Higher Certificate in Business Studies

Purpose

The main purpose of the Higher Certificate in Business Leadership is to prepare potential business leaders to develop their own businesses based on ethically defendable foundation to benefit society though the sustainable creation of employment, product and services through the Cornerstone Institute.

Rationale

• The programme addresses the growing and acknowledged need for the training and equipping of entrepreneurs at certificate level to enhance job creation capacity, with the option of access to further commercial studies at Level 5 through the Higher Certificate in Business Leadership to school leavers and persons with the required drive as follows:

> Economic development and job creation has its roots in start up businesses-the small corner shop, the individual entrepreneur's spaza shop experiment to take a chance on a career in his/her own business, the small family business that needs to grow to support an expanding family. All "big businesses" started as an entrepreneurial idea that developed and matured over years.

- The two key success elements in starting and growing a business is the

> Vision and leadership of the entrepreneur.

> Subject discipline content knowledge.

• This means that leadership development in all its forms as applicable to business management is as important an item in reducing the risk of startup business failure as are the skills and knowledge in areas of accounting, marketing, people and operations management. To enhance the chances of the startup entrepreneur to succeed, leadership development from the outset is viewed as an indispensable component of business education, even at Level 5.
• Job creation is a primary objective in South Africa and can only be delivered though a strong stream of academically and practically prepared persons who possess an entrepreneurial mindset and know how to access funding for their start-up businesses.
• Access to entrepreneurial training is limited as most commerce courses focus on core subjects only. The Higher Certificate in Business Leadership includes management and ethical skills normally only taught at advanced levels. Providing such a certificate will enhance the potential for greater cooperation i.e., networking and dialogue, with other commerce trainers.
• After more than a decade of successful undergraduate training at the college, there is real potential for commerce-based community development training.

Learners who register for this qualification should demonstrate

• Competence, oral and written, in the language of instruction, i.e. English.
• The ability to apply numerical skills, including basic arithmetic.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

• No more than 50% of this qualification may be achieved through RPL.
• Learners requesting RPL are assessed by a qualified assessor on the basis of a portfolio of evidence.
• RPL is used for two purposes:

> Access: To admit no more than 10% of applicants on this basis. For mature learners who have been disadvantaged because of their inability to obtain formal qualifications or who have inadequate entrance qualifications, but who have obtained work or life experience, which qualifies them to be admitted as learners.

> Credits: To give learners credit for some of the modules in a programme because of acceptable prior learning earned through formal/non formal/informal learning. If the previous work completed is at the same Level, then credit for credit is given.

Access to the Qualification

• A candidate must have passed a National Senior Certificate with a minimum of 30% in English, Mathematics, Accounting, Economics as well as provide examples of attempts at entrepreneurship.

> As per the RPL Policy below, no more than 10% of applicants can be admitted as mature students into the programme, on the basis of RPL based on sufficient evidence that they have obtained work or life experience that qualifies them to be admitted as mature students.

The Higher Certificate in Business Leadership is a 120 Credits qualification at Level 5.

Component 1

Competencies related to the knowledge of core techniques and methods used in business necessary to understand the business environment.

Components; Level 5; Credits allocated

• Ethics (Core); 5; 12 Credits.
• Economics (Core); 5; 6 Credits.
• Character of a Christian Leader (Core); 5; 6 Credits.
• General Management and Entrepreneurship (Core); 5; 6 Credits.
• Information Skills (Core); 5; 6 Credits.
• Commercial Law (Core); 5; 6 Credits.
• Quantitative Methods (Core); 5; 6 Credits.
• Accounting (Core); 5; 18 Credits.
• Marketing (Core); 5; 12 Credits.
• People Leadership, Management and Administration (Core); 5; 12 Credits.
• Practical: Enterprise Leadership-Business Plan (Core); 5; 18 Credits.

Total Core Credits: 108.

• Project Management (Electives); 5; 12 Credits.
• High Performance Management (Electives); 5; 12 Credits.

Total Elective Credits: 12.

Total Credits: 120.

The Higher Certificate in Business Leadership is intended to empower learners to succeed as entrepreneurs in the following areas:

• To start up their own businesses, be able to develop business concepts and plans that will enable them to qualify for access to capital.
• To seamlessly continue with further study at other institutions offering more advanced courses.
• To make ethically correct and defendable decisions.
• To make sound business decisions and solve problems.
• To gain business management (new economy) skills.

To achieve these outcomes learners are equipped with basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes (ethics) related to assessing, understanding and developing high performance businesses in a multi-cultural context. The promotion of a multi-cultural understanding of business will contribute to equity and redress in South Africa.

Outcomes of Fundamental and Core modules

• Demonstrate practical knowledge of the general principles and theories of business leadership.
• Demonstrate practical knowledge of business, measurement, assessment, and initiating corrective interventions.
• Apply strong ethical standards in all fields of business leadership.

Outcomes of the Elective modules

• Demonstrate practical application of project management techniques.
• Demonstrate practical application of high performance/new economy business practices.

Associated Assessment Criteria

• Demonstrate observation, listening and communication skills verbally and in writing.
• Develop a critical understanding of the theory and practice of business and leadership skills.
• Display independent thinking and decision-making in evaluating and implementing business plans and entrepreneurial ventures.

Integrated Assessment

- Continuous assessment

> The learner's ability to integrate the elements of the programme is assessed through tasks, activities and self-assessment.

- Formative and summative assessment

> Learner competency is assessed through presentations, personal interviews, service learning (under supervision), written assignments (e.g. reports, skills development exercises, case study responses, research papers, journals, verbatim) and written evaluations (e.g. quizzes, class tests, mid-module exams, final exams).