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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
101441  Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture 
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
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Primary Agriculture 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  136  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 learners with deepened conceptual and professional knowledge and competences in sustainable agriculture to enable them to promote farming practices and methods that are profitable, environmentally sound and to the benefit of communities. Through this qualification, learners will develop creative and critical perspectives to acquire analytical and problem solving skills and conceptual insight in sustainable agriculture. The curriculum will develop professional knowledge and competences that will enable them to provide leadership, strategic direction and support to local farmers and farming communities by promoting farming practices and methods that are profitable, environmentally sound and to the benefit of communities.

Rationale:
The Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture is designed to provide learners with knowledge of sustainable agriculture and equip them with skills that will enable them to engage in solving problems related to Sustainability of Agriculture. The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Forum defines sustainable agriculture as, that that supports the efficient production of safe, high quality agricultural products, in a way that protects and improves the natural environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers, their employees and local communities, and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species.

The capacity of natural resources to meet the growing demand for food and agricultural commodities raises global concern. The capacity of available resources and technologies to satisfy the demands of this growing population remains uncertain. Sustainable agriculture and food security are key factors that inform the national and global development agenda.

The demand for capacity and experts in the field of sustainable agriculture exceeds universities' and governments' training and development inputs. A Postgraduate Degree will develop Agricultural Specialists that could support sustainable agricultural practice, and in return support food security and socio-economic development.

This qualification widens career opportunities in the agricultural or agribusiness sectors. Learners may find careers in advisory and advocacy roles, agriculture management, agricultural and agribusiness consultancy, natural resource management, as well as agricultural education and training. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
In cases where learners who do not meet the minimum admission requirements, they may be allowed access to the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture. The RPL process is institutionally administered by a dedicated RPL office and institutional policy is rigorously applied.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry to this qualification is a three (3) year Bachelor's Degree. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 8, totalling 136 Credits.
Compulsory Modules:
  • Sustainable Agriculture, 16 Credits.
  • Research methods for sustainable agriculture, 24 Credits.
  • Extension for sustainability, 24 Credits.
  • Assessment and Management of natural resources, 24 Credits.
  • Economics for sustainable agriculture, 24 Credits.
  • Livestock production for sustainable agriculture, 24 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Apply an understanding of the theory and methods that support sustainable agriculture.
    2. Understand and apply the dynamics between the economic, human and natural resource domains of sustainable agriculture
    3. Analyse agricultural systems to assess the economic, environmental and social impact on sustainability.
    4. Devise interventions that promote agricultural techniques and strategies by drawing upon conceptual knowledge.
    5. Review the role and function of policies and institutional structures in cultivating sustainable agricultural practice.
    6. Make ethical and responsible decisions that promote sustainable agriculture.
    7. Communicate effectively with farmers, agri-businesses and the local communities. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Define and understand the concepts of sustainable development and sustainable agriculture and complexities of the economic-environment-social nexus underpinning sustainability. These concepts will include the theory of:
    > Conceptual framework for sustainable agriculture.
    > Policy landscape for sustainable agriculture.
    > Sustainable agricultural approaches, programs and tools.
    > Key indicators and threshold values on evaluation tools.
  • Apply the above knowledge to promote a sustainable agricultural environment.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Understand and analyse the dynamics of Economic, environment and social sustainability and the interface.
  • Use economic methods to optimise decision making concerned with the application of economic theory in optimising the production and distribution of agricultural products.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Understand the new role of extension in the context of agricultural innovation systems and sustainable agriculture.
  • Apply basic principles of natural agricultural resources (soil, plant, atmosphere), and how to promote integrated assessment of these natural resources on a viable basis to contribute to a sustainable system.
  • Understand how the various aspects of animal production inter relate to each other to contribute to sustainable production systems.
  • Plan and conduct research into sustainable research practices.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Comprehend the multidimensional nature of the concept of food security and emerging global challenges and opportunities related to it.
  • Apply the concepts of resilience, vulnerability and adaptation in relation to the rural poor and smallholder farmers.
  • Apply different tools for assessing household vulnerabilities and promotion of various adaptation strategies.
  • Construct management and assessment tools and methods that are deemed practical for fieldwork application.
  • Understand, contextualise and apply the new role of extension in the context of sustainable agriculture.
  • Promote the core competencies to support sustainable agriculture.
  • Create a score card to evaluate the sustainability of an agricultural production system.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Understand and critically review the agricultural policy landscape and the extent to which they either provide enabling environment or hindering the successful implementation of sustainable agricultural efforts.
  • Navigate a sustainable agricultural production system within the regulatory framework.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Apply ethical principles of research, ethical challenges and approval processes.
  • Use multiple source of knowledge to identify and analyse the different approaches that are deemed to be promoting sustainable agriculture in terms of effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Adopt a leadership role in the management of sustainable agricultural practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Maintain or improve sustainable agriculture through effective communication by presenting and communicate academic, professional or occupational ideas to farmers, agri-businesses and the local communities.

    Integrated Assessment:
    This qualification complies with the Institution's Assessment Policy and the assessment and moderation procedures in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. An approach where learners are assessed continuously. The qualification consists of 6 compulsory modules to complete the qualification. The individual modules vary in credits, learning activities and number of assignments.

    For formative assessment each module requires the completion of at least 2-4 assignments that includes individualised research to contextualise individual analysis. In class presentation and discussion, it is a pre-requisite during attendance sessions, to assess refined independent learning required in the academic literacy.

    Summative assessment comprises of written examinations for each individual module, with the exception of the module Research methods for sustainable agriculture. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Postgraduate Diploma [PGDip (Sustainable Agriculture)] compares with similar qualifications offered internationally. The two examples provided are both post-Bachelor's programmes, such as the PGDip.

    The Washington State University in the United States of America (USA) offers a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture that provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of practices and current issues in sustainable agriculture. The qualification includes components that focus on among others, sustainable food systems, plant breeding, sustainable food systems, conservation biology and research in sustainable agriculture. This compares well with the said PGDip (Sustainable Agriculture) that includes research into sustainable agriculture, management of natural resources, sustainable agriculture (with reference to systems and best practices) and extension for sustainability.

    The Charles Sturt University in Australia offers the Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture. This is a post-Bachelor Degree (or equivalent) or post-Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture qualification. As per this PGDip (Sustainable Agriculture), the qualification will equip students with the necessary skills to balance the natural resource, human and economic factors that affect agricultural sustainability. This qualification compares well with the PGDip (Sustainable Agriculture) by recognising that agriculture is a human activity system that involves the management of terrestrial ecosystems to produce a product or service (recreation) for the needs of society. Another similarity is the recognition of three discipline domains: the human, business, and natural resource domains and those sustainable systems that must be socially acceptable, economically viable and enhance or maintain the natural resource base and ecosystems influenced by agriculture. The qualification also focuses on innovative ways of enhancing agriculture for the medium to long term with leadership training in policy, research and strategic management that is relevant to a wide range of industry contexts. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers only vertical specific articulation opportunities with qualifications offered by the University of the Free State.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Sustainable Agriculture, Level 9, (ID: 8501).

    This qualification offers systemic horizontal articulation with the following qualifications offered by other institutions, provided the learner meets the minimum entry requirements:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Agriculture Honours, Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma: Agriculture, 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 the Free State 


    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.