Higher Certificate in Travel

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with the skills to provide services to travellers and provide the administrative services in the travel sector of the tourism industry. This qualification will provide learners with the appropriate theoretical and practical knowledge to take up entry-level positions in the travel sector.

This qualification is designed to develop the competencies and skills, which were identified as critical for a career in this discipline by practicing industry experts. Learners will be well positioned to add value to the establishment that employs them, to pursue further studies in this field, or enable them to work as junior consultants in the travel sector. Learners will understand the travel environment concerning destinations, domestic fares and ticketing, customer care and sales, industry reservation systems, travel products and services and travel operations and planning to enable them to service the sector confidently.

The result is a graduate who, on successful completion of the curriculum, will have developed theoretical knowledge, practical skills, fundamental attitudes, values and interpersonal skills that are essential for the learners' effective contribution to the travel related establishment that employs them or to pursue further studies in this field.

The specific skillsets incorporated into this qualification presents a combination, which is highly attractive to prospective employers and adds value to the work place.

This qualification is designed to graduate learners with the ability to think and act professionally and ethically and to contribute meaningfully to the travel sector of the tourism industry. The qualification design thus facilitates the development of a well-rounded travel consultant. Learners have both the theoretical depth and applied skills relevant to further study or to the world of work.

The design of the qualification will facilitate critical learning through the exposure to and application of specialised learning areas to enable learners to employ their knowledge and skills in the travel sector.

In addition, the curriculum has been designed to support the achievement of the outcomes related to this qualification by including a substantial work readiness and work integrated learning component, which requires learners to apply knowledge and skills learnt in the classroom within the workplace where learners will be exposed to the practical elements within the travel sector.

Learners will have the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, fundamental attitudes, values and interpersonal skills that are essential for the learner's effective entry-level services in the travel sector.

Rationale

This qualification will provide learners with a basic introductory knowledge, cognitive and applied tools and techniques through its combination of theoretical and practical skills. This higher certificate will provide a solid vocational foundation for those wishing to work in junior positions in the travel sector of the tourism industry, and in addition will prepare learners for further undergraduate studies in travel and tourism. The Higher Certificate in Travel will ensure that there is a balance between theory and application as well as work integrated learning, which is critical in this industry.

The National Employment Strategy Framework supports a pillar of socio-economic development and employment creation. The Framework in the medium to long term attempts to raise the country's skills base within the tourism industry, such as the travel sector, which is a major contributor to the South African economy. In order to sustain the growth of the travel and tourism industry, developing skilled people for the travel sector, is essential to provide competitive quality services to travellers. The Department of Higher Education and Training List of Occupations in High Demand, in the Government Gazette No. 39604 (2016:10) also identifies the Travel Consultant position as an occupation in high demand under the Clerical support workers section. As such, this qualification aims to focus on an occupation that is considered to be in high demand in South Africa.

The Higher Certificate in Travel will equip learners with the required skills, values, attributes and knowledge required for employment in the travel sector, which is a sector of the broader tourism industry. Learners will be prepared to enter into careers as the following:

• Junior travel consultant in a travel agency.
• Passenger handling agents within an airline check-in agent.
• Reservation consultant in a car hire.
• Company reservation consultant in cruise company.
• Reservation consultant in a coach company.
• Reservation consultant in a rail company.

This qualification will prepare learners to further their Travel studies at Level 6.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL processes are programme specific in that the criteria against which evidence of prior learning must be provided are determined by the learning normally assumed to be in place for qualifications at the level concerned in the field concerned. Instruments are only designed when requests are made as they are expensive to design, implement and assess. To date most applications to The Institutions for RPL of non-formal learning are at the Honours level. The procedure is governed by the Credit Accumulation and Transfer, Recognition of Prior Learning and qualification Completion Policy.

In addition to RPL a Credit Accumulation and Transfer mechanism exists for access and advance standing for formal learning from a recognised, registered and accredited institution on a registered and accredited qualification. Credit Accumulation Transfer (CAT) rules as proposed by national policy are applied-no more than 50% of a completed qualification which cannot represent more than 50% of the target qualification will be awarded. In reality these percentages rarely exceed more than 25%.

If an applicant applies for an RPL admission, the learning assumed to be in place for the programme is assessed against Exit Level Outcomes equivalent to the formal learning required for admission. This would include an evaluation of the content as well as the applicant's cognitive and technical competence. Applicants prepare a portfolio against these stated requirements which is then assessed by a team of experts/academics in line with the policy.

Recognition is awarded for

Learning, and not for experience per se

• learning that is on the level of the specific level descriptors of the qualification/unit standard; and learning that is in line with applied competence and has a balance between theory and practical.
• Application appropriate to the subject or unit standard.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements are

• A National Senior Certificate (NSC) granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• A National Certificate (Vocational) NC(V) at Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate. Level 4.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 5, totaling 120 Credits.

• Travel Products and Services, 15 Credits.
• Introduction to Personal Computing, 5 Credits.
• Travel Destinations: Overview of Southern Africa, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Academic and Digital Literacy, 12 Credits
• Business Communication, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Customer Care and Sales, 10 Credits.
• Travel Operations and Planning, 12 Credits.
• Domestic Fares and Ticketing, 16 Credits.
• Global Distribution System, 8 Credits.
• Business Practice and Entrepreneurship, 5 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning, 15 Credits.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the principles, practices and travel services used in the tourism industry.
2. Apply appropriate knowledge and understanding of domestic travel services in the key geographical area in Southern Africa.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in using appropriate technology in a travel business environment.
4. Apply customer care and sales principles, techniques and processes to effectively sell travel and tourism products and services.
5. Communicate in a professional manner in a travel establishment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the principles and practices used in the travel sector of the tourism industry.
• Analyse information on travel products and services.
• Compile appropriate travel packages.
• Apply knowledge of the costing of travel arrangements.
• Develop itineraries according to clients' needs.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply knowledge of domestic fares and ticketing accurately and appropriately.
• Calculate fares for domestic travel.
• Compile itineraries for domestic travel.
• Use relevant maps and other reference documents to identify major destinations, attractions and events in Southern Africa.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Use a global distribution system.
• Process bookings using a specific reservation system.
• Use a personal computer effectively to conduct business in a travel environment.
• Apply relevant software applications to complete travel-related processes and procedures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of concepts, principles, theories and practices associated with customer care and sales.
• Apply the theories and practices used in customer care and sales to situations occurring within the travel sector.
• Discuss the importance of customer service in the sales process.
• Analyse the factors that contribute to customer satisfaction.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Communicate in a professional manner within the travel environment.
• Identify clients' specific travel requirements through professional consultations.
• Use a range of communication techniques to plan and administer travel services effectively.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment

Learning and assessment are integrated. Continual Formative Assessment is required so that learners are given feedback on their progress in the achievement of learning outcomes. The scheme of work includes assignments, real-world briefs, tests and an integrated programme portfolio based on the learning material and learners are given feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited numbers of outcomes.

Summative Assessment

Summative Assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Such judgement must include integrated assessments which test the student's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes as a whole. Examinations, projects, reports or equivalent assessments, such as a portfolio of evidence, assess a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed. Summative Assessment also tests the student's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module.

Integrated Assessments will be designed to achieve

• An integration of the achievement of Exit Level Outcomes in a way which demonstrates that the purpose of the qualification as a whole has been achieved.
• The evaluation of learner performance which can provide evidence of applied competence. Criterion-referenced assessment which is clearly explained to, and understood by, the learners and which can be applied in the recognition of prior learning.