Higher Certificate in Retailing

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to equip learners with knowledge and skills to enter into a retailing environment and to be able to contribute immediately to store management. Successful learners will have a basic knowledge and understanding of all crucial aspects of managing a retail store including sales skills, merchandise buying and the management of human resources. The qualification also serves to provide articulation opportunities to the Diploma in Retail Management.

Rationale

The need for the qualification arose from the dramatically changing retail landscape in South Africa. Incoming foreign competitors and the intensifying competition in the retail sector in South Africa, have increased the need for suitably-equipped learners who can contribute to the workforce from day one. The qualification is a substantial academic offering that combines comprehensive in-depth theoretical study material applied in a South African retail context with Open Distance Learning teaching principles. The qualification allows opportunities for successful learners to work in any retail marketing related field and addresses the need in the marketplace for competent, knowledgeable applicants. Learners are exposed to a wide variety of basic retailing-related issues which presents them with the opportunity to operate in a number of industries where basic retailing skills are required. The skills and knowledge obtained will put learners in a position to immediately begin operating at an entry level retailing position with the potential for further career growth. The qualification also prepares learners for further studies in the field of marketing and retail management.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL will be applied in line with the regulations of the Quality Council for Higher Education and the RPL Policy and the procedures of the institution.

Entry Requirements

National Senior Certificate.

Or

Senior Certificate Vocational.

Or

A National Certificate Vocational (NC(V)) at NQF level 4.

Or

Recognition of Prior Learning.

The qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 5, totalling 120

Compulsory modules

• Introduction to marketing (MNM1503): 12 Credits.
• Introduction to retailing (MNM1504): 12 Credits.
• Introduction to marketing communication (MNM1507): 12 Credits.
• Merchandising (MNM1506): 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Human resource management (HRM1501): 12 Credits.
• Sustainability and greed (SUS1501): 12 Credits.
• Practicing workplace English (ENN1504): 12 Credits.
• Retail selling (MNM1523): 12 Credits.
• Retail store management (MNM1524): 12 Credits.
• Fundamentals of retail buying (MNM1525): 12 Credits.

1. Apply marketing knowledge and processes to real life situations taking into account societal, ethical and cultural considerations.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the field of retailing and the contextual relevance to marketing management as a field of study.
3. Effectively plan and implement a basic marketing communication plan.
4. Design and manage a basic merchandise plan for a retailer in a South African context.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the retail selling function and describe the selling process in a retail environment.
6. Discuss, in a practical context, the fundamentals of retail store management and plan, implement and control a basic retail store management strategy.
7. Develop and implement a basic buying plan for a retail store.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Marketing principles, methods and processes are accurately identified and implemented, taking into account societal, ethical and cultural considerations.
• Retail management principles, methods and processes are accurately identified and implemented, taking into account societal, ethical and cultural considerations.
• An understanding of the field of retailing and the contextual relevance to marketing management as a field of study is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Marketing communication methods are compared and evaluated according to specific contextual requirements.
• A basic marketing communication plan is designed and implemented and marketing communication tasks are executed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• A basic merchandise plan is designed taking into account specific retail requirements and environmental contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The retail selling process is discussed and applied to an unfamiliar retail scenario.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Retail store management principles and procedures are explained and demonstrated through the use of practical examples.
• Basic retail store management strategy is designed, implemented and controlled.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Retail buying tasks are discussed and are applied by using applicable practical examples.

Integrated Assessment

For the qualification to be awarded, a learner must have successfully achieved the outcomes of each of the compulsory/core and elective modules that constitute the qualification.

Evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills, attitudes and expertise) and of the candidate's ability to achieve the purpose of the qualification as a whole at the time that the qualification is awarded, is required by means of comprehensive and integrated assessment (constituting a range of formative and summative assessments). Continuous formative and summative assessment methods are used in the form of written assignments and exams, and the supervision of a research project.