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Postgraduate Diploma | PLAAS

Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies is a unique programme offered by PLAAS at the University of the Western Cape. It is the only programme in the land and agrarian studies field at a South African university. It offers:

  • accreditation through the Higher Education Department on National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 8;
  • internationally recognised lecturers with established expertise in poverty, land and agrarian studies;
  • lecturers include Professors Andries Du Toit and Ben Cousins, together with Associate Professors Ruth Hall, Moenieba Isaacs and Mafaniso Hara;
  • a solid grasp of key concepts in poverty, land, agrarian reform, ecosystem management and climate change;
  • critical engagement with land and related policies in Southern Africa and interventions in students’ professional contexts;
  • two convenient three-week teaching blocks per year; and
  • a relevant, respected, recognised career-enhancing qualification.

Who will benefit

The Postgraduate Diploma in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies is designed for passionate and committed working professionals such as policymakers, planners, managers and fieldworkers.

It will benefit those working in government departments, local government bodies, NGOs, non-governmental organisations, private sector companies and consultancies.

Who can apply?

  • Applicants must have an undergraduate degree, with an average of 60% in the final assessment of the exit-modules in relevant courses such as Sociology, History, Economics, Political Science, Agriculture, Public Administration, Geography and/or Environmental Studies, together with at least three years’ relevant experience in the areas of poverty, land reform and sustainable natural resources management.
  • For those applicants without a first degree, recognition of prior learning (RPL) procedures will apply to candidates with extensive work experience (at least ten years) in land and agrarian reform, rural development, natural resources management and/or gender issues. Preference will be given to students with good English writing abilities.

How we approach teaching and learning

PLAAS is an excellent platform for academic teaching and learning in land and agrarian reform, poverty and natural resources management. Established PLAAS researchers, involved in socially relevant and innovative research, are also course coordinators. The application of teaching and learning takes place through online contact time with coordinators, self-learning through extensive reading and analysis, together with writing assignments.

Students are required to complete four taught modules, consisting of 30 NQF credits each. Teaching and learning takes place online, over a period of eight weeks. The first session will be in April/May (4 weeks); and August/September (4 weeks). Students are to be in full attendance as this is the only contact time they have with coordinators. Should a student not attend the block sessions, he or she will forfeit the module. Various means of assessment, such as written tests, group debates, pre-contact assignments and post-contact assignments, together with structured teaching, ensure that the teaching and learning outcomes of the programme are achieved.

The four course modules

LAS711

Structural Poverty and Marginalised Livelihoods in Southern African
Agro-Food Systems

(30 Credits)

View Module Content
LAS712

The Political Economy of Land and Agrarian Reform in
Southern Africa

(30 Credits)

View Module Content
LAS713

The Economics of Farming and Food Systems

(30 Credits)

View Module Content
LAS714

Social and Ecological Dimensions of Ecosystems Management

(30 Credits)

View Module Content

Application procedures

For those applicants who hold an undergraduate degree in relevant courses such as Sociology, History, Economics, Political Science, Agriculture, Public Administration, Geography and/or Environmental Studies, together with at least three years’ relevant experience in the areas of poverty, land reform and sustainable natural resources management. Should you qualify, please follow the procedures outlined in the PLAAS Application Procedures document.

Complete the UWC Online Application

Application procedures for recognition of prior learning (RPL)

If you have extensive work experience (at least ten years) in land and agrarian issues, and with good writing abilities, without an undergraduate degree, you may apply to be considered on the basis of recognition of prior learning (RPL). Should you qualify under this, please follow the procedures outlined in the PLAAS RPL Application Procedures document.

Complete the UWC Online Application

Download the Recognition of Prior Learning Form here.

Tuition fees

Applicants may generate online quotations and pro-forma invoices via the University’s website https://quote.uwc.ac.za/default. Kindly indicate the modules LAS711, LAS712, LAS713 and LAS714 when requesting a quotation.

Enquiries

Enquires may be directed to Ms Carla Henry, the Postgraduate Programme Administrator.

  • Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS)
  • Email: postgraduates@plaas.org.za 
  • Tel: +27 21 959 3727/3733
  • Fax: +27 21 959 3732
  • University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7353, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

Deadline

Applications will be considered on a monthly-basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit at their earliest convenience. You will be notified by email whether your application has been successful or not. Information regarding the registration procedures will only be provided to successful candidates.