Nelson Mandela University

Bachelor of Visual Arts

Culture and Arts - Visual Arts

Purpose and Rationale

Qualification Overview

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is multifaceted:

  1. To produce graduates who demonstrate high levels of creative, conceptual, and technical proficiency in their chosen visual arts discipline.
  2. To equip students with entrepreneurial preparedness, professionalism, and an understanding of market forces in shaping a successful career.
  3. To stimulate personal growth by honing analytical, critical, reflective, and problem-solving skills.
  4. To develop a global perspective on the influence of visual arts and design disciplines on society.
  5. To contribute to the pool of skilled art and design graduates in South Africa, specializing in fashion and textile design, fine art, graphic design, photography, and hybrid visual arts disciplines.
  6. To facilitate collaborative and interdisciplinary learning through a structured curriculum with vertical and horizontal synergy between modules and levels.

The curriculum includes a foundational first year followed by specialized focus in the second and third years, with interdisciplinary modules such as visual and cultural studies, communication, life skills, entrepreneurship, visualisation, and technologies.

Rationale

  • Academic Integrity: Balances vocational training and academic rigor to support growth in research and best practices within visual arts disciplines.
  • Interdisciplinary Engagement: Aligns with international trends in qualifications by promoting inter- and trans-disciplinary collaboration, human-centeredness, and liberal arts content integration.
  • Hybrid Industry Environment: Recognizes the evolving visual and design arts landscape, where hybrid industries blur disciplinary boundaries, driving innovation and collaboration.
  • Regional Impact: Fine arts, textile design, graphic design, and photography components cater to regional needs while nurturing entrepreneurial ventures and sustaining existing industries.
  • Real-World Readiness: Prepares graduates for emerging hybrid industries by addressing contemporary trends, technological advancements, and Critical Cross-Field Outcomes.
  • Graduate Levels: Aims for graduates to operate on three levels: meeting industry demands, fostering entrepreneurship, and valuing critical thinking for personal enrichment and potential postgraduate studies.

This qualification aims to produce well-rounded graduates who excel in their visual arts discipline, understand industry demands, and contribute meaningfully to society through their creative and innovative skills.

Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate the ability to resolve visual problems that span a range of knowledge and experience, with creative visual solutions.
  2. Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of contextual relevance, multiculturalism, knowledge systems and diversity.
  3. Synthesise solutions and use creativity beyond the traditionally perceived boundaries of expertise.
  4. Practice trans-disciplinary engagement and produce creative outputs through interdisciplinary collaboration.
  5. Apply a human-centred approach to communication, creative outputs and social commentary that considers cultural, economic, environmental, political and social impact and sustainability.
  6. Attain the requisite crafting, technical and technological competency and professional practice compliancy for the field of study.
  7. Produce a series of creative artefacts that demonstrate an ability to engage in critical thinking, reflective practice and research.
  8. Use the skills acquired in communication and business practice to engage in entrepreneurial activity.
  9. Provide evidence, through the presentation of a portfolio of work, of an ability to practice as a professional within the discipline of Fashion and Textiles, Fine Art, Graphic Design or Photography.

Assessment Criteria

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

  • Apply appropriate problem-solving skills relating to visual production within the disciplinary context (e.g. fashion and textiles, fine art, graphic design, or photography).
  • Show application and interpretation of knowledge in a variety of visual problem solutions.
  • Demonstrate lateral thinking in the generation of creative works.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

  • Question, analyse and solve visual and communication problems as they relate to culture and diversity.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of ethical and social issues in art and design production.
  • Explain the importance of context as a primary response to addressing visual problem-solving.
  • Use diverse bodies of knowledge to scrutinise and explore visual arts issues.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

  • Apply different problem-solving methodologies and thinking strategies.
  • Challenge traditional views of creative representation and art and design practice.
  • Question current creative approaches and experiment with alternative modes of creativity.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

  • Engage in discourse outside of the visual arts disciplines and show understanding of their relevance and interconnectedness within a worldview.
  • Engage creatively with disciplines outside of the visual arts in collaborative real-world projects.
  • Engage with other visual arts disciplines in interdisciplinary projects.
  • Understand the complexity inherent in group work and the importance of tolerance and management skills as critical elements of professional practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

  • Realize that all creative outputs embody a social conscience.
  • Understand that human-centeredness places the emphasis on creative solutions focused on the greater good.
  • Consider the influence, importance, and relevance that culture, economics, environment, politics, and sustainability have on creative and written outputs.
  • Demonstrate the primacy of sustainable and environmentally sound art and design practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

  • Show adequate crafting skills and technical facility for the chosen art or design discipline.
  • Understand that crafting skills, technical facility, and technological competence result from practice and repetition.
  • Demonstrate sufficient general business and discipline-specific technological competency to be able to practice as a professional.
  • Apply own initiative in identifying shortcomings in skill sets and engage in remedial action to upskill.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

  • Produce a series of creative outputs in response to briefs that are given in a variety of formats.
  • Employ self-criticism of and reflection on own production as aspects of the process towards a final artwork or design.
  • Demonstrate competencies in visual, textual, and verbal research as it applies to art-making and designed responses.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical constructs that define art and design practice.
  • Use research to develop arguments, question values, criticise systems, and engage in discourse on issues pertinent to visual art and design.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

  • Apply forms of business communication effectively and clearly.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of professional business practice.
  • Resolve discipline-specific entrepreneurial challenges by employing appropriate discipline-specific solutions.
  • Understand the rules, laws, and guidelines that govern entrepreneurial practice in South Africa.
  • Understand the importance of codes of conduct, values, and formal structures upon which entrepreneurship is built.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:

  • Produce a portfolio of work that exhibits an ability to function as a creative professional in visual art or design and presents a range of creative outputs.

Integrated Assessment:

  • Formative assessment based on progressive process criticism, presentation, and motivation for artefacts and outputs generated.
  • Formative assessment applied to written assignments through progressive drafting with written and verbal feedback.
  • Summative assessment of studio work with comprehensive feedback.
  • Process portfolio submission for panel criticism.
  • Final portfolio submission and summative studio practice assessment in November.

Qualification Details

Type
National First Degree
NQF Level
07
Min. Credits
373
SAQA Source
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Nelson Mandela University
Description
Nelson Mandela University is a comprehensive university located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It was established in 2005 through the merger of three institutions, and it is named after the iconic South African leader, Nelson Mandela. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, and law. It is known for its commitment to social justice, transformation, and community engagement. Nelson Mandela University strives to provide quality education, promote research and innovation, and contribute to the development of the region and the country as a whole.

This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.