DVA1502/101/3//2023

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2023

Development Problems and Institutions

DVA1502

Semesters 1 and 2

Department of Development Studies

This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.

Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and make sure
that you have regular access to the myUnisa module website, DVA1502-2023-
S1/S2, as well as your group website

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................3
2.2 Outcomes .....................................................................................................................................4
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ........................................................................................... 4
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 4
4.1 Lecturer(s) ....................................................................................................................................5
4.2 Department ...................................................................................................................................5
4.3 University ......................................................................................................................................5
5 RESOURCES ...............................................................................................................................5
5.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................5
5.2 Recommended book(s) .................................................................................................................6
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 6
5.4 Library services and resources information ................................................................................... 7
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 7
6.1 First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa ................................................................................. 8
7 STUDY PLAN ...............................................................................................................................9
8 PRACTICAL WORK .....................................................................................................................9
9 ASSESSMENT .............................................................................................................................9
9.1 Assessment criteria.......................................................................................................................9
9.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 10
9.3 Assignment due dates ................................................................................................................ 11
9.4 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 11
9.5 The assignment .......................................................................................................................... 12
9.6 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 13
9.7 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 13
9.7.1 Invigilation/proctoring .................................................................................................................. 13
10 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ........................................................................................................ 14
10.1 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................... 14
10.2 Cheating ..................................................................................................................................... 15
10.3 More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below ................................... 15
11 STUDENT WITH DISABILITY .................................................................................................... 15
12 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 16
13 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 16
14 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 16
15 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 17
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1 INTRODUCTION

Dear Student

Welcome to the department of Development Studies. We trust that you will enjoy studying with
us and that your relationship with this department will be a lasting one.

Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving towards

becoming an online institution. You will therefore see that all your study material, assessments
and engagements with your lecturer and fellow students will take place online. This tutorial letter
is intended to offer you some guidance in this regard. Visit the website for DVA1502 on myUnisa
frequently. The website for your module is DVA1502-2023-S1/S2.

DVA1502 is a blended module and therefore considered part of a blended learning environment.
This means that you will receive some study material in hard copy such as Tutorial Letter 101.
The study guide as well as Tutorial Letter DVAALLD/301, which explains how to write an essay-
type assignment and how to reference your sources, are available online only. Sepedi and IsiZulu
versions of DVALLD/301 are also available under the ‘Official Study Material’ tab on the
myUnisa module site. In addition, you will receive feedback tutorial letters during the year, and
this will also be available online only.

At Unisa, we engage in online learning through the myUnisa platform. Blended learning is the
provision of learning opportunities using a combination of multiple teaching and learning
strategies, pedagogies, education technologies and student support where eLearning may form
a significant proportion of the learning opportunities. You should also access myUnisa regularly
and participate in the discussion forums and lessons that have been created by your lecturers.
By frequently logging on to myUnisa, you can check for new announcements and guidelines
provided. You will be linked to an e-tutor on myUnisa; this means that part of your learning takes
place online.

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose

The purpose of this module is to introduce you to integrated development problems, such as
education and health, the role of the state in development, policy approaches, political and
economic dynamics within states, the role of development institutions and the importance of
participatory development and empowerment.

Students who complete this module will be able to identify, to evaluate, to reflect on and to develop
schemes to address development problems. The module considers development in the Global
South (in general), particularly in Africa, and focuses on local solutions.

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2.2 Outcomes

After completing this module, the students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of knowledge of current development problems

experienced in the developing countries.
• Understand the contestations around development issues
• Evaluate the impact that institutional and organizational systems have on development.
• Analyse case studies of development actors and institutions.
• Propose solutions to development problems and challenges.

3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION

Unisa has implemented a transformation charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In
response to this charter, we have placed curriculum transformation high on the teaching and
learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred
scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of
teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars
and their principles will be integrated at both programme and module levels as a phased-in
approach. You will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented by
Unisa, together with how the content is conceptualised in your modules. We encourage you to
embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way within the framework
of transformation.

4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

To assist Unisa to safeguard your personal information, please ensure that you only use your
myLife e-mail account when communicating with the university. We will not be responding to
any emails sent from private email addresses.

