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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Arts in Rural Development 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96580  Master of Arts 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
Master's Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Rural and Agrarian Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  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:
The Master of Rural Development Degree programme is designed to equip learners with knowledge and skills on how to analyse rural development issues through application of interdisciplinary research principles. In the process they gain specialised competence in interdisciplinary rural development research, analysis, planning and implementation of appropriate initiatives. Special emphasis is placed on the importance and value of participatory action research.

The qualification prepares learners for careers in:
  • Rural development analysis and research.
  • Rural development planning and implementation.
  • Rural development teaching.
  • Leadership and management in the public and private sectors [Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), business etc.] at national and international levels.

    Rationale:
    The need for a critical mass of professionals with research skills that can be deployed to improve the quality of life of people in developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, is increasing. Rural society faces numerous challenges that militate against its positive transformation and development. Among the challenges are the ever-worsening rural poverty and underdevelopment, serious backlogs in the provision of basic services to rural communities, poor infrastructure, dearth of leadership for development, weak institutions expected to spearhead rural transformation and development, shortage of entrepreneurial and technical skills, low levels of literacy, inadequate social cohesion, corruption, environmental degradation amidst growing populations, high unemployment coupled with job losses, the HIV and AIDS pandemic and the need for unique approaches that inculcate self-driven development. In order to craft appropriate, sustainable solutions to these issues there is need to develop professionals who understand the dynamics of rural society and enable the citizens of affected areas to find scientific research-informed solutions they can own. For these noble goals to be achieved, well-rounded academics with a deep understanding of the realities of rural society are required. All in all, the Master of Rural Development programme is designed to produce graduates who understand the theory and practice of interdisciplinary research. Such graduates can become development practitioners in a wide range of government departments such as agriculture, local government, tourism, rural and agrarian reform and health, among others. They can also be absorbed in non-governmental organisations, private sector especially to spearhead development-oriented initiatives and universities as academics. Lastly, the graduates can become consultants in rural development or run their own research-focused companies. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    In exceptional cases where holders of Bachelors' Degrees and with extensive experience in rural development-oriented work apply for admission, the University of Venda policy on Recognition of Prior Learning is applied.

    Entry Requirements:
    Bachelor of Arts Honours (BA Hons) or Bachelor of Science Honours (BSc Hons) in related fields such as Agriculture, Development Studies, Public Administration, Environmental Science, Agrarian Studies, Youth Development, Gender Studies, Public Health, Social Studies and Economics, among others. Admission will be guided by the University of Venda's Policies on Admission and Postgraduate research. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This is an entirely Masters by Research Degree.
  • Dissertation, 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Evaluate existing processes of knowledge production and select appropriate process (es) of enquiry for the identified rural development issue.
    2. Identify and apply appropriate methods, techniques, processes or technologies to solve complex practical and theoretical problems in an innovative way.
    3. Make appropriate decisions on how to address ethical issues relevant to knowledge production and positively contribute to the development of improved ethical standards in a rural development context.
    4. Use a range of specialised skills and discourses appropriate to interdisciplinary research in rural development to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders.
    5. Develop own learning strategies for effective research and learning. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Development of a research proposal with well-articulated background, state of the problem and research methodology.
  • Preparation of a review paper using existing literature, statistics and other useful information.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Knowledge of and application of various interdisciplinary research designs, sampling techniques, approaches to data collection and analysis applied.
  • Successful formulation and execution of research focusing on a rural development issue under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
  • 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 3:
  • Knowledge of a range of ethics in Human and Social science research.
  • Selection and application of appropriate measures to address relevant ethics in the course of executing own research
  • Critiquing how ethical matters are addressed in planned studies and published research outputs.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Preparation of a full research dissertation.
  • Publication of scientific research papers in journals and conference proceedings.
  • Generation of information sheets, media and policy briefs.
  • Presentation of papers drawn from own or published work in seminars.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Preparation of work plans with clear activities, timelines for completion and budgets.
  • Use of work plan as a Project Management tool.
  • Preparation of analytical progress reports in a timely manner.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Learners develop research proposals, collect and analyse data, and write a full dissertation. Only the dissertation is subjected to both internal and external examination to determine successful completion of learning in the qualification.

    The University Senate approves the dissertation and examination results upon receipt of recommendations from the Institute for Rural Development's Board, School of Agriculture Higher Degrees Committee and School of Agriculture Board. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Master of Rural Development is comparable to similar qualifications in various parts of the world. Some of the qualifications are presented below:

    Master of Rural Development in Europe, Canada and United States of America (USA):
    Various universities in Belgium (e.g. Gent), United Kingdom (East Anglia), Canada (Guelph) and the USA (American University in Washington) offer a Masters' of Rural Development qualification. The qualification is designed such that it integrates various disciplines, namely Sociology, Political Science, Geography, Economics, Administration, Psychology and Business Administration as an interdisciplinary approach towards understanding and finding solutions to issues affecting rural areas.

    Institute for Development Studies, University of Sussex:
    The University of Sussex's Institute for Development Studies offers a Master of Arts in Poverty and Development. The qualification develops students such that they are "able to approach issues in poverty reduction and development with confidence". This happens after the students "have 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.

    Wageningen University, Netherlands:
    The Master of Science (MSc) Development and Rural Innovation is the international Social Sciences programme designed for students with a technical, Life Science or relevant management background and have interest in international development. This programme produces professionals with the ability to deal with knowledge generation and application in dynamic environments. Crucial to note in the programme is emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking that embraces human and technological dimensions of innovation. Expertise in various fields such as management of water resources, various fields of Agriculture, Disaster Management, Natural Resource Management, and Health and Sanitation, among others are harnessed in the delivery of the qualification.

    Conclusion:
    All the rural development focused qualifications place special emphasis in integration of various fields. Interdisciplinary research is central to all this. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    Students who successfully complete the Master of Rural Development Degree are eligible for admission into the:
  • Masters in Development Studies, Level 9.
  • Masters in Gender Studies, Level 9.
  • Masters in Agricultural Extension, Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
    Students who successfully complete the Master of Rural Development Degree are eligible for admission into the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Rural Development programme and related fields such as Rural and Agrarian Studies, Gender Studies, Extension and Development Studies. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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.