Diploma in Agricultural Management

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with required technical knowledge and managerial competencies for managing agricultural enterprises effectively as part of a production team. Learners can solve problems regarding financial planning, business management and human resource management within an agricultural context.

The primary focus of the revised HEQSF aligned qualification remains the management of an agricultural business. However, the important component of financial planning and management reflects clearly in the reformulated purpose statement. The relevant knowledge, skills and values should be clearly defined as technical knowledge and managerial competencies. The revised HEQSF specifically mentions the importance of both technical knowledge and practical competencies.

To keep the curriculum relevant in a constantly changing environment, it is the responsibility of individual subject lecturers to update the content and module notes of their subjects. To keep up with new developments and trends, the institution must send lecturers to attend industry information days and forums. Lecturers consult industry role players regarding the continuing relevance of the subject content and invite them as guest speakers/lecturers. They stay up-to-date by reading new scientific publications and popular articles.

Such new developments help to address one of the main needs that the learners identify, namely eminent employability. Although employability directly relates to a solid disciplinary knowledge base and the capability to apply this knowledge, employers particularly stressed the importance of good interpersonal relations required in an ideal employee. The agricultural management skills address the needs of the industry, and also reflect the rationale of the qualification.

Rationale

Agriculture is one of the primary pillars of the economy of the Western Cape, generating almost 23 % of the total value added by the agriculture sector in South Africa. Although only 12 % of the total agriculture land is in this province, the Western Cape produces between 55 % and 60 % of South Africa's exports and 20 % of the country's total production of agriculture products. It is therefore clear that education and training in agriculture and related fields provides to a large and constant demand for skilled labour.

This qualification is considered to be generic since both Plant and Livestock Production systems form part of the module. The purpose statement emphasises the importance of a balance between theoretical knowledge and managerial competence in the module in the purpose statement of the qualification. The technical subjects in the module have both a theoretical and practical component to accentuate the close relationship between theory and the application thereof in industry. The WPBL component of the module (and project-based WIL subjects offered in the third year of study) serves excellently in facilitating the combination of theory and practice of all subject areas in the mind of the learner. It also serves in meeting the prescription of the HEQSF that learners should have gained experience in a workplace context. Where a certain subject serves as a prerequisite for subjects offered by other lecturers, good communication is imperative for proper alignment between subjects.

This qualification articulates to an Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Management, as a specialist qualification, better equipping learners for the world of work. It could also articulate to similar qualifications at other tertiary institutions, provided that the learner meets the minimum requirements of the other institution. The teaching/learning and assessment policies of the department remain the same. Although the WPBL component decreases, learners remain active in the industry for a full production cycle (basically a whole year) to complete their third-year projects.

Based on the national scarce skills targets highlighted in the National Skills Development Strategy III (Department of Labour) and other sources, the following occupations are the target of this qualification:

• Agricultural consultants.
• Farmers and farm managers as well as.
• Operational managers (both manufacturing and non-manufacturing).

The purpose statement and the following two exit level outcomes of the qualification indicate how to address these in this qualification:

i) Manage viable and sustainable agricultural production systems underpinned by sound financial management practices;

ii) Demonstrate the dynamics and legal implications of managing human resources within an agricultural context.

The Diploma in Agricultural Management is placed within the context of the climatic conditions of the Western Cape and focuses specifically on agricultural management of plant production and livestock production.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience.

In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, or equivalent.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 5, 6 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 5,103 Credits

• Agricultural Operations Management 1A, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural Soil Science 1A, 10 Credits.
• Plant Production 1A, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural Marketing Management 1A, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural Computer and Numeracy Literacy, 10 Credits.
• Livestock Production 1B, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural Engineering 2B, 10 Credits.
• Pasture Science 2B, 10 Credits.
• Research Methodology 3, 15 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 6, 257 Credits

• Agricultural Soil Science 1B, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural Operations Management 1B, 16 Credits.
• Resource Management 1B, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Marketing Management 1B, 12 Credits.
• Agricultural Production Management 2A, 16 Credits.
• Livestock Production 2B, 14 Credits.
• Plant Production 2B, 14 Credits.
• Agricultural Law 2A, 16 Credits.
• Agricultural Marketing Management 2B, 14 Credits.
• Plant Production 2A, 12 Credits.
• Livestock Production 2A, 12 Credits.
• Production Systems Management 3, 30 Credits.
• Management Information Systems 3, 15 Credits.
• Agricultural Practice 3, 30 Credits.
• Agricultural Labour Practice 3, 15 Credits.
• Agricultural Environment 3, 15 Credits.

1. Manage viable and sustainable agricultural production systems underpinned by sound financial management practices.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of environmental factors and their implications for sustainable and economically viable agricultural production.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics and legal implications of managing human resources within an agricultural context.
4. Integrate basic business management principles as they relate to agricultural production.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate the ability to analyse and describe the production and financial processes in agricultural systems, define problem situations that may arise and contribute actively to developing solutions for these problems. Through individual and group assignments and projects, case studies, portfolio development, class discussions, quizzes, field trip reports and poster design the learner needs to exhibit the ability to select relevant and appropriate information suitable for decision making in sustainably managing agricultural systems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Analyse and describe the natural production environment and its vulnerability to agricultural production systems.
• Select relevant and appropriate information and suggest suitable methods and strategies to effectively manage agricultural production systems to ensure sustainable natural and other resource management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate the ability to analyse and describe the human resource management process in agricultural production systems, identify and define problem situations that may arise and contribute actively to solving these problems.
• Identify and apply relevant and appropriate actions and decision making in sustainably managing human resource problems and processes in agricultural production systems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Demonstrate ability to analyse and describe the agricultural production processes in agricultural systems and identify, define and develop business processes to contribute actively to the management of agricultural business processes.
• Apply business principles in developing and integrating basic business practice to support business decision making in sustainably managing agricultural production systems.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment forms part of continuous assessment at the institution and takes the form of an appropriate mix of both formative and summative assessment methods.

Formative assessment in this qualification, consists of a variety of tasks such as problem-solving individual and group assignments and projects, case studies, portfolio development, class discussions, quizzes, field trip reports and poster design.

Summative assessment takes place at the end of a section of work/quarter or semester to assess learners' achievement against the learning outcomes of the qualification and subject(s). In this qualification, it consists of written assessments in the form of written class tests and examination conducted during and at the end of the academic semester/year.

Integrated assessment in this qualification takes place in the third year of study. Learner assessment is holistic using project reports, a portfolio of evidence and an oral presentation related to the needs and requirements of the agricultural industry.