Postgraduate Diploma in Animal Sciences

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Animal Sciences is to develop learners who will be able to generate, interpret, disseminate, and apply disciplinary knowledge across various contexts, inciting the growth and production of animals.

Upon completion of this qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Address multiple resources and critically review factors needed for research planning and process, research design and apply different research techniques and strategies, utilised in practice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and engagement in an area at the forefront in the field of Animal Sciences and related disciplines.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities and uncertainties of selecting, applying, or transferring appropriate standard procedures, processes, or techniques to unfamiliar problems in Animal Sciences.
• Use a range of specialised skills to identify, analyse and address complex or abstract problems drawing systematically on the body of knowledge and methods appropriate to the livestock industries.
• Interrogate multiple sources of knowledge in Animal Sciences and evaluate knowledge and processes of knowledge production.
• Identify and address ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different ethical value systems to the livestock industries.
• Present and communicate academic, professional, or occupational ideas and texts effectively to a range of audiences, offering creative insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues appropriate to the livestock environments.
• Review information gathering, synthesis of data, evaluation, and management processes in the livestock context to develop creative responses to problems and issues.
• Apply, in a self-critical manner, learning strategies, which effectively address his or her professional and ongoing learning needs and the professional and ongoing learning needs of others.
• Take full responsibility for his or her work, decision-making and use of resources, and full accountability for the decisions and actions of others in the livestock sectors.
• Identify complex and abstract problems in unfamiliar working or industry-related settings, conduct literature search, research and process information to contribute to the growth, production and general well-being of animals,

Qualifying learners will function in occupations such as research assistants, animal scientists and practitioners, and will be able to work, amongst others, in research institutions, government departments, non-government organisations and the agricultural-related industry at large. Furthermore, learners will be able to function at the forefront of related fields in Animal Sciences within the context of developmental and innovative approaches.

Rationale

In South Africa, 80% of the agricultural land is suitable for livestock production with the sector contributing approximately 40% to the agricultural income. According to the Livestock Development Strategy for South Africa (2006), the importance of the livestock industry is evident from various perspectives, including the following:

• From a food and income security point of view, animal agriculture is the primary income generator in the majority of rural areas, with projections indicating that by 2020 it will be the most important contributor to sustenance, poverty relief and agribusiness development in the global context,
• Animal food products are a major contributor to a balanced diet because of the high biological value of their protein and significant quantities of high bioavailable minerals and vitamins; in addition, animal fibre products quantitatively contribute significantly to the clothing, leather, housing, and decorative industries,
• Livestock earnings amount to about 10% of agricultural export and through import plays a significant role in stabilizing the economies of SADC countries,
• It is a major employer and employment generator in the economy.

The South African economy is to a large extent based on agriculture and the majority of rural communities are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. Qualifying learners will thus be able to contribute to the developmental needs of society and the economy within the context of agricultural development at large. Qualifying learners will have the option to register with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and related industry bodies.

The National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 of South Africa asserts that Agriculture has a central role to play in building a strong economy and, in the process, reducing inequalities by increasing incomes and employment opportunities for the poor while nurturing the country's inheritance of natural resources. Agriculture is central to the key deliverables of the NDP such as an inclusive and integrated rural economy by creating jobs in agriculture and related sector. The NDP calls for increased investment in new agricultural technologies, research, and the development of adaptation strategies for the protection of rural livelihoods and expansion of commercial agriculture.

According to the South African Society for Animal Sciences (SASAS), animal production is one of the major sectors in South African agriculture and contributes substantially to the economy of the country. SASAS further states that Animal science deals mainly with the three basic disciplines, namely breeding, physiology and nutrition.

The Advisory Committee of the Department of Animal Sciences, comprising of industrial and other stakeholders, provided input into the development of the qualification, to ensure that the qualification has relevance to the workplace. The purpose of their involvement was to ensure the design of a qualification, which would be of high quality, relevant to and aligned with the latest developments and technologies in the profession, related business and industry.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with regards to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted for modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Animal Sciences, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Science, NQF Level 7.

Or

• A relevant qualification in the related field, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 120 Credits

• Applied Animal Nutrition, 30 Credits.
• Applied Animal Breeding and Genetics, 30 Credits.
• Applied Animal Reproductive Physiology, 30 Credits.
• Animal Science Research, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of and engagement in an area at the forefront in the field of Animal Sciences and related disciplines.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities and uncertainties of selecting, applying or transferring appropriate standard procedures, processes or techniques to unfamiliar problems in Animal Sciences.
3. Demonstrate an ability to interrogate multiple sources of knowledge in Animal Sciences and to evaluate knowledge and processes of knowledge production.
4. Demonstrate an ability to identify and address ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different ethical value systems to the livestock industries.
5. Present and communicate academic, professional, or occupational ideas and texts effectively to a range of audiences, offering creative insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues appropriate to the livestock environments.
6. Demonstrate an ability to critically review information gathering, synthesis of data, evaluation, and management processes in the livestock context in order to develop creative responses to problems and issues.
7. Demonstrate an ability to take full responsibility for his or her work, decision-making and use of resources, and full accountability for the decisions and actions of others in the livestock sector.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply knowledge of animal sciences for efficacy and value according to relevant evaluation criteria and to ensure that these relate to other applied sciences disciplines, as well as to understand how knowledge is dependent upon African and International scientific theories.
• Evaluate and critique animal sciences related theories, research methodologies, methods, and techniques relevant to the field, discipline or practice to understand the role of animal sciences in the applied sciences environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Investigate complex methods of enquiry and their suitability to solve animal sciences related problems by drawing systematically on the body of knowledge and methods appropriate to the livestock industries.
• Identify evidence-based solutions by selecting, applying, or transferring appropriate standard procedures, processes or techniques and relevant research to introduce change within animal sciences settings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Evaluate appropriate knowledge and process of knowledge production in animal sciences.
• Examine multiple sources of knowledge to independently validate its significance in the field of animal sciences.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Evaluate professional and ethical values and approaches based on critical reflection on the suitability of different ethical value systems to the livestock industries.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Communicate academic, professional, or occupational ideas and texts to a range of audiences, offering creative insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues appropriate to the livestock environments.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Review information gathering, synthesis of data, evaluation, and management processes in the livestock context in order to develop creative responses to problems and issues.
• Apply self-critical manner and learning strategies to effectively address learners' professional and ongoing learning needs and the professional and ongoing learning needs of others.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Justify decisions and actions within the animal sciences environment through practice, reading, lectures, and communication with industries and peers.
• Justify decisions and actions within the animal sciences environment.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment modes for the various modules in this qualification are as follows

Formative assessment will include class exercises and assignments, while summative assessment will include written tests and assignments. Scores obtained in these assessments will be collectively calculated to determine the predicate mark of 40%. The predicate mark and examination mark will then each contribute 50% to the year mark.

Formative assessment

Learning and assessment are integrated. Continual formative assessment is done so that learners are given feedback on their progress in the achievement of learning outcomes. The scheme of work includes assignments based on the learning material and learners are given feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited numbers of outcomes.

Summative assessment

Summative assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning in relation to the exit level outcomes of the qualification. Such judgement includes integrated assessments that test the learner's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are represented by the exit level outcomes as a whole.

Examinations, projects, practical's reports, or equivalent assessments such as a portfolio of evidence assess a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed in the formative stage. Summative assessment also tests the learner's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module.