UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
College of Human Sciences | Department of Development Studies
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
DVA3706: Rural Development
Assignment 2 | Semester 2, 2026
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
DVA3706
Module Code:
Rural Development
Module Name:
A Critical Rural Development Analysis of
Essay Topic: the Gautrain Expansion Project
Assignment 2
Assignment Number:
Semester 2, 2026
Semester:
14 September, 2026
Due:
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for Rural Development (DVA3706), UNISA 2026
,UNISA | DVA3706 Rural Development: The Gautrain Expansion Project
Section A – Question 1: Ten Basic Things to Do to Pass DVA3706
As a student currently working through DVA3706, passing the module requires more than
simply completing assignments. The module introduces different perspectives on rural de-
velopment, and consistent engagement with the learning material is required to understand
how the concepts relate to real rural development challenges (Ndlovu, 2017). The following
ten practices are central to progress in the module.
1.1 Read Tutorial Letter 101 and DVAALLD301 Carefully
Tutorial Letter 101 and DVAALLD301 must be read carefully because they provide important
information about the module, assessment requirements, submission dates and what is
expected of a student. Going through these documents carefully clarifies how the module is
structured and prevents important instructions from being missed.
1.2 Work Through All the DVA3706 Learning Units
Studying only the sections that appear relevant to a single assignment is insufficient. Work-
ing through all the learning units clarifies how different issues in rural development are con-
nected, including livelihoods, land, migration, rural-urban relationships, sustainability and
development (Ndlovu, 2017). This also makes it easier to apply concepts across questions
that require critical thinking rather than recall alone.
1.3 Read the Prescribed E-Reserve Articles
Engaging with the prescribed academic readings is necessary because the module expects
arguments to be supported with literature. Reading the articles also moves a student beyond
simply repeating definitions from the study guide, and allows different scholarly perspectives
to be compared and used to build stronger arguments in assignments.
1.4 Attend the DVA3706 Online Classes or Listen to the Recordings
The online classes provide an opportunity to hear concepts explained in ways that may be
easier to follow than the written study material alone. The explanations and examples used
during these classes help clarify difficult concepts and demonstrate how they apply to real
Page 2 of 16
, UNISA | DVA3706 Rural Development: The Gautrain Expansion Project
rural development situations. Listening to the recording when a live class cannot be attended
still allows a student to keep pace with the module.
1.5 Check myUnisa Announcements and Module Information Regularly
Checking myUnisa regularly is necessary because important announcements, assessment
information and changes are communicated through the platform. This is part of taking
responsibility for one’s own studies, since relying on other students to relay announcements
risks missing important information.
1.6 Understand Rural Development Concepts Rather Than Memorising Definitions
Knowing a definition is not sufficient to answer DVA3706 questions effectively. Concepts
such as sustainable rural livelihoods, green economy, migration, rural-urban interconnected-
ness, land and development must be understood well enough to explain in one’s own words
and apply to real situations (Chambers & Conway, 1992; Scoones, 1998). Understanding sus-
tainable rural livelihoods, for example, means being able to examine how a development
project affects the different assets and livelihood strategies of rural households, rather than
reciting the definition of the concept.
1.7 Complete the Learning Activities and Self-Assessment Questions
The activities provided throughout the learning units test whether the material has actually
been understood. These activities reveal areas of weak understanding before an assignment
is attempted, and completing them builds confidence in applying theoretical concepts to
practical rural development examples.
1.8 Read Each Assignment Question Carefully
Before writing an answer, it is necessary to identify exactly what the question requires. Words
such as explain, discuss, analyse, evaluate, compare and critically reflect require different
types of responses. General information about rural development should therefore be avoided
in favour of ensuring that every paragraph contributes directly to answering the specific ques-
tion asked.
Page 3 of 16
College of Human Sciences | Department of Development Studies
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
DVA3706: Rural Development
Assignment 2 | Semester 2, 2026
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
DVA3706
Module Code:
Rural Development
Module Name:
A Critical Rural Development Analysis of
Essay Topic: the Gautrain Expansion Project
Assignment 2
Assignment Number:
Semester 2, 2026
Semester:
14 September, 2026
Due:
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for Rural Development (DVA3706), UNISA 2026
,UNISA | DVA3706 Rural Development: The Gautrain Expansion Project
Section A – Question 1: Ten Basic Things to Do to Pass DVA3706
As a student currently working through DVA3706, passing the module requires more than
simply completing assignments. The module introduces different perspectives on rural de-
velopment, and consistent engagement with the learning material is required to understand
how the concepts relate to real rural development challenges (Ndlovu, 2017). The following
ten practices are central to progress in the module.
1.1 Read Tutorial Letter 101 and DVAALLD301 Carefully
Tutorial Letter 101 and DVAALLD301 must be read carefully because they provide important
information about the module, assessment requirements, submission dates and what is
expected of a student. Going through these documents carefully clarifies how the module is
structured and prevents important instructions from being missed.
1.2 Work Through All the DVA3706 Learning Units
Studying only the sections that appear relevant to a single assignment is insufficient. Work-
ing through all the learning units clarifies how different issues in rural development are con-
nected, including livelihoods, land, migration, rural-urban relationships, sustainability and
development (Ndlovu, 2017). This also makes it easier to apply concepts across questions
that require critical thinking rather than recall alone.
1.3 Read the Prescribed E-Reserve Articles
Engaging with the prescribed academic readings is necessary because the module expects
arguments to be supported with literature. Reading the articles also moves a student beyond
simply repeating definitions from the study guide, and allows different scholarly perspectives
to be compared and used to build stronger arguments in assignments.
1.4 Attend the DVA3706 Online Classes or Listen to the Recordings
The online classes provide an opportunity to hear concepts explained in ways that may be
easier to follow than the written study material alone. The explanations and examples used
during these classes help clarify difficult concepts and demonstrate how they apply to real
Page 2 of 16
, UNISA | DVA3706 Rural Development: The Gautrain Expansion Project
rural development situations. Listening to the recording when a live class cannot be attended
still allows a student to keep pace with the module.
1.5 Check myUnisa Announcements and Module Information Regularly
Checking myUnisa regularly is necessary because important announcements, assessment
information and changes are communicated through the platform. This is part of taking
responsibility for one’s own studies, since relying on other students to relay announcements
risks missing important information.
1.6 Understand Rural Development Concepts Rather Than Memorising Definitions
Knowing a definition is not sufficient to answer DVA3706 questions effectively. Concepts
such as sustainable rural livelihoods, green economy, migration, rural-urban interconnected-
ness, land and development must be understood well enough to explain in one’s own words
and apply to real situations (Chambers & Conway, 1992; Scoones, 1998). Understanding sus-
tainable rural livelihoods, for example, means being able to examine how a development
project affects the different assets and livelihood strategies of rural households, rather than
reciting the definition of the concept.
1.7 Complete the Learning Activities and Self-Assessment Questions
The activities provided throughout the learning units test whether the material has actually
been understood. These activities reveal areas of weak understanding before an assignment
is attempted, and completing them builds confidence in applying theoretical concepts to
practical rural development examples.
1.8 Read Each Assignment Question Carefully
Before writing an answer, it is necessary to identify exactly what the question requires. Words
such as explain, discuss, analyse, evaluate, compare and critically reflect require different
types of responses. General information about rural development should therefore be avoided
in favour of ensuring that every paragraph contributes directly to answering the specific ques-
tion asked.
Page 3 of 16
