Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Employment Relations

The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with highly specialised applied competence in the mastering, analysis, interpretation and application of Employment Relation Management practices and principles in an organisational context. The learner should also develop advanced intellectual and practical knowledge in preparation for a career in the Employment Relations field and as a basis for further learning. The learner should develop the ability to do advanced research across the Employment Relation Management discipline. The learners should be able to reflect on their decisions and applications of Employment Relation Management as a major discipline to assess the effect thereof in the holistic context of organisational and individual performance improvement.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning in the case of learners not complying with the formal entry requirements will be conducted following the policy and guidelines of the University concerning the recognition of other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. Recognition takes place only where prior learning corresponds to the required NQF-level, and in terms of applied competencies relevant to the content and outcomes of the qualification. Through recognition of prior learning, learners may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that they continue their studies.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bacher of Commerce, NQF Level 7.

The learners should be able to

1. Demonstrate their ability at applying specialised theoretical principles of problem solving skills (both strategic and operational) in managing employment relations and the creation of appropriate responses;

Reflect on the applications made to resolve contextual abstract problems. (Problem solving skills).

1. Plan and conduct well developed research in Employment Relations, including the gathering, analysing, synthesising and interpretation of information on Employment Relations issues correctly by utilising the relevant advanced theoretical research principles and reflecting on the specialised research undertaken. (Research skills).
2. Accountably develop a holistic, interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary macro-vision of the field of Employment Relations to show mastery of the theoretically sophisticated field and to apply knowledge of the field internationally and nationally; and be able to reflect on the applications made. (Macro-vision).
3. Organise and coordinate a wild range of resources and opportunities in the field of Employment Relations by applying the relevant advanced theoretical principles effectively and responsibly. Reflect on the application, and accept the responsibility for their own activities and evaluating personal and group output in the field of Employment Relations. (Self-responsibility skills).
4. Practice acceptable social sensitivity in the relationships with others and interact effectively within a learning or professional group by implementing the relevant theory and reflecting on the implementation thereof? (Team building).
5. Utilise appropriate information management technology (example: computer, e-mail, fax, internet) effectively in the Employment Relations environment (technological and environmental literacy) by independent analysis of new and abstract data and reflect on the implementations made with production of detailed, critical and coherent reports.
6. Explore the different Employment Relations roles (Manager/ Practitioner/ Community Development facilitator/ Researcher) in the ERM environment (learning strategies) on an advanced level by exploring specialised learning strategies to acquire comprehensive knowledge and reflect on the applications made.
7. Demonstrate responsible citizenship through their approach towards the holistic application of management capabilities in Employment Relations, and by demonstration of leadership. (Promoting citizenship).
8. Practice acceptable social, cultural and aesthetic sensitivity towards the different role players in a variety of contexts within community organisations by applying the appropriate advanced theoretical principles and reflecting on the application made by demonstration of negotiation skills. (Cultural and aesthetic sensitivity).
9. Articulate and expanded range of career options in the field of Employment Relations as a consequence of newly acquired knowledge skills and attitudes and the structuring of learning content in accordance with different career roles (employment seeking skills); and reflect on the applications made.
10. Recognise and articulate opportunities for independent employment and business opportunities in the field of Employment opportunities and in the field of Employment Relations. (Entrepreneurship).
11. Promote effective communication and interaction between relevant role players in the business environment by negotiation within a learning or professional context and management of conflict; and reflect on the applications made. (Communication skills).

• Identify and solve problems in the field of Employment Relations correctly by applying the relevant theoretical principles and reflect on the application made? (Problem solving sills).
• Plan and conduct research in the field of Employment Relations, including the gathering, analysing, synthesising and interpretation of information on Employment Relations issues correctly by utilising the relevant theoretical research principles and reflect on the research undertaken? (Research skills).
• Apply an accountable theoretical and practical macro-vision of Employment Relations internationally and nationally and reflect on the applications made? (Development of macro-vision).
• Organise and coordinate resources and opportunities in the field of Employment Relations effectively and responsibly by applying the relevant theoretical aspects reflect on the applications made? (Development of macro-vision).
• Practice acceptable social sensitivity n the relationships with others and work effectively in a team implementing the relevant theory and reflect on the implementation made? (Team building).
• Utilise appropriate technology (example: computer, e-mail, fax, internet) effectively in the Employment Relations environment, and reflect on the implementations made? (Technological and environmental literacy).
• Explore different effective learning strategies and acquire the different capabilities of Employment Relations roles (Manager, Practitioner, Community Development Facilitator, and researcher), and reflect on the applications made? (Explore learning strategies).
• Promote responsible citizenship through their approach/attitude towards the holistic application of Employment Relations in a variety of contexts? (Promoting citizenship).
• Are the learners able to practice social, cultural and aesthetic sensitivity towards people occupying different roles in the ERM community (e.g. managers, practitioners, community development facilitators, researchers) and role players in the field of Employment Relations by applying appropriate theoretical principles and reflecting on the manner in which it was applied? (Social, cultural and aesthetic sensitivity).
• Identify and articulate potential career options in the field of Employment Relations, and reflect on the applications made? (Employment seeking skills).
• Recognise opportunities for independent employment and business opportunities in the field of Employment Relations and the field of Employment Relations Management? (Entrepreneurship).
• Communicate and interact orally and in writing with and between the different role players in the field of Employment by applying the theoretical principles of communication and reflect on the application made? (Communication skills).

Integrated Assssemnt

Formative assessment practices that will be implemented

• The learners conduct independent research and submit a number of assignments in each of the respective modules. These assignments will be assessed and form the semester mark of the respective modules.

Summative assessment practices that will be implemented

• Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the exit-level outcomes, will be done by means of a 3 hour written examination taken on the conclusion of each module. A sub-minimum of 50% is required in each module in order to proceed to other modules.