Higher Certificate in Local Economic Development

Purpose

The purpose of the Higher Certificate in Local Economic Development is to prepare learners for a career in Local Economic Development (LED). This qualification will develop theoretical knowledge and practical competence and skills in LED to enable learners in their working environment. It will provide the learner with a range of fundamental knowledge and competencies in fields such as Local Economic Development, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Business Management, Transport and Accountancy in LED.

Rationale

Local and regional economic development is critical for achieving the goals of the developmental state that is widely recognised as the pathway to South Africa's economic growth and stability. Professionals in municipalities and other public and private institutions involved in Local Economic Development (LED) have a major role to play in creating and exploiting economic opportunities that are essential for economic growth that is the pillar of national development strategies such as the National Development Plan, the New Growth Path. Local and regional economic development are therefore essential for addressing unemployment and other socio-economic challenges facing South Africa, particularly within a global economy.

The Higher Certificate in Local Economic Development (HCert (Local Economic Development)) focuses on the development, evaluation and implementation of local economic development principles and policies to prepare learners for the working environment.

The HCert (Local Economic Development) will prepare learners for a career in Local Economic Development and improve the prospects of career advancement in a fast growing field, both nationally and internationally. This qualification will enable Grade12 learners, municipal councillors, municipal officials, and persons interested in a career path in Local Economic Development to be exposed to knowledge and skills in the field of local economic development, in order to improve the quality of municipal decisions and actions aimed at the delivery of local government services.

Local and international opinion has been solicited widely during the development of the qualification, beginning with an international visit to the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Washington, United States (US) in 2014, attending an IEDC conference and training in Houston, Texas in 2015 and visits by IEDC officials to South Africa in 2015 for a discussion on the development of a career-path for LED professional in South Africa. The qualification is furthermore aligned to the National Local Economic Development (LED) Framework for Republic of South Africa (RSA) for 2013-2018 of the South African Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. A needs analysis has also been done by the newly established Economic Development Council of South Africa in 2016.

The qualification will have a significant impact on establishing a better skilled workforce that will local economic and social growth. The qualification will facilitate the acquisition of cognitive thinking skills, such as explain, discuss, illustrate, analyse, calculate, demonstrate, and understand. The content and scope of this qualification enables learners to fully capitalise on the strengths of Integrated Computer Technology (ICT) to achieve quality education, which in turn is a key determinant of sustainable prosperity in the world.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the institution will endeavour to assess prior learning and award credit where relevant.

Prospective learners may apply for RPL by following the university's procedures. There are no differences in the RPL processes and procedures (as per policy) between the distance education mode and the existing accredited qualifications that the institution offers. The purpose of the University's RPL policy, which directs the Faculty's RPL procedure. The College of Business and Economics (CBE), in line with institutional policy, recognise prior learning in order to provide for access into qualifications, grant advanced placement in qualifications and grant credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as basis for Faculty-specific RPL practices.

The Department of Finance and Investment Management will require RPL learners to write an entrance examination to ensure that learners are at the correct academic level. The College of Business and Economics accepts Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the CBE will endeavour to assess prior learning and award credit where relevant.

The CBE manages RPL according to the institution's RPL policy, which will be applied as follows for purposes of this qualification as set out in the CBE policy:

• Through RPL a learner may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that he/she continues his/her studies at the institution.
• Recognition takes place in terms of requirements and procedures applied by the CBE.
• RPL in the case of a learner not complying with the formal entry requirements:

> Is based on other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience.

> Is considered only where prior learning corresponds to the required NQF-level.

> Takes place where prior learning in terms of applied competencies is relevant to the content and outcomes of the qualification.

> Is considered in terms of an assessment procedure that includes a motivated recommendation by an assessment panel to the Dean's Committee of the CBE.

> Is finally decided upon by the CBE Dean's Committee.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate (NSC), granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
• National Certificate (Vocational), Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
• Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC), NQF Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules,120 Credits

• English for Local Economic Development Practitioners, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Business Management for Local Economic Development Practitioners, 12 Credits.
• Applied Accounting Principles for Local Economic Development Practitioners, 12 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Business Mathematics for Local Economic Development Practitioners, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Local Economic Development, 12 Credits.
• End-user Computing for Local Economic Development Practitioners,12 Credits.
• Communication for Local Economic Development Practitioners, 12 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship for Local Economic Development Practitioners, 12 Credits.
• The Role of Infrastructure in a Local Economic Development context, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Marketing for Local Economic Development Practitioners, 12 Credits.

1. Identify and solve problems in the context of Local Economic Development (LED).
2. Utilise technology appropriate to the local economic development environment.
3. Distinguish between the relationships and impact of the different fields within local economic development.
4. Investigate relevant LED issues and produce responses based on informed judgment to concrete but often unfamiliar problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Define the local economic development concepts of Local Economic Development (LED) correctly.
• Explain relevant theory underpinning LED.
• Propose solutions to problems relating to the local economic development strategies and policies.
• Apply the principles of communication to communicate with different role players in the local economic development field.
• Describe the ethical implications of decisions taken within the local economic development field.
• Apply LED principles and economic-related techniques and methods relevant to a specific local economy to complete a specific task optimally.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Accurately select technology important to local economic development.
• Use specified computer hardware and software including Internet and databases to manage local economic development.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Explain the importance of the LED profession and the management thereof on international, regional and national levels.
• Describe the role and regulations of the local economic development profession on a micro-and macro-level.
• Identity the relationships between the different areas within local economic development.
• Discuss the impact of these relationships on LED.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Identify and manage local economic development information and select information appropriate to the task.
• Gather and integrate relevant information on local economic issues.
• Interpret the findings and discuss them in a coherent manner.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment comprises Formative and Summative Assessments and is conducted continuously throughout the learning experience. The assessment includes a range of methods that are fit for purpose and followed by constructive electronic feedback to support the learning process. The specific online formative assessment supports the online teaching and learning process and provides immediate feedback to the learner to indicate progress. In each of the modules, self-assessment tasks are given according to the number of learning units contained in each module and the marks will be recorded.

Formative Assessments are scheduled at the end of each module.