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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Small Business Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
110891  Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Small Business Management 
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of the qualification is to produce citizens who understand the concepts and principles underlying how to develop and manage small businesses. They will provide the skills and expertise highly needed in the community for entrepreneurship and the development of small and medium business enterprises.

Rationale:
Entrepreneurship is a focus area in South Africa and the qualification aims to develop entrepreneurial thinking, knowledge and skills to not only start a new venture, but to manage an entrepreneurial venture and to expose learners to different routes of entrepreneurship. The qualification is important to enable learners to become entrepreneurs. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

A learner who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. A learner who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Appropriate Bachelor's Degree, Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 96 Credits:
  • Research Methodology in Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, 16 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, 16 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship Innovation and Venture Creation, 16 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship Research Project, 32 Credits.
  • Entrepreneurship and Small Business Develop, 16 Credits.

    Elective Modules, 32 Credits (Choose two):
  • Corporate Strategy, 16 Credits.
  • Special Topics in Advanced Business Studies, 16 Credits.
  • Advanced Global Business, 16 Credits.
  • Leadership and Change Management, 16 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of the general principles underlying the development of small business enterprises, and to be able to apply these principles in practice.
    2. Conduct and report research.
    3. Apply own learning in an integrated way to analyse a specific area related to own work context to identify problems.
    4. Apply the relevant theoretical frameworks to recommend solutions to identified problem areas. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Select, apply and evaluate typical methods and procedures involved in the commerce field.
  • Diagnose and analyse complex and uncertain commerce and small business management situations, and provide credible and practical solutions relevant to particular work contexts.
  • Critically engage with contemporary trends and issues relating to small business management.
  • Formulate coherent management strategic policies through consultation with other stakeholders.
  • Describe the consequential impacts on society of participating in a developing and growing economy.
  • Appropriately apply the code of ethical behaviour in the field of commerce and base decisions and actions on appropriate management and entrepreneurial values.
  • Apply ethics in commercial research and understand the implications of complex ethical issues in small business management.
  • Lead and/or initiate processes and implement systems at small business management level.
  • Critically evaluate and analyse challenges in resource allocation and develop solutions based on evaluation and analysis.
  • Critically evaluate and create and design small business management strategies.
  • Recognise the scope of responsibilities required in a small business management/owner position and its accountability in a small business.
  • Comprehend complex situations.
  • Work with, understand and motivate other people.
  • Network as well as gain allies and gather organisational power.
  • Understand and apply specialised knowledge or expertise.
  • Demonstrate advanced scholarship and research abilities.
  • Use a range of advanced and specialised skills and marketing discourses to communicate to a range of audiences.
  • Use resources of academic and professional discourse to communicate and defend ideas and products of research in an area of specialisation.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Each module will be assessed through an integrated individual written assignment, in addition to a range of oral and written, group and individual class assignments in order to give learners the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies. The final module assignment requires learners to apply their learning in an integrated way to analyse a specific area related to their work context in a work-based assignment and to apply the theoretical frameworks to recommend solutions to identified problem areas.
    The practitioner research project assesses the ability of learners to integrate themes from different modules appropriately to a real scenario. Assessment methods will include research projects, individual oral and written assignments and presentations. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable with similar qualifications offered in various higher education institutions internationally. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business Management, Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Business Administration, Level 9.
  • Master of Commerce in Business Management, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.