Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with deepened conceptual and professional knowledge and competences in sustainable agriculture to enable them to promote farming practices and methods that are profitable, environmentally sound and to the benefit of communities. Through this qualification, learners will develop creative and critical perspectives to acquire analytical and problem solving skills and conceptual insight in sustainable agriculture. The curriculum will develop professional knowledge and competences that will enable them to provide leadership, strategic direction and support to local farmers and farming communities by promoting farming practices and methods that are profitable, environmentally sound and to the benefit of communities.

Rationale

The Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture is designed to provide learners with knowledge of sustainable agriculture and equip them with skills that will enable them to engage in solving problems related to Sustainability of Agriculture. The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Forum defines sustainable agriculture as, that that supports the efficient production of safe, high quality agricultural products, in a way that protects and improves the natural environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers, their employees and local communities, and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species.

The capacity of natural resources to meet the growing demand for food and agricultural commodities raises global concern. The capacity of available resources and technologies to satisfy the demands of this growing population remains uncertain. Sustainable agriculture and food security are key factors that inform the national and global development agenda.

The demand for capacity and experts in the field of sustainable agriculture exceeds universities' and governments' training and development inputs. A Postgraduate Degree will develop Agricultural Specialists that could support sustainable agricultural practice, and in return support food security and socio-economic development.

This qualification widens career opportunities in the agricultural or agribusiness sectors. Learners may find careers in advisory and advocacy roles, agriculture management, agricultural and agribusiness consultancy, natural resource management, as well as agricultural education and training.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

In cases where learners who do not meet the minimum admission requirements, they may be allowed access to the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture. The RPL process is institutionally administered by a dedicated RPL office and institutional policy is rigorously applied.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry to this qualification is a three (3) year Bachelor's Degree.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 8, totalling 136 Credits.

Compulsory Modules

• Sustainable Agriculture, 16 Credits.
• Research methods for sustainable agriculture, 24 Credits.
• Extension for sustainability, 24 Credits.
• Assessment and Management of natural resources, 24 Credits.
• Economics for sustainable agriculture, 24 Credits.
• Livestock production for sustainable agriculture, 24 Credits.

1. Apply an understanding of the theory and methods that support sustainable agriculture.
2. Understand and apply the dynamics between the economic, human and natural resource domains of sustainable agriculture
3. Analyse agricultural systems to assess the economic, environmental and social impact on sustainability.
4. Devise interventions that promote agricultural techniques and strategies by drawing upon conceptual knowledge.
5. Review the role and function of policies and institutional structures in cultivating sustainable agricultural practice.
6. Make ethical and responsible decisions that promote sustainable agriculture.
7. Communicate effectively with farmers, agri-businesses and the local communities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Define and understand the concepts of sustainable development and sustainable agriculture and complexities of the economic-environment-social nexus underpinning sustainability. These concepts will include the theory of:

> Conceptual framework for sustainable agriculture.

> Policy landscape for sustainable agriculture.

> Sustainable agricultural approaches, programs and tools.

> Key indicators and threshold values on evaluation tools.

• Apply the above knowledge to promote a sustainable agricultural environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Understand and analyse the dynamics of Economic, environment and social sustainability and the interface.
• Use economic methods to optimise decision making concerned with the application of economic theory in optimising the production and distribution of agricultural products.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Understand the new role of extension in the context of agricultural innovation systems and sustainable agriculture.
• Apply basic principles of natural agricultural resources (soil, plant, atmosphere), and how to promote integrated assessment of these natural resources on a viable basis to contribute to a sustainable system.
• Understand how the various aspects of animal production inter relate to each other to contribute to sustainable production systems.
• Plan and conduct research into sustainable research practices.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Comprehend the multidimensional nature of the concept of food security and emerging global challenges and opportunities related to it.
• Apply the concepts of resilience, vulnerability and adaptation in relation to the rural poor and smallholder farmers.
• Apply different tools for assessing household vulnerabilities and promotion of various adaptation strategies.
• Construct management and assessment tools and methods that are deemed practical for fieldwork application.
• Understand, contextualise and apply the new role of extension in the context of sustainable agriculture.
• Promote the core competencies to support sustainable agriculture.
• Create a score card to evaluate the sustainability of an agricultural production system.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Understand and critically review the agricultural policy landscape and the extent to which they either provide enabling environment or hindering the successful implementation of sustainable agricultural efforts.
• Navigate a sustainable agricultural production system within the regulatory framework.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Apply ethical principles of research, ethical challenges and approval processes.
• Use multiple source of knowledge to identify and analyse the different approaches that are deemed to be promoting sustainable agriculture in terms of effectiveness and efficiency.
• Adopt a leadership role in the management of sustainable agricultural practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Maintain or improve sustainable agriculture through effective communication by presenting and communicate academic, professional or occupational ideas to farmers, agri-businesses and the local communities.

Integrated Assessment

This qualification complies with the Institution's Assessment Policy and the assessment and moderation procedures in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. An approach where learners are assessed continuously. The qualification consists of 6 compulsory modules to complete the qualification. The individual modules vary in credits, learning activities and number of assignments.

For formative assessment each module requires the completion of at least 2-4 assignments that includes individualised research to contextualise individual analysis. In class presentation and discussion, it is a pre-requisite during attendance sessions, to assess refined independent learning required in the academic literacy.

Summative assessment comprises of written examinations for each individual module, with the exception of the module Research methods for sustainable agriculture.