Bachelor of Science in Forestry
Agriculture and Nature Conservation - Forestry and Wood Technology
Purpose and Rationale
Bachelor of Science in Forestry Qualification
Purpose
The Bachelor of Science in Forestry qualification aims to develop professionals and specialists with the necessary knowledge and technical skills to excel in the Forestry sector. The structured curriculum spans five key learning areas essential for sustainable forest production within a forestry systems framework. Key areas of focus include Forest Biometrics and Remote Sensing, Forest Soils, Forest Biology, Silviculture, Forest Economics or Entrepreneurship, Management, Forestry Ecology, Conservation, and Wood Science. The qualification also emphasizes the development of broader competencies such as leadership, communication, technology innovation, problem-solving, and integrity.
Upon completion of this qualification, learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of forestry terms, concepts, and principles.
- Address complex problems in forest and forest plantation management and conservation.
- Analyse data for forest management and research.
- Apply technical skills to optimize forestry production.
- Undertake independent research and make recommendations in forestry.
- Communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
- Work collaboratively in a group setting.
- Adhere to safety standards in a forestry workplace.
Rationale
The introduction of this qualification is motivated by the Mpumalanga Provincial Economic Review and Outlook, which highlights the province's strengths in agriculture and forestry. With a significant portion of South Africa's forestry activities based in Mpumalanga, there is a need to address the skills shortage in the forestry sector. The province's forestry industry has the potential to create thousands of jobs and contribute to economic growth and sustainability. By providing skilled learners with expertise in forestry, this qualification aligns with the province's growth and development strategy and aims to support the forestry industry's transformation and advancement. Extensive consultations and analysis have informed the development of this qualification, ensuring its relevance to industry needs and the projected enrollment plan of the institution. Ultimately, this qualification will produce a new generation of professionals equipped to drive forestry activities, contribute to green economy projects, and support sustainable development initiatives in the forestry sector.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of key terms, concepts, principles, insights and issues in forestry, forest management and conservation, including the basic science that underpins forestry.
- Address complex and multidisciplinary problems in forest and forest plantation management and conservation.
- Demonstrate a clear and holistic understanding of the complexity of forest ecotypes and the complex interactions between the biotic and abiotic components inherent in them.
- Apply a full understanding of ethics in all assignments and always behave ethically.
- Apply advanced technical competencies and skills to optimise forestry production by designing, implementing, integrating, and managing forestry programmes and projects.
- Demonstrate an ability to deal with complex biological and socio-economic problems in familiar and unfamiliar forestry settings.
- Undertake independent research in forestry, analyse and synthesised information to make recommendations to address issues and solve problems relating to forestry.
- Communicate own ideas in writing and verbally, to both lay and scientific audiences using logically structured argumentation, appropriate academic language, suitable audio-visual tools, and technology, as well as appropriate referencing conventions.
- Work efficiently, effectively, and safely and adhere to all standard requirements in a forestry workplace setting.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Critically review relevant theories, principles, procedures, practices, research methodologies, methods, and techniques to support convincing arguments and positions in assignments, research reports, and examinations.
- Inform critical discussions of current forestry issues with advanced understanding and supported reference to current literature, case studies, and examples worldwide, with a focus on Africa.
- Support specialized forestry discussions with a solid understanding of basic sciences.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Identify and address forest management problems using advanced knowledge.
- Discuss issues at the intersection of commercial forestry and conservation.
- Evaluate possibilities and opportunities for sustainable forest resource use.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Identify forest ecotypes.
- Analyze and discuss interactions between biotic and abiotic factors in forests with examples from South Africa.
- Discuss implications of changes in biotic or abiotic factors, such as climate change, on forestry in South Africa.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Identify ethical issues, propose appropriate solutions.
- Maintain ethical and professional behavior during Work-Integrated Learning.
- Submit assignments free from plagiarism.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Utilize advanced techniques like GIS and satellite imaging to optimize forestry operations.
- Apply modern quantitative methods for forestry assessment.
- Analyze data for forest management problem-solving and research.
- Evaluate research paradigms and methods in forestry research.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Identify and propose solutions for complex biological and socio-economic problems.
- Evaluate consequences of proposed solutions and recommend mitigating measures.
- Modify proposed solutions based on a literature survey to suit specific contexts.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Clearly present project questions and scope.
- Critically evaluate information sources.
- Develop project plans with timeframes, budgets, goals, targets, and indicators.
- Choose appropriate methods for data collection, including statistical methods.
- Consider ethical issues and seek approval when necessary.
- Use proper research report formats with no plagiarism.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Communicate research results effectively to professional and lay audiences.
- Present oral arguments convincingly.
- Use appropriate language and referencing styles in research papers.
- Present statistical results clearly.
- Submit assignments free from plagiarism.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Implement standard operating procedures in the Work-Integrated Learning setting.
- Follow instructions carefully for efficient and safe task completion.
- Identify unsafe work practices in case studies and propose necessary changes.
INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT:
- Formative Assessment: Regular formative assessment tasks aligned with learning outcomes to provide feedback for improvement.
- Summative Assessment: Assessment of outcomes through formal examinations at the end of each module, with a focus on research reports, WIL reports, and continuous assessment in relevant modules.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree(Min 480)
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 480
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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