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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply critical and systematic knowledge of environmental ethics to the field of work or study 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
13624  Apply critical and systematic knowledge of environmental ethics to the field of work or study 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Environmental Educators 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 05 - Education, Training and Development Adult Learning 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  8 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2005-11-01  2008-11-01  SAQA 0160/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2009-11-01   2012-11-01  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard in environmental ethics at Level 6 is relevant to a wide range of professions, in particular those concerned with, or having a significant impact on, the environment. It enables candidates to analyse and evaluate a wide range of issues, policies and practices in relation to a critical and systematic knowledge of the field of environmental ethics. It requires learners to apply their knowledge of environmental ethics critically to their particular field of work or study.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Demonstrate critical and systematic knowledge and understanding of the field of environmental ethics.
  • Formulate ethically responsible and reasoned responses to a wide range of environmental issues.
  • Demonstrate how environmental ethics can inform and transform organisational practices affecting the environment.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the relationship between environmental ethics and a range of policies affecting the environment.
  • Conduct basic guided research, exploring the environmental value dimensions of an environmental issue. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Although environmental ethics unit standards exist for Levels 4 and 5 on the NQF, this unit standard assumes no prior knowledge or experience of the field of environmental ethics. However, it does assume that the candidate is in possession of at least a Further Education and Training Certificate. It also assumes knowledge of the candidate's particular field of work or study. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    At Level 6, knowledge of environmental ethics as a theoretical field is required. This unit standard requires candidates to develop a critical and systematic view of the field of environmental ethics. It requires them to be aware of a wide variety of environmental value positions and to know how to classify these according to a chosen environmental ethics taxonomy. They should have detailed knowledge of a chosen set of perspectives that are particularly relevant to their work or study context and to South Africa within a global context.

    Candidates should be able to apply systematic knowledge of environmental ethics broadly and critically to processes of analysis, evaluation and problem solving in a wide range of situations, both familiar and unfamiliar, concrete and abstract. They should be able to analyse a wide range of environmental issues and attempts to address them, giving particular attention to concerns within their own particular field of work or study.

    Candidates should be able to recognise ethical perspectives and value positions implicit in a variety of concepts, policies and practices, for example:
  • Concepts: sustainable development, environmental justice, resource economics, conservation, the polluter pays, the precautionary principle etc.
  • Policies: local, national or global legislation and agreements that have an impact on the environment. These policies need not be overtly 'environmental' in nature, but may also include general policies and legislation that influence the environment, e.g. macro-economic policy, international trade agreements, international environmental policies, national environmental legislation, Agenda 21, Local Agenda 21 etc. While demonstrating general knowledge of a wide range of policies, the learner should demonstrate in-depth knowledge of key policies that are likely to be encountered in his or her particular field.
  • Practices: general practices that impact positively or negatively on the environment; environmental or human resource management practices in organisations, e.g. decision-making, management, operations, etc; practices that attempt to address environmental problems, e.g. environmental management practices, resource economics, environmental impact assessments, legislation, environmental education.

    In addition to understanding the ethical positions implicit in a range of policies, the candidate should also consider ethical implications of these policies, including both ecological and social considerations.

    At Level 6, candidates are required to undertake a small-scale guided research project using a prescribed format. The relevant specific outcome states that they should explore the environmental ethics dimensions of a particular environmental issue. This issue may be local or global in nature and of general or field-specific interest. The candidate should draw on documented information and theory in the field of environmental ethics and present a well-structured argument. The research report, whether verbal or written, should be presented according to conventions of academic discourse. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate critical and systematic knowledge and understanding of the field of environmental ethics 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The candidate demonstrates a critical understanding of key concepts in the field of environmental ethics. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Embedded knowledge:

    Key concepts in the field of environmental ethics, e.g. ethics, values, value positions, environmental ethics, the environment, environmental problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The candidate demonstrates a critical understanding of the contested and ambivalent nature of environmental values. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The candidate demonstrates a critical and systematic understanding of key positions in the field of environmental ethics. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Embedded knowledge:

    A simple taxonomy of key positions in the field of environmental ethics, e.g. anthropocentric, eco-centric, radical positions, etc.

    [Note: a utilitarian position is an anthropocentric position] 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The candidate identifies a wide variety of environmental value positions, indicating how social systems (e.g. cultural, economic, political) relate to these positions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The candidate critically and systematically reflects on the relationship between diverse environmental value positions and interpretation of key environmental concepts. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Embedded knowledge:

    Understanding of a range of environmental concepts, e.g. sustainable development, environmental justice, resource economics, conservation, the polluter pays, the precautionary principle etc. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Formulate ethically responsible and reasoned responses to a wide range of environmental issues 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The candidate analyses and evaluates a wide range of environmental issues in the light of a critical and systematic understanding of environmental ethics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The candidate analyses and evaluates attempts to address a range of environmental issues in the light of a critical and systematic understanding of environmental ethics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The candidate recommends and justifies appropriate responses to a range of environmental problems, drawing on a critical and systematic understanding of environmental ethics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The candidate critically and systematically reflects o nthe implications of diverse value of positions for environmental management and practice. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate how environment ethics can inform and transform organisational practices 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate how environmental ethics can inform and transform organisational practices affecting the environments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The candidate critically analyses organisational policies and practices that affect the environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. With reasoned justification, the candidate justifies criteria for analysing organisational policies and practices, drawing on a systematic knowledge of environmental ethics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The candidate demonstrates a basic ability to formulate recommendations to improve environmental performance in an organisation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate a critical understanding 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate a critical understanding of the relationship between the environmental ethics and a wide range of policies affecting the environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The candidate demonstrates broad knowledge of key international and national policies and legislation that affect the South African environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The candidate demonstrates working knowledge of policies relevant to the field of work or study. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The candidate demonstrate a critical understanding of environmental implications of these policies. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The candidate critically evaluates the relationship between environment ethics and these policies. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Conduct basic guided research, exploring the environmental dimensions of an environmental issue 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The candidate identifies an environmental problem or concern. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The candidate gathers basic information on the nature of the environmental problem or concern. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The candidate gathers data on the value positions held by stakeholders. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The candidate analyses data, identifying value positions and ethical dilemmas associated with the environmental problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The candidate interprets and evaluates findings in the light of a critical and systematic knowledge of environmental ethics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. The candidate presents findings according to conventions of academic professional discourse. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Accreditation and moderation options:

    Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

    Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.

    Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes, in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. For the most part, the possession or lack of this knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance.
  • Key concepts in the field of environmental ethics, e.g. ethics, values, value positions, environmental ethics, the environment, environmental problems
  • A simple taxonomy of key positions in the field of environmental ethics, e.g. anthropocentric, eco-centric, radical positions, etc.
  • Understanding of a range of environmental concepts, e.g. sustainable development, environmental justice, resource economics, conservation, the polluter pays principle, the precautionary principle etc. 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation and community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, symbolic and/or language skills in various modes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

    Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Participate as a responsible citizen in the life of local, national and global communities. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  22903   Bachelor of Environmental Education, Training and Development Practice  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CHE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.