By using your myLife e-mail account, the university has a reasonable assurance that we are
communicating with you, as your e-mail address contains your student number and you use your
login credentials to access the account.

Unisa may only communicate with a student using a private e-mail address under the following
circumstances:
• New applicants who are enquiring about information for the purpose of applying for
admission.
• New applicants who do not yet have a myLife e-mail account, because they have
been admitted but not yet registered.
• Where a student requires assistance in resolving myLife e-mail account access
problems.

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Please be aware that any personal information you publish on public platforms, such as social
media platforms and WhatsApp groups, is not covered by the provisions of Protection of Personal
Information Act 4 of 2013. Any personal information published in the public domain is not
considered private and can, therefore be accessed by external parties with access to such
platforms.

4.1 Lecturer(s)

Your primary lecturer’s contact details are as follows:

Mr. KME Mabena
Tel: +27 12 429 4845
E-mail: mabenkme@unisa.ac.za

4.2 Department

Admin Support:
Ms BB Mabota/Ms T Macala
Department of Development Studies
Room 4–26
Winnie Madikizela- Mandela Building
Muckleneuk, Pretoria

Tel: +27 12 429 6813/4035

E-mail: devstu@unisa.ac.za
Departmental webpage: http://www.unisa.ac.za/devstudies

4.3 University

Please send all emails from your mylife email account. If you send an e-mail directly to a
Unisa e-mail address, insert your student number in the subject line to effect the correct routing
to an advisor for processing. Please check the list carefully and send an enquiry to one e-
mail address only. This will ensure that there is no confusion as to who must respond, thereby
preventing unnecessary delays in the response or the email portrayed as spam. Students should
only forward enquiries to the Registrar and Deputy Registrar in instances where those enquiries
could not be resolved at other levels.

Contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.

Please include the student number in all correspondence

5 RESOURCES

5.1 Prescribed book(s)

There are no prescribed books for this module.

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5.2 Recommended book(s)

There are no recommended books for this module.

5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

The following are e-reserves for DVA1502 for 2023:

1. Adelman. I. 2000. Fifty Years of Economic Development: What Have We Learned (mimeo).
Washington DC: World Bank.

2. Commission for Gender Equality. 2020 The Bare Minimum Commission for Gender Equality
Report on South Africa’s Compliance with CEDAW Committee 2011. ISBN: 978-1-9020308-83-4.
Stable URL link: http://cge.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/the-bare-minimum-cedaw-report-
2020.pdf

3. Friedan, Thomas R and Damon. Inger K. 2015. Ebola in West Africa – CDC’s role in epidemic
detection, control and prevention. Emerging Infective Diseases 21(11). Stable URL link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4622264/

4. Mkandawire, T., Running while others walk: Knowledge and the challenge of Africa’s
Development. Africa Development, Vol. XXXVI, No.2, pp1-36. Council for the Development of
Social Science Research in Africa.

5. Robeyns, Ingrid. 2017 Wellbeing, Freedom and Social justice - Core Ideas and the Framework.
pages 21-28, Open Book Publishers. Stable URL link:
https://www.openbookpublishers.com/product/682

6. Torti, Carloi, Mazzitelli, Maria, Trecaridi EA & Owachi, D. 2020 Potential Implications of SARS-
CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: where are we going from now? BMC Infectious Diseases 20: 412
(2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05147-8. Stable URL link:
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-020-05147-8

7. Wang, Hongying, 2017. New Multilateral Development Bank: opportunities and challenges for
global governance. Global Policy 8(1): 113-118. Stable URL link:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/1758-5899.12396

E-reserves can be downloaded from the Library catalogue. More information is available at:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request

To access these e-reserves, go to http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library and then

click on the link “Find e-reserves & recommended books”, which can be found at the bottom
of the page. You will then be directed to a new page, which requests a module code. You must
enter DVA1502 in the space provided and click on “Submit”. You will then be able to access all
the links to the e-reserves assigned to this module.

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5.4 Library services and resources information

The Unisa library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance
• For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (e.g. the services offered by personal librarians and
the request a literature search service offered by the information search librarians), go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-support
• For library training for undergraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Training

The library has created numerous library guides, available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:
• Request and find library material/download recommended material:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• Frequently asked questions about the library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
• A–Z of library databases:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php

Important contact information:

• Ask a librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Technical problems encountered in accessing library online services:
Lib-help@unisa.ac.za
• General library-related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
• Queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za
• Social media channels: Facebook: UnisaLibrary and Twitter: @UnisaLibrary

6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through Unisa.

