rural community challenges.
    3. Demonstrate an understanding of the complex nature and operations of non-governmental organisations (NGOs); community-based organisations (CBOs); cooperatives; and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs).
    4. Apply techniques of independent scientific research and enquiry process.
    5. Manage a project in a rural area based on an understanding of the roles and relationships between elements within the rural communities. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The dynamics, multifaceted nature and theories of rural development are understood.
  • Various sources are consulted in order to find solutions to address equity and equality challenges relating to rural development practice.
  • The bases and principles governing the behaviour of rural systems and their underlying physical, socio-economic, legal and institutional subsystems are understood.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The techniques of facilitating rural development processes are acquired.
  • The methods, procedures and techniques are used in engaging communities living in the rural areas to solve existing and complex rural challenges/problems.
  • Systems Analysis is used as a tool for understanding and formally representing the complex dynamics of rural areas as well as facilitating the development and implementation of integrated plans for rural areas.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Relevant improvement plans for the operations of rural-based organisations or institutions are developed.
  • The roles played by institutions and organisations in rural development are understood and explained.
  • Knowledge relating to the roles of a broad range of organisations and institutions spearheading rural development: non-governmental organisations (NGOs); community-based organisations (CBOs); cooperatives; and microfinance Institutions (MFIs) is applied.
  • The scope and nature of rural organisations and institutions is understood and explained.
  • Various techniques used to analyse the effectiveness of rural organisations and institutions in spearheading rural development are applied.
  • Procedures and challenges relating to the operations of organisations and institutions in rural areas, the principles of organisational development and operations of NGOs, cooperatives, MFIs and CBOs are explained.
  • The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the effective performance of rural-based organisations and institutions are discussed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Knowledge of the various social research designs, sampling techniques, approaches to data collection and ethics in research involving people is understood and applied.
  • Independent research focusing on a relevant issue in rural development is formulated and carried out with the guidance of an academic supervisor.
  • Scientific research proposals are planned and developed.
  • Qualitative and quantitative scientific data, analysis techniques and their capacities to present seminars to academic audiences are developed.
  • Academic, professional or occupational ideas and texts are presented and communicated effectively to a range of audiences, offering creative insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues appropriate to the context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • The tools and techniques of project management are developed.
  • Major concepts such as project, programme, planning, management, control, indicators, monitoring and evaluation in project management are explained.
  • The procedures and challenges associated with managing rural development projects or programmes are explained.
  • Theoretical perspectives of the project cycle in managing projects as well as identifying and selection of key indicators to use when assessing the performance of projects adapted and applied.
  • Action plans or programmes for monitoring and evaluation of projects, following basic planning, monitoring and evaluation procedures are designed and implemented.
  • Computer-based project management techniques and programmes are applied.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative assessment:
    Learners will choose one (1) Individual and one (1) group project which will be supervised by academic staff with relevant expertise. Two (2) continuous assessment tests, (1) Seminar presentation, two (2) assignments and One (1) case study per module in each semester. The projects for each module will be research-based and results assessed and presented in a seminar set up as part of assessment process.

    Summative assessments:
    Will entail tests, presentation of the project results, group and individual assignments and final examination. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable with similar qualifications around the world in terms of the purpose. The University of Nigeria offers an Honours Degree in Development Studies which focuses on solution-based research into social and economic as well as sustainable human development problems in the country. The purpose of the qualification is to propose solutions to problems through research. Research at the Institute is not only directed at solutions of social and economic problems but enabling learners to collect socio-economic data that is needed on a wide range of topics in various fields of social and economic studies.

    The Institute for Development Studies (IDS) based at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom offers an Honours Degree in Poverty and Development Studies and learners are expected to have mastered the approaches relating to issues in poverty reduction and development with confidence, having gained:
  • Knowledge of the main theories, concepts and debates of development in their historical and contemporary context with specialised knowledge on poverty reduction.
  • A practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge.
  • The ability to engage in an informed and critical way with other professionals from diverse social science backgrounds concerned with poverty reduction and development.
  • The ability to use commonly applied research methods and skills, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative methods.
  • The learners are also expected to understand the functions of government, NGOs, bilateral and multilateral donor and lending agencies, UN programmes, the private sector, or civil society organisations.

    Conclusion:
    The comparison done above reveals similarities of this qualification to other international qualifications both from developing and developed countries in terms of the purpose. The focus is mainly on the development of poverty stricken communities and an in-depth analysis of how locally-based organisations can be utilised to spearhead the development of the communities. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Geography and Environmental Management at NQF Level 8.

    Vertically:
  • Master of Arts in Rural Development at NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Arts in Land Reform and Rural Development at NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    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 Venda 


    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.