Postgraduate Programme

POSTGRADUATE TEACHING

PROGRAMME

Land and Agrarian Studies at UWC

Are you interested in a key policy issue, i.e. the redistribution of land and the restructuring of agrarian social relations in southern Africa? Would you like to study land reform and agrarian change from a multi-disciplinary perspective, and enhance your capacity to critically analyse policies and programmes? If you are, apply for admission to a unique programme of postgraduate study which draws on academic expertise from a variety of disciplines. This programme is housed within the School of Government at the University of the Western Cape, and administered by the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS).

Programme Objectives

The purpose of the programme is to enhance the capacity of government and civil society organisations to develop and implement policies and programmes of land and agrarian reform that seek to achieve both the redistribution of productive assets and sustainable development. The specific objective is to develop appropriate knowledge and skills which will enable policy makers, planners, managers, researchers and fieldworkers in the sector to:

• Conceptualise key policy issues of land and agrarian reform.

• Analyse problems of policy formulation and programme design.

• Plan effective programmes and projects.

• Undertake research on important questions of policy and practice.

Target Group

The Postgraduate (PG) Diploma aims to provide training in conceptual and policy analysis skills to policy makers, planners, managers and fieldworkers who work in land reform and rural development. These could work for government departments, local government bodies, non-governmental organisations, or private sector companies and consultancies.

Course Structure

Successful applicants may study towards a PG Diploma in Land and Agrarian Studies, and a MPhil (Coursework) in Land and Agrarian Studies.

Students registering for the PG Diploma or MPhil (Coursework) will be required to complete six taught coursework modules in their first year. Students who successfully complete these modules may graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma. Alternatively, students who complete the modules with an average mark of 65% or above, and whose proposal is accepted by the PLAAS research committee could apply to proceed to an MPhil (Coursework) in their second year. The MPhil (Coursework) Programme in turn will require the completion of a mini-thesis on an appropriate topic to be agreed upon by the PLAAS research commitee.

Approach to Teaching and Learning

The curriculum is multi-disciplinary. It analyses policy questions in historical and comparative perspectives, drawing on experiences in southern Africa and elsewhere. It facilitates an active approach to learning through small group discussions, debates, and structured exercises as well as reading and writing assignments. These methods are aimed at developing students’ abilities to problem-solve creatively, and to think critically and independently.

MPhil students will learn to conduct independent research (either of a theoretical or an applied nature), on aspects of poverty, land and agrarian reform. Topics could also include natural resource management. This will involve design and implementation of a research project around a specific topic. This research project should be completed within twelve months.

Course Outline

1. Postgraduate Diploma Students (Honours level)

• PG Diploma students must complete six modules, each worth 20 National Qualifications Framework (NQF) credits, amounting to 120 NQF credits.

• Each of the six modules is comprised of a pre-contact assignment, structured teaching over a two week period, and a post-contact assignment.

• There are three on-campus teaching blocks every year: February/March, May and August. Two modules are completed per teaching block.

• The three teaching blocks consist of lectures and classroom discussion and debate, informed by relevant reading.

2. MPhil (Coursework) Students

• The mini thesis is worth 60 NQF credits.

• Students must complete the coursework programme outlined above in their first year.

• Students must complete a mini-thesis in their second year.

3. Research Methodology

• Students continuing with MPhil (Course-work) will be required to attend the research methodology module..

• Students should complete a concept note, will be allocated a supervisor and work towards a proposal.

Admission Criteria

For admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Land and Agrarian Studies, applicants must have obtained an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (eg.sociology, history, economics, political science, agriculture, geographical and environmental studies) and demonstrate an interest in land reform issues.

For those applicants without a first degree and have substantial work experience in land and agrarian reform, you may be considered under the basis of recognition of prior learning (RPL) procedures. The most likely candidates for RPL applications are experienced practitioners who have not had the opportunity to engage in higher education, or have only a Diploma or Certificate qualification. Kindly refer to the application pack for more details.

Course Modules

LAS 701: The history of the land question in South Africa
LAS 702: The agrarian question in Souther Africa
LAS 703: Land and agrarian reform in contemporary Africa: Comparative perspectives and policy debates
LAS 704: Economics of agrarian systems
LAS 706: Development, planning and sustainable rural livelihoods
LAS 707: Sustainable natural resource management in land and agrarian reform
LAS 708: Legal and socio-legal dimensions of land and agrarian reform
LAS 805: Research methodology

Module Coordinators
•     Prof Ben Cousins                                                       bcousins@uwc.ac.za
•     Dr Moenieba Isaacs                                                  misaacs@uwc.ac.za
•     Dr Ruth Hall                                                                rhall@uwc.ac.za
•     Dr Michael Aliber                                                       maliber@uwc.ac.za
•     Dr Mafaniso Hara                                                       mhara@uwc.ac.za
•     Mr Henk Smith                                                             henk@lrc.org.za

Programme Coordinator and Senior Lecturer

Dr Moenieba Isaacs

Tel: +27 21 959 3721 / 3733

Fax: + 27 21 959 3732

E-mail: misaacs@uwc.ac.za

Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies

University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

Course Fees

Estimated course fees ranges from R16 000 to R20 000 for students from South Africa and Southern African Development Community countries. All international students are required to pay the full tuition fees upfront in order to register. In addition, students must cover their own photocopying, travel and accommodation costs. Where course readers are provided, students will be expected to cover the costs. Bursaries may be available for South African applicants only.

Click here to download the PLAAS Application for 2012

Applications

Application forms can be obtained from Ms Carla Henry, the Postgraduate Programme Administrator.

Tel: +27 21 959 3727 / 3733

Fax: +27 21 959 3732

E-mail: chenry@uwc.ac.za

Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS)

University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

Website: http:// www.plaas.org.za, http://uwc.ac.za