SAQA

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.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Bachelor of Business Science: Economics

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
14784	Bachelor of Business Science: Economics
ORIGINATOR
University of Natal
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National First Degree(Min 480)	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Finance, Economics and Accounting
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	544	Level 7	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2015-06-30

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.

This qualification is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
81065	Bachelor of Business Science in Economics	Level 7	NQF Level 08	480	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Preparation for taking up a career as a professional economist.

Work in posts requiring sound knowledge of economic fundamentals.

Work in posts requiring sound knowledge of the South African economy.

Work in posts requiring analysis of economic trends and principles in a business context.

Preparation for taking masters qualification.

Develop a strategy for learning.

Identify and solve problems.

Collect, analyse and critically evaluate data and information.

Assist analysis and data strategically in a business context.

Work with others effectively.

Organise his/her own time and that of others.

Use science and technology to collect data and process within the ethical norms for academic research.

Communicate effectively using the full range of available technologies in both written and oral form.

Develop sound understanding of the economic challenges facing South Africa.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Matriculation exemption (or equivalent) with prescribed number of matriculation points and a minimum of a D symbol in higher grade mathematics at the matriculation level (or an equivalent level of proficiency in mathematics as assessed and validated by the Head of the School of Economics & Management).

For entry into fourth-level economics modules, students must obtain a minimum of 60% (a lower-second class of pass) on average in Economics 3a and Economics 3b.

Recognition of alternative prior learning procedures used for access to this programme:

Compliance with Rule R33 of the Common Rules of the University of Natal, Durban.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Identifying and solving problems, in particular, identifying and specifying the economic context.

The ability to think logically and creatively.

The ability to understand concepts, theories and principles.

Be capable of accessing and analysing economic data and information.

Be capable of applying economic data and information strategically in a business context.

The ability to utilise appropriate quantitative skills at a basic level in conjunction with critical reasoning to analyse, interpret and evaluate data and information.

Research and presentation skills.

Case study skills in a business environment.

Independence, self-motivation and self-reliance.

The ability to learn; in particular, the ability to understand, critically evaluate and build on the contributions of others in the chosen field.

The ability to develop and apply appropriate theory to real-world economic problems in a critical and creative fashion, showing an awareness of the necessary assumptions and the limits they impose on the conclusions reached.

Communication skills using a variety of techniques/methodologies.

An awareness of technology, its applications and limitations.

An understanding of the basic structure of any economy, with particular relevance to the South African case and its place within the world context.

An understanding of critical issues in the South African economy (including the ethical and moral questions), and of the policy options available, as well as an awareness of the contribution that they, as economists, can make.

Planning and organisational skills.

Teamwork skills

Networking skills

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Examination: To test the student`s ability:

To understand concepts, theories and principles.

To use critical reasoning in general in a logical and creative way.

To apply critical reasoning to the solution of problems.

To apply appropriate quantitative skills in the solution of problems.

Class presentations: To test the student`s ability:

To communicate effectively.

To utilize appropriate techniques/methodologies for the effective presentation of an argument.

To analyse problems/situations in the literature critically and present the results.

To interact with peers and work as the member of a team, where appropriate

Assignments: To test the student`s ability:

To access, synthesise, analyse and interpret data and information.

To think creative and utilize critical reasoning to place data and information in context.

To use appropriate quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques.

To interact with peers and work as the member of a team, where appropriate.

Case study work in a business/management context:

To apply theory critically to real-world business problems

To apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative skills to the analysis and evaluation of data.

To draw out of relevant conceptual and quantitative material a set of appropriate recommendations for managers.

To assess analytical results critically, and recognise the limits of the analysis.

Integrated assessment:

The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.

Continuous assessment: Class presentations, participation in class discussions and assignments for each module.
Final assessment: An examination for each module.

Dissertation: A research project, which will usually include an empirical research component. The dissertation is the principle vehicle for ensuring that the material learnt in each module is integrated in the study of a real-world problem.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Successful completion of the full programme provides a student with access to Masters Degree programmes or their equivalent at the University of Natal or other institutions, provided that access to the coursework masters in Economics may be subject to such higher standards, as the Head of School deems necessary for success, as determined from time to time.

Successful completion of the core coursework components provides the student with the postgraduate certificate, which allows the student to leave with a qualification without completing the research electives.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Examination papers and completed scripts are moderated by suitably qualified assessors from outside the University of Natal, Durban. Dissertations are moderated by suitably qualified assessors from outside the University of Natal, Durban. Where appropriate assessors are appointed on the basis of their specialist knowledge of a particular topic, subject only to their possessing an academic qualification at least equal to that offered by the programme. All external assessors are approved by the Board of the Faculty.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that, on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staffs are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of Faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66 % of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to a qualification, are externally examined.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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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.

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