Higher Certificate: Business Studies

Purpose

The purpose of the Higher Certificate: Business Studies is to provide an exit qualification that exposes learners to one year of tertiary education in the fundamentals of Business and Economic Sciences, thereby making them more employable. On completion, learners will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental (entry-level) concepts and principles of business, accounting, personal finance, management, supply chain management, marketing and tourism and their application in real-life contexts and situations.

Rationale

The percentage of learners who pass matric with a university exemption is usually low. This means a considerable number of learners leave school with a school leaver's Certificate that does not allow them entry into Degree or Diploma studies. At the same time these school leavers are poorly prepared for the job market. These learners are therefore in need of a first level tertiary qualification (NQF) that makes them (1) employable in the private or public sectors of the economy or (2) equips them to become self employed, or (3) prepares them and makes them eligible for entry into Diploma programmes.

This qualification creates an option for learners to venture into the next NQF Level available at Higher Institutions. Learners who successfully complete this Higher Certificate qualification and comply with all other admission requirements may proceed to the first year of any one of five Diploma qualifications offered by the Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences at NMMU: Economics, Logistics, Management, Marketing and Tourism Management.

It is assumed that learners are competent in the Language of Learning and Teaching (LOLT).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Applicants who have not completed Grade 12, but who have worked in a relevant field and wish to further their education will be assessed individually according to the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) principles for admission to the qualification. RPL can also be used to grant learners credits towards the qualification.

Access to the Qualification

• National Senior Certificate.
• National Certificate Vocational at NQF Level 4.

The Higher Certificate: Business Studies consists of 10 compulsory modules, all at NQF Level 5, with 12 Credits each, totalling 120 Credits.

Modules

• Fundamentals of Business Communications.
• End User Computing.
• Principles of Economics.
• Numerical Skills for Business.
• Fundamentals of Accounting.
• Fundamentals of Personal Finance.
• Fundamentals of Business Management.
• Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management.
• Fundamentals of Marketing.
• Fundamentals of Tourism.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of the business sector and their application in real-life contexts.
2. Communicate information coherently and reliably using basic conventions, writing skills.
3. Apply given criteria pertaining to knowledge acquisition, to identify and address own task-specific learning needs in a given context.
4. Explain the business organisation as a system within a wider context of society and the business world.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in the qualification.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of office administration are applied.
• Elementary procedures for financial management, including budgeting are used.
• The association of the economic sector and the tourism sector is identified and discussed.
• Basic computer skills are applied to process and save business data.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Communication tools are applied in a business environment to communicate information coherently to internal and external clients.
• Basic conventions of professional discourse are applied appropriately in writing and orally.
• Appropriate technology is applied in presentation skills.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• An academic text is read and integrated into learning activities to enhance knowledge in own studies.
• Information and communications technology is used to further own learning.
• Understanding of numerical and elementary statistical knowledge is applied in study material.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Basic and effective marketing and management processes that are beneficial to the organisation are discussed.
• An appropriate level of responsibility shown to apply and utilise resources.
• The business environment of a specific business is understood with an explanation given of how it influences the business.
• Basic knowledge of accounting is applied interpret and allocate finances.

Integrated Assessment

During the semester the focus of assessment in each module will be diagnostic and formative. Regular class quizzes and short written tests given aim to assess insight into and a clear understanding of fundamental concepts and concept frameworks, while in assignments and presentations learners will be required to integrate concepts through problem-solving and real-world applications.

In the formal (summative) tests and examinations the focus will be on the demonstration of knowledge, skills and level-appropriate comprehension, integration and application of fundamental concepts and principles. Inter-module integrated assessment at this level will be incidental and will not be purposefully pursued.