If you need assistance with regard to the myModules system, you are welcome to use the
following contact details:
• Toll-free landline: 0800 00 1870 (Select option 07 for myModules)
• E-mail: mymodules22@unisa.ac.za or myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za
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You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to
access module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessment
and how to participate in forum activities via the following link:
https://dtls-qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130

Registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices and
updates are sent exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for
your account to be activated after you have claimed it. Please do this immediately after
registering at Unisa, by following this link: myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za

Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official correspondence
with the university and will remain the official primary e-mail address on record at Unisa. You
remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.

Note: In line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) 4 of 2013, only student
queries sent from a myLife email account will be responded to.

myUnisa

Once you have claimed your myLife student email account, you will be able to log on to myUnisa.
myUnisa is useful, because you can:
• download electronic copies of your tutorial letters and study guide.
• communicate with lecturers and fellow students in the Discussion Forums.
• receive reminders of assignment due dates.
• receive reminders of your examination dates.
• be linked to an e-tutor.
• submit your assignments online.
• be alerted to any important information.

E-tutors

This module has e-tutors. Log on to myUnisa to identify your tutor and tutor group

6.1 First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa

For many students, the transition from school education to tertiary education is beset with anxiety.
This is also true for first-time students to Unisa. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and e-learning
institution. Unlike face-to-face/contact institutions, Unisa is somewhat different. It is a mega
university, and all our programmes are offered through a blended learning mode or fully online
learning mode. It is for this reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students
additional/extended support so that you can seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning
journey with little difficulty and few barriers. In this regard we offer a specialised student support
programme to students entering Unisa for the first time. We refer to this programme as Unisa’s
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First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme. The FYE is designed to provide you with prompt and
helpful information about services that the institution offers and how you can access information.

The following FYE programmes are currently offered:

• FYE website: All the guides and resources you need to navigate through your first year at
Unisa can be accessed using the following link: www.unisa.ac.za/FYE
• FYE e-mails: You will receive regular e-mails to help you stay focused and motivated.
• FYE broadcasts: You will receive e-mails with links to broadcasts on various topics related to
your first-year studies (e.g. videos on how to submit assignments online).
• FYE mailbox: For assistance with queries related to your first year of study, send an e-mail to
fye@unisa.ac.za

7 STUDY PLAN

Use the Study @ UNISA brochure for general time management and planning skills.

8 PRACTICAL WORK

There are no practical assignments for this module

9 ASSESSMENT

9.1 Assessment criteria

• Ability to differentiate the views that are used to explain how current development
problems came about is demonstrated.
• Key development actors and institutions are identified.
• Current knowledge of development problems is evaluated.
• Substantive discussions of current problems of development are presented

• The inter-relatedness between issues such as education, culture, health care, gender
and empowerment and global agendas are discussed.
• The debates on the trade-offs and prioritization that development solutions are
understood.
• Analyses, reviews and evaluation of integrated views on issues of the environment, land,
aid, governance and livelihoods is done.

• The impacts that institutional systems and organizations have on development are
identified.
• The roles of institutions in such sectors as health care, education, gender systems are
discussed and evaluated.
• Trade-offs that are used to weigh priorities and outcomes are evaluated.
• A beginning level proposal of effective institutional systems and organisations for
development is made.

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 • Case studies of development actors and institutions are identified.
• Case studies are discussed.
• The advantages and disadvantages of the roles that are played by different actors and
institutions are compared.
• Alternative solutions based on sound developmental principles and practices are
proposed.

9.2 Assessment plan

The following forms of assessment are used in DVA1502:

Formative assessment

• Assignment 01, comprising 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs): This assignment is

compulsory; it will count towards your year mark and is a prerequisite for admission to the
examination.

• An essay-type assignment: You must submit at least one essay-type assignment from
Assignments 02 to 06. This assignment will also count towards your year mark.

• All information on when and where to submit your assignments will be made available to you
via the myUnisa site for your module.

• Due dates for assignments, as well as the actual assignments are available on the myUnisa
site for this module.

