ECS2603/101/3/2024
Tutorial Letter 101/3/2024
South African Economic Indicators
ECS2603
Semester 1 and 2
Department of Economics
This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.
BARCODE
CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ........................................................................................... 3
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS ................................................................................... 4
4.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4
4.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 4
5 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 5
5.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 5
5.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 5
5.3 Tutorial letters……………………………………………………………………………………..6
54 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 6
5.5 Study material ............................................................................................................................... 6
5.6 myUnisa ........................................................................................................................................ 6
5.7 ELibrary services and resources information ................................................................................. 6
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 7
7 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 7
8 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 8
8.1 Continuous assessment………………………………………………………………………….8
8.2 Missed assessments…………………………………………………………………….……….8
8.3 Submission of assessments……………………………………………………………………..9
8.4 Invigilation/proctoring….…….……………………..………………………………………….…9
9 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY .......................................................................................................... 9
9.1 Plagiarism ..................................................................................................................................... 9
9.2 Cheating ....................................................................................................................................... 9
10 STUDENT WITH DISABILITY .................................................................................................... 10
11 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 10
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ECS2603/101/3/2023
Dear Student
1 INTRODUCTION
Welcome to ECS2603, the second-year module on South African Economic Indicators.
We hope that you will find this module interesting and rewarding. We will do our best to make
your study of this module successful. You will be well on your way to success if you start studying
early in the semester and keep on working throughout the semester.
Because this is a fully online module, with continuous assessment, you will need to use
myUnisa to study and complete the assessments for this module. You will, therefore, need to visit
the ECS2603 module website on myUnisa frequently as well as other external websites.
ECS2603 is the most “practical” of all the modules offered by the Department of Economics and
it gives you the opportunity to obtain some essential, practical experience in working with recent
South African economic data. This requires that you have regular access to the internet in order
to access different sources of economic data.
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES
2.1 Purpose
This is an introductory module to the South African economic indicators environment. The main
purpose of this module is to enable you to understand the meaning and measurement of different
economic indicators, to use reliable data sources to describe the evolution of the South African
economy and to comment on recent changes in the South African economic indicators.
2.2 Outcomes
Upon completion of this module you should be able to:
• explain the meaning of the economic indicators
• measure the economic indicators
• identify changes in the economic indicators
• write a report on recent changes in the South African economic indicators
More detailed module outcomes and assessment criteria can be found in each lesson on the
course website on myUnisa.
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
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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
4.1 Lecturer(s)
The primary lecturer for this module is:
• Mr Bernard Serfontein [email protected] 012 433 4867
We will send out communication at the beginning of the semester with the other lecturers' and
their contact details allocated to this module.
The lecturers for this module will be available to take phone calls and emails on academic matters
and are responsible for compiling the study material, setting up the assignments and, evaluating
your performance in these assignments.
If you have any administrative (non-academic) queries, you can contact:
• Ms Pat Masinyana -
[email protected] 012 429 2129
4.2 Department
The Department of Economics is in the Anton Lembede Building, Main Campus, Muckleneuk,
Pretoria.
4.3 University
If you need to contact the university about matters not related to the content of this module, please
consult the brochure: Study @ Unisa, which you received with your study material or visit the
Unisa website at http://www.unisa.ac.za. The brochure and the website contain information on
how to contact the university (e.g. to whom you can write for different queries, important telephone
and fax numbers, addresses and details of the times certain facilities are open).
Always have your student number at hand when you contact the university.
If you need to contact the University about matters not related to the content of this module, see
the Unisa website for the contact addresses of the various administrative departments:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.
Below you will find some important e-mail addresses for the departments that you might need to
contact.
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ECS2603/101/3/2023
•
[email protected] - for account queries
•
[email protected] - for application and registration queries
•
[email protected] - for assistance with myLife e-mail accounts
•
[email protected] - for assistance with myUnisa
Please include your student number in all correspondence
5 RESOURCES
5.1 Prescribed book(s)
Your prescribed textbook for this module for this year is:
Mohr, P. 2019. Economic indicators. Sixth edition. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers.
Buying your books from an official Unisa bookseller will ensure that you get the correct editions.
Find the approved Unisa booksellers on our website at
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Books.
5.2 Recommended book(s)
There are no recommended books for this module.
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5.3 Tutorial letters
This tutorial letter (Tutorial Letter 101) contains administrative information about this module.
5.4 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)
There are no e-Reserves for this module.
5.5 Study material
This is a fully online course and you will not receive any printed material. You will, therefore, have
to access myUnisa regularly. From this platform, you can access your study material, complete
and submit your assignments, communicate with your lecturers and other students, and with the
administrative departments of Unisa.
There is no printed study guide for this module. On the module website, you will find a number of
content lessons listed as lesson 1 to lesson 11. In these e-content lessons, you will be provided
with information about the topic, outcomes and activities. This is where you will find information
on the prescribed study material, outcomes, important concepts as well as interactive activities.
