Higher Certificate in Administration

The purpose of this qualification is to provide the learner with the following

• Acquire skills, knowledge, attitudes and values that will improve the standard of living, human development, productivity and opportunities for all citizens, with and without barriers and from all walks of life.
• Relate skills, knowledge and values to real world situations.
• Ensure the balance between theory and practice.
• Articulate with the world of work and self-development.
• Collect, analyse and interpret economic and financial data in order to make informed decisions.
• Communicate effectively in a business environment by using the computer as a tool.

Rationale

The range of typical learners will be those learners who

• Want to become secretaries.
• Want to work in an office.
• Who want to work with computer related office documentation.
• Would like to further their studies or who want to do cross field training.

The nature of the demand for holders of this qualification will be for office workers such as

• Copy typists.
• Office assistants.
• Secretaries.

There is a demand for holders of this qualification by communities or employers because

• Every office needs a secretary.
• Every office needs and administrative person to do the filing, faxes and duplicating.

The programme will provide added value to the qualifying learner when

• The learner have obtained skills which will be sought after in the world of work.
• These obtained knowledge and skills will enable workers to take part in lifelong learning as well as opening doors for further training and studies.

Occupations, Jobs or areas of activity in which the qualification learners will operate will be

• Telephonists.
• Typists.
• All secretarial jobs in an office environment.

This qualification assumes that learners accessing this qualification will have demonstrated competence on the previous level against the standards on that level, (NQF4), also that the learner is competent in the language of instruction of the provider.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

The structure of this qualification makes the recognition of Prior Learning possible, if the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this Administration Management qualification.

The recognition of Prior Learning may allow

• For accelerated access to further learning.
• For accelerated access to a higher level.
• For the exemption of certain subjects.

N/A

On achieving this qualification, the learner will be able to

• Communicate effectively in a business environment using the appropriate business tools.
• Manage information effectively by organizing manual and electronic storage media in a logical format and to communicate the information responsibly, either conventionally or electronically.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts of information technology and the interrelationship between information, communication, technology, society and the environment.

On passing this programme the learners will be able to

• Demonstrate knowledge and the ability to use the language appropriately.
• Demonstrate knowledge and the ability to apply end-user computing skills.
• Create, manage and organize files, folders, subfolders.
• Use given format or method to communicate information.
• Use electronic communication channels and methods effectively.
• Identify and define various end-user computer applications.
• Discuss the social control measures related to information technology.
• Describe and evaluate the impact of computers on the environment, the local community and personal health.
• State and discuss how the latest technologies facilitate human interaction.

Integrated assessment

Because assessment practices must be open, transparent, fair, valid, reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever, an integrated assessment approach is incorporated into the qualification.

Both formative and summative assessment processes are accounted for.

Assessment methods and techniques

Theory

Class tests, semester tests, final examinations, essays / workpieces, oral presentations, simulations.

Practicals

Write-ups, projects, practical tests and examinations, simulations.

Resource centre utilisation

Resource centres - in particular computer centres - are utilized by learners in the preparation of essays, reports and assignments, and for the analysis of data.The extent to which these, and other, resources have been utilized will be evidenced in the assignments.