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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Science Honours in Operations Research 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
97971  Bachelor of Science Honours in Operations Research 
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa 
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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
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 purpose of this qualification is to equip qualifying learners with a range of technical, scientific and research skills in Operations Research and to enable them to pursue a career in industry and commerce. Learners will be able to demonstrate the following upon completion of the qualification:
  • Critical and creative thinking and a comprehensive and systematic knowledge basis, having a coherent and critical understanding of the principles, theories and research methods of Operations Research.
  • Application of appropriate Operations Research skills and techniques to complex and real-world problems and the ability to operate effectively in complicated but sometimes ill-defined contexts.
  • Planning and conducting of research in the field of Operations Research, including the gathering, analysing, synthesising and interpretation of information correctly by utilising the relevant theoretical research principles and reflecting on the research undertaken.
  • Thinking and reflecting contextually on learning from individual experience and academic disciplines in relation to scientific, technological and economic realities, locally and globally.
  • Demonstrating efficient and effective information retrieval and processing skills and the ability to present and communicate academic work effectively.
  • Manage learning tasks in an autonomous, professional and ethical manner displaying a high level of intellectual independence.

    Rationale:
    There is a demand from both the private sector and academic sector for a Bachelor Honours Degree in Operations Research which will provide academic and career-focused Postgraduate learning and research opportunities. This Degree follows on from the Bachelor of Science Degree This qualification will contribute to the development of the research capacity and critical scholarship of Postgraduate learners. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL is used by the university to:
  • Grant admission to the qualification to learners who do not meet the minimum admission requirements.
  • Grant credits from prior learning towards the qualification.

    The RPL office can supply full details of processes relating to the assessment and accreditation of learning from prior experiences.

    Entry Requirements:
    Admission requirements for the qualification are as follows:
  • A Bachelor of Science, Level 7 Degree.
    Or
  • An appropriate Advanced Diploma at Level 7 provided a Diploma at NQF Level 6 has been completed in a cognate field.
    Or
  • An appropriate qualification at NQF Level 7 with Operations Research III. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory modules at NQF Level 8, totalling 120 Credits.

    Modules at NQF Level 8, 120 Credits:
  • Research Support Tools, 12 Credits.
  • Research Project, 36 Credits.
  • Stochastic Modelling, 24 Credits.
  • Discrete Optimisation, 24 Credits.
  • Introduction to Heuristics, 24 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Engage in critical and creative thinking and show a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base, having a coherent and critical understanding of the principles, theories and research methods of Operations Research.
    2. Apply appropriate Operations Research skills and techniques to complex and real-world problems and operate effectively in complicated but sometimes ill-defined contexts.
    3. Plan and conduct research in the field of Operations Research, including the gathering, analysing, synthesising and interpretation of information correctly by utilising the relevant theoretical research principles and reflecting on the research undertaken.
    4. Think and reflect contextually on learning from individual experience and academic disciplines in relation to scientific, technological and economic realities, locally and globally.
    5. Demonstrate efficient and effective information retrieval and processing skills and the ability to present and communicate academic work. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Technical writing techniques and LaTeX are used to type text and mathematics in order to present technical reports correctly and accurately.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the introductory theories of stochastic modelling and their applications in Markov chains is demonstrated.
  • Counting processes, queues and reliability theory are applied in order to acquire the background knowledge necessary for constructing models, and designing and analysing algorithms in the fields of Operations Research.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The fundamental principles underlying the design of optimisation algorithms are understood
  • Mathematical programming models are constructed and solved by using appropriate algorithms.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Understanding of and technical ability in combinatorial optimisation and its applications are demonstrated.
  • Models are constructed and analysing algorithms in the field of Operations Research are designed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The basic concepts and intrinsic limitations of meta-heuristically methods for optimisation problems are understood is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • A report on a project in the field of Operations Research is chosen, formulated, solved and presented.
  • Statistical concepts are understood, and the experimental methodology of static and dynamic simulation is applied.
  • The Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms are understood and applied.
  • Genetic algorithms are applied.
  • Meta-heuristics inspired by phenomena in other fields, for example swarming (biology) and simulated annealing (physics) including hybrids thereof are illustrated.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative assessment:
    Learning and assessment are integrated. Continual formative assessment is required so that learners are given feedback on their progress in the achievement of Exit Level Outcomes. The scheme of work includes assignments, real-world briefs, a reflective internship journal and an integrated programme portfolio based on the learning material and students are given feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited numbers of outcomes.

