Advanced Diploma in Animal Production
Agriculture and Nature Conservation - Primary Agriculture
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose
The continuously changing livestock production environment is faced with climate change and the development of different adaptation strategies and new technologies. The purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Animal Production is to provide learners with a proper understanding, knowledge, and skills in animal production. The qualification will equip the learners with investigative and research skills needed to solve current production problems in the industry. It will further deepen their understanding of the main aspects of Animal Production, and the associated business management and advisory skills needed by these practitioners.
The qualification provides a sound base for those learners aspiring for advanced training in specialised areas of Animal Science. The qualification will provide specialised vocational preparation for a career in animal production and the management of animal production systems. It will prepare learners for postgraduate study through the deepening of their knowledge and understanding of theories, methodologies, and practices in animal production science.
This qualification is specifically aimed at learners who wish to further their career in agriculture in general and particularly in animal production as an important field of economic activity and those who wish to improve their formal qualifications to support their experience and knowledge and expand on their competencies.
The design of the qualification focuses on the management of animal production systems and includes modules on:
- Strategic management
- Principles and practices of management
- Business management and entrepreneurship
- Animal production
- Biostatistics and research design and analysis
- Basic sciences of microbiology and biochemistry
- Animal physiology including nutrition and reproduction
- Animal behavior
Upon completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:
- Apply advanced knowledge of key terms, concepts, principles, insights, and current issues in animal production management and animal science.
- Assess, evaluate, integrate, and apply such knowledge to address complex and multidisciplinary issues in animal production.
- Identify suitable methods for data collection and justify those methods; investigate the sources of and validate data; and evaluate its suitability for building, sustaining, and defending arguments about animal production systems.
- Deal with complex agricultural and socio-economic problems in familiar and unfamiliar animal production settings, identify solutions and evaluate those solutions in the light of the understanding that problem-solving is context-bound and does not happen in isolation.
- Identify and apply ethical rules and conduct in practice within a South African animal production context and take decisions and act ethically with integrity and accountability for their work, decisions, and actions.
- Undertake independent desk-top research and show the ability to analyze and synthesize information with a view to making recommendations to address issues in an animal production setting.
- Communicate own ideas in writing and verbally, to both scientific and non-scientific audiences using logically structured argumentation, appropriate discourse, suitable audio-visual tools, and technology, as well as appropriate referencing conventions.
- Manage their own learning and demonstrate the attributes of self-directed and life-long learners as well as intellectual autonomy.
- Work in a group as a member or leader, and take full responsibility for own work, and where applicable, that of fellow learners, as well as accountability for own actions and where necessary, those of fellow learners.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of key terms, concepts, theories, principles, and practices principles, insights and current issues in animal production management and animal science.
- Assess, evaluate, integrate, and apply knowledge to address complex problems and multidisciplinary issues in animal production.
- Demonstrate an understanding that knowledge is contested, and that farming and non-farming community members may understand the natural world and agriculture that is different to that of scientists and reflect this understanding in the way multiple views and perspectives are considered and integrated with addressing agricultural-related and recognized problem-solving.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify suitable methods for data collection, and to justify those methods, investigate the sources of and validate data### and evaluate its suitability for building, sustaining, and defending arguments about animal production systems.
- Demonstrate an ability to deal with complex agricultural and socio-economic problems in familiar and unfamiliar animal production settings, identify solutions and evaluate those solutions in the light of the understanding that problem-solving is context-bound and does not happen in isolation.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of professional ethics in animal production and identify and apply ethical rules and conduct in practice within a South African context. Take decisions and act ethically with integrity and accountability for their work, decisions, and actions.
- Undertake independent desktop research and show the ability to analyse and synthesise information with a view to making recommendations to address issues in an animal production setting.
- Communicate own ideas in writing and verbally, to both scientific and non-scientific audiences using logically structured argumentation, appropriate discourse, suitable audio-visual tools, and technology, as well as appropriate referencing conventions.
- Manage learning and demonstrate the attributes of self-directed and lifelong learners as well as intellectual autonomy.
- Work in a group as a member or leader, and take full responsibility for own work, and where applicable, that of fellow learners, as well as accountability for her/his own actions and where necessary, those of fellow learners.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Evaluate and apply relevant philosophies and research paradigms in written and oral presentations.
- Critically review and apply relevant theories, scientific principles of biochemistry, genetics, reproduction, nutrition, physiology, and environment in animal production.
- Examine and discuss current issues in animal production with reference to current literature.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Solve complex issues in familiar and unfamiliar animal production case studies.
- Address multidisciplinary problems in animal production and manage tensions from different perspectives.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Discuss the contextualised case studies within the field of animal production and provide insight into various aspects within the field.
- Investigate methods of enquiry and their suitability in animal production to solve related problems.
- Collect, synthesise, and critically evaluate new information and research data on any chosen animal production topic.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Identify a valid research question after reviewing relevant literature sources.
- Review various methodologies to address the research question and validate their use.
- Apply a range of approaches to data analysis and review and analyze existing knowledge in the field of animal production.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Apply advanced knowledge and skills to solve complex problems in animal production.
- Analyse and apply systems thinking approach to address complex agricultural questions.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Identify and discuss ethical issues in familiar and unfamiliar animal production contexts.
- Evaluate professional and ethical values and approaches within the animal production environment.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Undertake independent desktop research in specialized fields of animal production and present research reports.
- Develop a project plan, identify appropriate methods, collect and analyze data, and formulate recommendations.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Communicate research projects to both professional and lay audiences using appropriate language and technology.
- Present arguments in a convincing manner with clear communication of complex concepts and theories.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Discuss the role of animal production in applied sciences and identify appropriate information-gathering processes.
- Identify self-directed learning needs, manage learning activities, and discuss collaborative learning processes.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
- Allocate and assume responsibilities within the group in group work.
- Plan, execute, and complete group assignments within the prescribed time frame.
INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT:
- Integrated Assessment allows learners to demonstrate applied competence across the qualification.
- Assessment tools encourage learners to account for their thinking and decision-making in their performance.
- Formative Assessment activities are provided regularly to align with learning outcomes and empower learners in the assessment process.
- Summative Assessment at the end of each module assesses theoretical knowledge through various assessment methods.
- The final module mark is a weighted average of Formative Assessment (60%) and Summative Assessment (40%).
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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University of Mpumalanga
Applications are open
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