Summative assessment

• A written portfolio examination: The examination will be essay-type questions.

Please note: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are used in assignments ONLY, and not in the
examinations

Please take note of the following:

• You must submit the MCQ assignment (Assignment 01) by the due date to gain admission
to the examination.
• Both the MCQ assignment and the essay-type assignment will contribute towards your
year mark.
• Your final mark will be calculated as follows: year mark (20%) + exam mark (80%) = final
mark (100%).
• Your year mark (20%) will be calculated by using your Assignment 01 (MCQs) mark, which
counts 10%, and the essay assignment mark (or the highest mark if you submitted more
than one essay-type assignment), which counts 10%.
• If, for example, you receive 80% for MCQ Assignment 01, you will earn 8% towards your
final mark. If you receive 60% for the essay-type assignment, you will earn 6% towards
your final mark, which comes to 14 out of 20 for your year mark. If you receive 55% in the
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examination, then you will receive 44% towards your final mark (80% of 55%). Therefore,
your final mark will be 58% (year mark 14% + examination mark 44% = final mark 58%).
• You need to obtain a final mark of 50% to pass the module. Moreover, you need to obtain
a subminimum of 40% in the examination.

9.3 Assignment due dates

• There are no assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the landing page of myUnisa for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.
• Please start working on your assignments as soon as you register for the module.
• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates for the
submission of the assignments.

9.4 Submission of assignments

Submit assignments electronically via myUnisa. Assignments may NOT be submitted by fax or e-
mail. For detailed information and requirements as far as assignments are concerned, see the
Study @ Unisa brochure. You need to submit two compulsory assignments for this module as
follows:

• Assignment 01 (multiple-choice questions) is compulsory since it will give you entry into the
examination. This assignment will count 10% towards your year mark. You will NOT be
allowed to sit for the exam if you did not submit Assignment 01.
• Assignments 02 to 06 contain essay-type questions. You must submit at least ONE essay-
type assignment. Therefore, you have a choice between Assignments 02 to 06. This
assignment is compulsory and will count 10% towards your year mark.
• If you submit more than one essay-type assignment (Assignments 02 to 06), the essay
assignment with the highest mark will be used to calculate your year mark.
• Your year mark will contribute 20% towards your final mark.
• Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving towards
becoming an online institution. You will therefore see that all your study material, assessments
and engagements with your lecturer and fellow students will take place online. We use
myUnisa as our virtual campus.
• The myUnisa virtual campus will offer students access to the myModules site, where learning
material will be available online and where assessments should be completed. This is an
online system that is used to administer, document, and deliver educational material to
students and support engagement between academics and students.
• The myUnisa platform can be accessed via https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the myModules
2023 button to access the online sites for the modules that you are registered for.
• The university undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to ensure
that you obtain the greatest benefit from the use of the myModules learning management
system. Please access the announcements on your myModules site regularly, as this is
where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with you.

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• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will see
a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below the welcome message you will see the
assessment shells for the assessments that you need to complete. Some assessments may
be multiple choice, some tests, others written assessments, some forum discussions, and so
on. All assessments must be completed on the assessment shells available on the respective
module platforms.
• To complete quiz assessments, please log on to the module site where you need to complete
the assessment. Click on the relevant assessment shell (Assessment 1, Assessment 2, etc.).
There will be a date on which the assessment will open for you. When the assessment is open,
access the quiz online and complete it within the time available to you. Quiz assessment
questions are not included in this tutorial letter (Tutorial Letter 101) and are only made
available online. You must therefore access the quiz online and complete it online where the
quiz has been created.
• It is not advisable to use a cell phone to complete the quiz. Please use a desktop computer,
tablet or laptop when completing the quiz. Students who use a cell phone find it difficult to
navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and often struggle to navigate
between questions and successfully complete the quizzes. In addition, cell phones are more
vulnerable to dropped internet connections than other devices. If at all possible, please do
not use a cell phone for this assessment type.
• For written assessments, please note the due date by which the assessment must be
submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell on myModules.
You will then be able to upload your written assessment on the myModules site of the modules
that you are registered for. Before you finalise the upload, double check that you have selected
the correct file for upload. Remember, no marks can be allocated for incorrectly submitted
assessments.