    Summative assessment:
    Summative assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Such judgement must include integrated assessments which test the learner's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes as a whole. Examinations, projects, reports or equivalent assessments, such as a portfolio of evidence, assess a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed. Summative assessment also tests the learners' ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module.

    Integrated assessments will be designed to achieve:
  • An integration of the achievement of Exit Level Outcomes in a way which demonstrates that the purpose of the qualification as a whole has been achieved.
  • The evaluation of learner performance which can provide evidence of applied competence.
  • Criterion-referenced assessment which is clearly explained to, and understood by, the students and which can be applied in the recognition of prior learning. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    An International comparability study for the Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours in Operations Research NQF Level 8 was conducted against international qualifications best known to offer operational research as a specialisation in a BSc qualification. These institutions are the University of Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia and the Canterbury University in New Zealand. Unfortunately internationally a separate Honours Degree is not often offered. Students progress straight to Masters' Degrees once they have completed the Bachelors' Degree which contains research methodology and a research project. The qualifications used in this comparability study are Bachelors' Degrees with research components.

    The Bachelor of Science (Honours) Statistical Computing and Operations Research offered by the University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Malaysia is a multi-major qualification which includes statistics analysis, operations research study, computing as well as management skills, required for the job market. Also, this qualification equips learners with the fundamentals and applications of statistical methods and operations research techniques to support quantitative analysis, modelling and solving in the scientific and business-related problems. Learners will be exposed to managerial and computing skills to effectively and efficiently utilise and optimise the usage of organisational resources in service and manufacturing industries. Learners are required to undergo a period of industrial placement in manufacturing/service industries which will prepare learners to perform their final year project and enhance their future employability.

    Objectives of the qualification:
    The main objectives of this qualification are:
  • To ensure learners acquire comprehensive understanding in the fundamentals and applications of statistical methods and operations research techniques.
  • To equip learners with managerial and quantitative approach towards problem analysis, modelling and solving.
  • To enable learners to pursue postgraduate study in statistics and operations research.
  • To produce learners who are able to practice lifelong learning attitudes, continuously challenging themselves to improve and remain relevant to the ever changing needs of industry, locally as well as internationally.
  • To produce learners who are competent in communication and interpersonal skills.
  • To produce learners who are able to perform fundamental research in statistics and operations research.

    The University of Canterbury in New Zealand offers the Bachelor of Management Science/Operations Research qualification. At the University of Canterbury, Management Science includes specialisations of Operations Research and Operations Management. The two disciplines have much in common but are differently focussed and develop different skills. Learners can focus solely on Operations Research or Operations Management or craft a Degree covering both aspects of Management Science.

    Operations Research uses mathematics and computer science to make improvements to business problems, decision-making and complex systems. Mathematical methods are applied to planning and management problems in areas such as production and operations, inventory management, and scheduling. These methods are usually based on analysis using mathematical or statistical models.

    Techniques, often using powerful computer programs, are available to support decision-making for a wide range of situations ranging from real-time control of specific business, industrial, agricultural, and administrative operations to long-term planning models for corporations and public sector agencies. However Operations Research is more than a set of mathematical methods. A fundamental part of Operations Research is the 'systems approach' to problem solving. This approach considers both the problem context and the problem itself in the decision making process. Defining a problem, collecting data, consulting with people involved in the solution, implementing change are all aspects of the Operations Research curriculum.

    Operations Research is a good complement to Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering and many other Science or Commerce based subjects. The BCom Major in Management Science and Operations Management provides a good programme of study for anyone wishing to major in Management Science for a BCom, BSc or BA.

    Conclusion:
    In conclusion it is clear from the international comparability done that there is no exact or similar international qualification that compares with this qualification. However, the comparison revealed that the international qualifications have operations research as a specialisation within a BSc qualifications and that operations management could be a specialisation. The most important finding is that the qualifications address the same competencies and require research to be carried out with relevant reporting of findings. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    ARTICULATION OPTIONS
    This qualification offers both horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities with qualifications offered by the University of South Africa. They are:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Science Honours, Level 8,9 ID No: 60850.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Research, Level 8, (ID 85247).

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Science, Level 9, (ID 6095).

    The qualification also offers systemic articulation with qualifications offered by other institutions as follows, provided the student meets the minimum entry requirements:

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Science, at NQF Level 9.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Science Honours, at NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    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 South Africa 


    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.