Qualification Overview
Purpose
The purpose of this qualification is multifaceted:
- To produce graduates who demonstrate high levels of creative, conceptual, and technical proficiency in their chosen visual arts discipline.
- To equip students with entrepreneurial preparedness, professionalism, and an understanding of market forces in shaping a successful career.
- To stimulate personal growth by honing analytical, critical, reflective, and problem-solving skills.
- To develop a global perspective on the influence of visual arts and design disciplines on society.
- 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.
- 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.