9.5 The assignment

Please note: All assignments MUST be submitted electronically via myUnisa in Portable
Document Format (PDF). NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED

Assignment 01 is in an MCQ (multiple-choice question) format. The other assignments are all
essay-type questions. Please read Tutorial Letter DVAALLD/301 for guidelines on how to write
an essay.

Practice makes perfect; therefore, we advise you to create a study plan/scheme for yourself to
help you master the study material. Working out all the essay-type questions (even those you do
not submit) will assist you greatly in the coming examination. This is because the topics of the
assignments highlight the most important information in this module. Pay attention to your
lecturer’s comments and feedback on your marked assignment, as these will give you an
indication of how well you understand that section of the work and how much revision you still
need to do.

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Assignments are not only useful indicators of what to expect in the examination; they also give
you the chance to practise expressing your thoughts through clear and concise argumentation
and essay construction. These are important skills for your work as a development practitioner.

Please note the following:

• Your essay-type assignments should be a minimum of five and maximum of eight typed
pages (excluding the table of contents and the reference list).
• You must use additional sources other than the study guide to answer assignments.
• Please allow for 1.5 line spacing and preferably use Arial or Times New Roman fonts in
size 12.
• Before you attempt any of the essay-type assignments listed below, please read Tutorial
Letter DVAALLD/301 carefully, as it contains important hints on answering assignment
questions, how to reference sources in the text and how to compile a list of references.

In section 12 (addendum) of this tutorial letter you will find a checklist for essay-type assignments.
Attach the completed checklist to the first page of your second assignment. You will also need to
attach a copy of the checklist to any additional essay-type assignments you submit. A copy of this
checklist in MS Word format is available on the myUnisa site.

Feedback on assignments

You will automatically receive the correct answers for multiple-choice questions. For written
assignments, markers will comment comprehensively and constructively on your work. However,
feedback on assignments will be in the follow-up tutorial letters 201 and 202. These tutorial
letters will be posted on myUnisa.

Please check your answers as soon as you have received the feedback. The assignments and
the feedback on these assignments constitute an important part of your learning and should help
you to be better prepared for the examination.

9.6 Other assessment methods

There are no other assessment methods for this module.

9.7 The examination

Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant) and for communication from the university.

9.7.1 Invigilation/proctoring

Since 2020 Unisa conducts all its assessments online. Given stringent requirements from
professional bodies and increased solicitations of Unisa’s students by third parties to unlawfully

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assist them with the completion of assignments and examinations, the University is obliged to
assure its assessment integrity through the utilisation of various proctoring tools: Turnitin, Moodle
Proctoring, the Invigilator App and IRIS. These tools will authenticate the student’s identity and
flag suspicious behaviour to assure credibility of students’ responses during assessments. The
description below is for your benefit as you may encounter any or all of these in your registered
modules:

Turnitin is a plagiarism software that facilitates checks for originality in students’ submissions
against internal and external sources. Turnitin assists in identifying academic fraud and ghost
writing. Students are expected to submit typed responses for utilisation of the Turnitin software.
The Moodle Proctoring tool is a facial recognition software that authenticates students’ identity
during their Quiz assessments. This tool requires access to a student’s mobile or laptop camera.
Students must ensure their camera is activated in their browser settings prior to their
assessments.

The Invigilator “mobile application-based service does verification” of the identity of an

assessment participant. The Invigilator Mobile Application detects student dishonesty-by-proxy
and ensures that the assessment participant is the registered student. This invigilation tool
requires students to download the app from their Play Store (Google, Huawei and Apple) on their
mobile devices (camera enabled) prior to their assessment.

IRIS Invigilation software verifies the identity of a student during assessment and provides for
both manual and automated facial verification. It has the ability to record and review a student’s
assessment session. It flags suspicious behaviour by the students for review by an academic
administrator. IRIS software requires installation on students’ laptop devices that are enabled
with a webcam.

Students who are identified and flagged for suspicious dishonest behaviour arising from the
invigilation and proctoring reports are referred to the disciplinary office for formal proceeding.

10 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

10.1 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft which involves several dishonest academic activities, such as the
following:
• Cutting and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including or using incorrect references.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.

