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Purpose and Rationale

Qualification in Agriculture Specialisations:

This qualification covers various specialisations in Agriculture. Please refer to the "Notes" section for detailed information on these specialisations.

Purpose of the Qualification:

To equip qualifiers with the necessary knowledge, specific skills, applied competence, and a professional attitude in different fields of agricultural sciences. This will enable them to pursue continued personal intellectual growth, engage in gainful economic activities, and make rewarding contributions to society.
To produce a significant number of graduates in various agricultural science fields, thereby broadening South Africa's local leadership base in innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activities.
To prepare learners for postgraduate studies by providing them with the essential knowledge, skills, and insights required to develop as agricultural researchers at a high academic level.
To cultivate agricultural scientists in South Africa who possess a clear and continuously growing understanding of agricultural sciences' methods and progress. They will also understand their responsibilities to provide food and fiber in an economically viable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly manner.

Outcomes

Identifying and solving problems in which responses indicate that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made

Working effectively with others as a member of a group, organisation and community

Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively

Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information

Communicating effectively, using visual, numeric/mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral and written persuasion

Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and public health

Demonstrating understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving context do not exist in isolation

Contributing to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of: Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts Exploring education and career opportunities, and Developing entrepreneurial opportunities b). General Outcomes: The BscAgric graduate will have demonstrated the following general outcomes:

A sound understanding of the theoretical background in core aspects of the agricultural sciences

The skills required for the operation and application of a range of scientific equipment, techniques and experimental approaches

The ability to detect and solve various production and management problems in agricultural crop science, vine crops and their produce, or within agricultural systems

An understanding of the interdisciplinary relationships within agricultural sciences

An awareness of the social responsibility towards the environment

The basic entrepreneurial skills to identify and explore the commercial potential, including a grasp of opportunities available in the agro-commercial environment

The ability to read and interpret scientific literature including the ability to learn independently from source material

The understanding of the use and importance of using sound experimental controls and relevant statistical methods and evaluation

An appreciation of the role of scientific modelling in the assembly and understanding of scientific observations

Basic skills in the presentation of scientific reports (both written and verbal), including use of information technology as an aid to effective communication skills The graduate will thus have demonstrated the acquisition of a good general and scientific background of sufficient depth and latitude to enable the graduate to practise as a competent scientist c). Specific Outcomes: In addition to the generic and general outcomes, the specific outcomes of the four programmes leading to this qualification, are the following:

Crop Production Systems: The understanding of the operatives of agricultural science dealing with the ecology, development, production, breeding, feeding requirement, soil and water management of a range of crops The knowledge of harmful plants pathogens, insects, nematodes, weeds and their control in an environment-friendly, sustainable and economically acceptable manner

Food and Beverage Production Systems: The understanding of the operatives of agricultural science in relation to viticulture Knowledge to scientifically manipulate the crop ###in order to produce quality and unique wines Integrate the knowledge of chemical and biological processes involved in wine and brandy wine production

Animal Production Systems: The ability to integrate knowledge on the ecology, biochemistry, physiology, nutrition, production, product quality and management of animal husbandry in an environment-friendly and economically efficient manner The understanding of the operatives of agricultural science relating to animal production The ability to detect and solve problems in animal husbandry

Agricultural Economics and Management: Skills in the establishment and use of agricultural economic and management techniques, including the analysis of the limitations and potential of the agricultural sector for the empowerment of intending analysts and management experts in enterprises in the private as well as sections of the government sector dealing with agricultural matters The ability to detect, analyse and solve problems relating to agricultural economics and management

Assessment Criteria

a) The assessment used for these outcomes ensures that the purpose of the qualification is achieved through various methods:

A range of formative and summative assessment methods such as portfolios, simulations, workplace assessments, written and oral examinations are used.
The required range of modalities is used with integrity to assess whether the specified outcomes have been achieved.
The assessment of parts generalizing to a domain takes place in a judicious and planned systematic way in order to ensure reliability. The assessments used meet the standard and level of achievement for NQF level 7.

b) The criterion used to assess outcomes 1 and 2 is largely whether the information and conceptual content of the work the student submits for marking is accurate and valid. Competence in outcome will be demonstrated if the student shows the ability to correlate and integrate information and concepts learned in a range of modules and propose valid solutions for a range of theoretical and practical problems. To demonstrate competence in outcomes, a student must be able to write logical and coherent reports and essays, using computer software, undertake and successfully complete a supervised research project, and satisfactorily answer test and examination questions. The student's written and oral presentations must be of an acceptable standard in terms of the use of Afrikaans or English language and the structural organization of presentations.

c) The assessment used for the BscAgric ensures that the purpose of the qualification is achieved through integrated assessment:

Integrated assessment: Integrated assessment takes place in terms of a variety of procedures, such as assignments, workplace assessment, written and oral examinations. Oral examinations are used to determine the student's ability to integrate the work done in the various modules and disciplines of the program.

Qualification Details

Type

National First Degree(Min 480)

NQF Level

Min. Credits

480

SAQA Source

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Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Purpose and Rationale

Outcomes

Assessment Criteria

Qualification Details

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