University of The Free State Diplomas
Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
University of The Free State Diplomas, In an ever-changing agricultural environment, new entrants into the field of agriculture have placed new demands on the nature and scope of extension. The novice farmer’s level of expertise and skills require that they be served in an innovative way, thus the revision in conventional Extension training curricula. The Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development, and Extension is aimed at the needs of the Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services within private and government organisations in order to assist their workforce in attaining further skills and knowledge through participatory learning, enhancing appropriate knowledge, skills, and values to make informed decisions on sustainable agriculture and rural development challenges and issues, taking into account both scientific and social dimensions. At the core of the ADSARD (Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture) course is the facilitation of mobility and development of agricultural extension officers as reflected in the National Extension Recovery Plan of the South African Government.
ADSARD is characterised by relevant and integrated teaching and learning to develop life-long learning skills that will enable graduates to work in unfamiliar and variable contexts.
as qualification type is particularly suitable for continuing professional development, its flexibility in offering an intensive, focused, and applied specialisation
meets the requirements of the niche
in the labour market.
– Prof IB Groenewald
NQF Level 7
120 credits
18-month course
Students are required to have sound and proven practical experience relevant to the agricultural environment. Evaluation will be done on a continuous basis, as well as an integrated assignment of all the themes within the Advanced Diploma Programme.
The programme intends to deliver graduates who can act ethically and professionally and think in an analytical way, communicate with policy makers, interact effectively with the public, and evaluate and apply relevant information from literature and secondary data sources.
Post Basic Qualification (Advanced Diplomas in Nursing)
The School of Nursing, University of the Free State, offers advanced diplomas at level 7 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). These diplomas, which culminate in a post-basic qualification, comprise both fundamental and core modules. After successful completion of the relevant qualification, students will be registered with the South African Nursing Council.