Referencing

The Department of Development Studies uses the Harvard Style of referencing. Each time you
use information, ideas, figures and other information that someone else has produced, you need
to provide a reference for that source. Not acknowledging the source of your information is a form

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of plagiarism – an act that is tantamount to stealing. Therefore, you always need to follow
responsible academic practice by referencing clearly and correctly.

You must include a list of references at the end of your essay where you acknowledge each
source in full. The university prefers the Harvard style of referencing – a style guide is freely
available online, but that is also explained in Tutorial Letter DVAALLD/301.

Plagiarism is a serious offence at university. If we detect plagiarism in your work, we will deduct
up to 10%. A low year mark can affect your chances of passing the module. You can avoid this,
in part, by using proper referencing. Please take note that although students may work together
when preparing assignments, we expect each student to write and submit his or her own individual
assignment. In other words, you must submit your own ideas in your own words. Failing to do so
amounts to plagiarism which will result in your work being penalised or subjected to disciplinary
proceedings by the university.

Academic integrity and honesty are key pillars of ethical scholarship. We value this in our
department. Please value your own work, your own voice and your assignment. Beyond
mastering citations, we also warn against sharing of past or current assignments or using a ghost-
writer. A ghost-writer is someone paid to write work for someone else. In academe, ghost-writing
is misconduct similar to plagiarism in that someone else’s work is presented as your own.
Plagiarism is stealing someone else’s work, whilst ghost-writing is lying about the authorship of
the work. Both are serious academic misconduct.

NB: Please do not use Wikipedia, as it is not a reliable academic source.

10.2 Cheating

Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying from another student
during an assessment or allowing a student to copy from you.
• Using social media (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
• Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files.
• Buying completed answers from “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).

10.3 More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below

https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

11 STUDENT WITH DISABILITY

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Student with Disability ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with new and returning students with disabilities.

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 • If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time
for assessments, you are invited to contact Mr Keatlegile Mabena at
mabenkme@unisa.ac.za to discuss the assistance you need.

12 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Study @ UNISA brochure contains an A–Z guide of the most relevant study information.

Q. What if I do not submit the MCQ assignment by the due date?

A. You will not gain admission to the examination.

Q. What if I do not submit one essay-type assignment by the due date?

A. This will affect your year mark.

Q. If I fail an assignment, can I rewrite it?

A. No, you cannot rewrite your assignment.

Q. What if I have not received my study material?

A. All study material is available online under the ‘official study material’ tab on the module site.
You will only receive Tutorial Letter 101 in hard copy, but it can also be accessed online.

Q. What happens if I do not acknowledge the sources in my essay, but I include them in
the list of references?
A. You will lose marks and you may fail your assignment. Your lecturers will regard this as
plagiarism. Refer to Tutorial Letter DVAALLD/301 for details.

Q. Other departments send the scope of the examination to students. Will I receive one
from the Department of Development Studies?
A. You will receive a tutorial letter before the examination that explains the format and structure
of the examination. No other scope will be provided.

13 SOURCES CONSULTED

No additional sources were consulted.

14 IN CLOSING

We wish you all the best in your studies, and we hope to hear from you during the course of the
year.

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 DVA1502/101

15 ADDENDUM

Please complete this checklist and attach it to each of the essay-type assignments you submit
for marking. If you want to submit more than one essay-type assignment and need more
checklists, please make extra copies for yourself. A copy of this checklist in MS Word format is
available on the myUnisa site. Answer all the questions by putting a cross in the appropriate
column.

QUESTION YES NO
1 Have I included a table of contents?
2 Does my assignment consist of
- an introduction?
- a main discussion with appropriate headings and/or sub-headings?
- a conclusion?
3 Have I included a list of sources or list of references?
- I have listed all the sources to which I referred.
- I have provided full details according to the guidelines given in Tutorial
Letter DVAALLD/301.
- the sources are listed alphabetically.
4 Have I checked to see whether essay is logical and answers the question?
5 Did I adhere to the required number of words and pages as stipulated in
the assignment question?
6 Have I written my full particulars on the assignment cover page?
8 Have I written the correct assignment number and unique number on the
cover page?
9 Did I submit the assignment on time before the closing date?

ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: _______________

STUDENT NUMBER: _______________

DATE: _______________

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