The study Programme for ECS2603 you will find on the course website on myUnisa. This will
guide you to ensure that you allocate enough time to master the study material and that you will
be able to submit your assignments on time.
The assessment plan for ECS2603 you will find on the course website on myUnisa. This plan will
provide information on where you can find the assignments and how and when you should submit
the assessments.
Other tutorial matter: This will become available on the main ECS2603 website on myUnisa.
This course is designed for learning and is activity driven, with feedback. The feedback on your
performance is a valuable learning tool for you and I urge you to make use of it. In each e-content
lesson, there are a number of self-assessment activities with feedback. It is important that you
work through these activities and the feedback.
5.6 myUnisa
The myUnisa learning management system is the Unisa online campus that will help you
communicate with your lecturers, other students, and the administrative departments of Unisa.
Since this module is presented as a blended module, you must access myUnisa regularly. This
includes a discussion of the lessons, a discussion of the assignment questions and other
additional resources. You can also submit your assignments on myUnisa.
To go to the myUnisa website, start at the main Unisa website, http://www.unisa.ac.za, and then
click on myUnisa. This should take you to the myUnisa website.
We shall provide more information that you can use to navigate the ECS2603 webpage on
myUnisa.
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5.7 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. Personal Librarians and literature search
services), go to http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Research-support
The Library has created numerous Library guides: 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
Important contact information:
• Ask a Librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Technical problems accessing library online services:
[email protected] • General library-related queries:
[email protected] • For queries related to library fines and payments:
[email protected]6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Whether you are a new student or a returning student, you need to take some time to think about
how you will commit to the study process and what you need to put in place to focus on your
studies. The Study @ Unisa brochure, which is available on myUnisa:
www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies, contains important information and guidelines for successful
studies through Unisa.
If you need assistance with 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:
[email protected] or
[email protected]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 assessments; and how
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to participate in forum activities via the following link: https://dtls-
qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130
As a registered Unisa student you 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: [email protected]
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.
7 STUDY PLAN
The best way to be successful in this module is to work diligently from the start to the end of the
semester. A study programme to help you work through the module systematically is available on
the module website. The lecturers will also work according to this study programme.
8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 Continuous assessment
ECS2603 is a “continuous assessment module”. What does this mean? The term “continuous
assessment” is used to describe assessments that are completed during a semester. These
assessments allow students and lecturers to pace and keep track of the learning process.
Topics are introduced, explored and assessed systematically throughout the semester.
The marks obtained for these assessments are used to calculate the final mark. Used in this
way, continuous assessment replaces the need for a final summative assessment (the
examination). Thus, for ECS2603, all the assignments contribute towards your final mark and
you do not write a formal examination at the end of the semester.
To pass this course, you will need to obtain a final mark of 50%.
8.2 Missed assessments
No extension will be given for the assessments. However, we know that life does not always go
according to plan. Alternative arrangements will be made for students who have valid reasons for
missing a due date and have applied for an extension within scheduled time as indicated below.
These reasons must be in line with those stipulated in Unisa’s assessment policy, for example,
• Death in the immediate family
• Military/SAPS service
• Illness on the due date of the assessment
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ECS2603/101/3/2023
Evidence, a doctor’s note, proof of hospitalisation, call-up instructions and so on, must be
submitted before or within 10 days of the assessment’s due date.
Normal work commitments, extracurricular activities or connectivity problems beyond Unisa’s
control, for example,
• Personal network or service provider issues
• Load shedding
• Crashed computer
will not be accommodated.
Unisa system issues must be reported within 24 hours of the occurrence. Attach proof, for
example, a screenshot, of the occurrence. Note, it will be verified if the problem was indeed on
Unisa's side before alternative arrangements will be made.
8.3 Submission of assessments
The assessments can be completed online only. Most of these assessments are in the form of
multiple-choice quizzes. If at all possible, please do not use a cellphone to complete the quizzes,
as you might find it difficult to navigate the quiz on the small screen. It is better to use a desktop
computer, tablet or laptop when completing the quizzes.
8.4 Invigilation/proctoring
Given stringent requirements from professional bodies and increased solicitations of Unisa’s
students by third parties to unlawfully assist them with the completion of assessments, the
University is obliged to assure its assessment integrity through the utilisation of various proctoring
tools. For this module, the Moodle Proctoring tool will be used. The Moodle Proctoring tool is a
facial recognition software that authenticates students’ identities during their quiz assessments.
More information on how it works in practice is available on the module website.
9 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
9.1 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 that 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 information.
9.2 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.
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• 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).
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules
10 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. For more
information on services and support offered to students with disabilities, you are welcome to
contact the ARCSWiD office at the email address [email protected] or telephone numbers
+27 12 429 6923 / 6924 / 6540 or +27 12 441 5470 / 5471.
11 IN CLOSING
Do not hesitate to contact us if you are experiencing problems with the content of this tutorial
letter or with any aspect of the module. We wish you a fascinating and satisfying journey through
the learning material and trust that you will complete the module successfully.
Please work hard and enjoy this module.
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