Advanced Diploma in Fine Art

Purpose

This qualification will equip learners with critical thinking and critical making skills which will enable them to engage with contemporary discourses and socio economic challenges through art practices that address entrepreneurship, technology, research and the community. The purpose of the qualification is to provide candidates with competence to practice visual arts at advanced levels and be able to initiate, solve visual creative problems and manage entrepreneurial innovations or products. Core modules within the qualification will assist learners to acquire skills in critical thinking (critical discourses), research methods, critical making of visual arts and related field of studies products or services. The qualification will enable learners to become visual practitioner specialists based on their career path in the Visual Arts domain. They could find themselves working in government or the private sector as self-employed, art administrators, art teachers, forensic image analyses, and art practitioners, working in other creative industries including broadcast, film, and animation.

Rationale

The creative industry, with specific reference to Visual Arts is a key sector in South Africa and has significant growth and job creation potential. Through benchmarking with national and international higher education institutions as well consultation with relevant stakeholders, it became clear that a research component should be included in the qualification to prepare learners for postgraduate studies. This research component exposes the learners to research methods and methodology used in higher education. Benchmarking has been carried out globally throughout higher education institutions and industry. The qualification compares favourably with some international universities. Input was received from the advisory board and other stakeholders in the Visual Arts discipline, ensuring learners meet the needs of industry and communities.

The skills acquired through the qualification are unique and sought after in the creative industries. For this reason, we envision student numbers would increase in comparison with the current Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) in Fine Art with the aim of widening access to post graduate studies. The learners are required to achieve the minimum admission criteria for to the qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Vaal University of Technology's RPL policy guide this process. A committee consists of internal and external panel engage in an evaluation process in a form an Art exhibition or presentation of the creative work portfolio.

The details of the Faculty RPL policy are as follows, presuming prior accredited learning has taken place

• Candidate applies for RPL against module, or part/full qualification at the relevant department (Head of Department-HOD).
• An exemption form is completed for the RPL of modules or part/full qualification.
• Credits are awarded for relevant, approved prior learning (RPL).
• Only then may the prospective candidate continue with full registration.

The details of the Faculty RPL policy are as follows, presuming no prior accredited learning has taken place

• Candidate applies for RPL against module, or part/full qualification at the relevant department (Head of Department-HOD).
• RPL officer is appointed from within subject heads (Subject experts) within the department.
• The subject expert meets with the candidate to conduct pre-screening (evaluation) to ascertain viability of application based on programme requirements (Exit Level Outcomes and Assessment Criteria).
• Candidate prepares evidence of work (portfolio of evidence) and/or any other relevant proof of evidence (practical work, assignments and or assessments). The evidence needs to be submitted to the RPL officer for RPL evaluation process.
• Candidate pays an initial fee to be RPL-ed.
• The candidate then completes a RPL form and submits it to RPL officer.
• An assessor from within the department is then appointed.
• Evidence submitted by the candidate is assessed by the assessor. However, additional evidence may be requested.
• A moderator from the department's advisory board and from within the candidate's industry is appointed.
• The moderator moderates the candidate's evidence.
• The moderator reports on the assessor's judgment.
• RPL outcome is presented to faculty board by RPL officer.
• If the credit is not awarded, an appeals application to independently appointed moderator or institution's registrar can be done. The process of moderation will then resume.
• If the RPL is awarded, an exemption form is completed and the candidate may continue with full registration.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements are

• A relevant National Diploma/Diploma.
• An average of 60% for major subjects' Level 1-3 excluding Work-Integrated learning (WIL) of a completed relevant National Diploma or Diploma with at least 360 Credits.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 7, totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules

• Visual Studies 4, 30 Credits.
• Research Methods 4, 20 Credits.

Elective Modules (Choose one major core module, 70 Credits each)

• Painting 4, 70 Credits.
• Sculpture 4. 70 Credits.
• Printmaking 4, 70 Credits.
• Ceramic Arts and Ceramics 4, 70 Credits.
• Digital Imaging 4, 70 Credits.

1. Critically solve creative artistic problems of an appropriate professional standard in a range of professional artist/client contexts/tools.
2. Communicate effectively through academic writing, presentations, critique and visual presentation.
3. Develop and manage entrepreneurial business ventures in visual arts and creative industry.
4. Understand and resolve the challenges presented by academic enquires (research) and society within the visual arts setting.
5. Explore and apply artistic knowledge or Fine Art related disciplines knowledge in a production process.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1

• Describe, determine and interpret discipline theories, critique strategies, history, bodies of work, discourse in visual arts and related discipline.
• Critically and independently thinking in solving specific artistic problems within the visual art contexts.
• Think critically and creatively through an understanding of philosophical, historical, social and economic contexts of art and culture discourses.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Identify and develop a suitable topic/concept for Advanced Diploma studies (individual projects).
• Communicate both verbally and textually within academic, range of artist/client contexts.
• Determine and critically apply a suitable literature survey and theoretical frame work in a visual art setting.
• In-depth conceptual and innovative technical engagement in terms of a variety of technique experimentation and hybrid processes to express views or to communicate message or tell a story.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Identify the entrepreneurial potential for the application of two-dimensional skills in related areas.
• Evidence of potential entrepreneurial opportunity in a chosen professional career path or related area.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Undertake relevant research materials, analyse and synthesise information that addresses academic enquires within the visual arts setting.
• Critically and independently thinking in solving specific artistic problems in an individual project development.
• Apply appropriate methodologies in the research project undertaken.
• Describe and determine research methods and techniques in the research projects undertaken in both practice and theoretical level.
• Plan a research projects within a visual arts setting.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Conceptualise and translate pre-production concepts into complete works/creative products through experimentation and hybrid processes.
• Critically utilise a variety of techniques and applications in two-dimensional production processes.
• Engage in a safe working practices and good work ethic.
• Produce and present a competitive professional portfolio of artworks for a chosen professional career path.
• Ability to collate relevant quality research materials (visual and text), analyse, synthesise information and translate into a complete end product.
• Demonstration of critical and independent thinking in solving specific artistic problems in an individual project development in a contemporary setting.
• Clear understanding and application of philosophical, historical, social and economic contexts of art and culture discourses in the production of artworks.
• Evidence of professional practice from the inception to the final presentation of a creative product.
• Ability to produce and present a competitive professional body of artwork for a chosen professional career path.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment of modules in the qualification is in accordance with the assessment policy of the institution. The learning guides for the modules contain the module outcomes and assessment criteria which must be satisfied in order to pass.

Formative and Summative Assessments will take place on this learning programme.

• Formative Assessments will include any of the following: tests, assignments, oral presentations, debates, online activities and case studies, critique sessions.
• Summative Assessment will include a formal examination or/and in the case of Continuous Assessment modules a portfolio of evidence.

Assessment regulations are approved by Senate. Summative Assessments are done on completion of modules. Reference and decisions are based on assessment description indicated in the study guide.

Re-assessment opportunities included

• Rewrites which shall only be accepted until modularisation and CASS Policy are fully implemented on all levels of Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF).
• Supplementary assessments proceed after the main assessment has taken place. Re-assessment is the final opportunity of assessments (this falls in line with the CASS Policy.) Additional assessment opportunity includes special circumstance, which is only granted when written permission, with all supporting documents are submitted. Assessments will take place within 7 days after the main assessment.

Circumstances, which would allow for a special assessment, include illness supported by a medical certificate, serious injury, death of an immediate member and postponement decided upon by the institution. Special assessments are done during time slots scheduled for supplementary events.