SAQA

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.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Certificate: Computers and management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
24345	Certificate: Computers and management
ORIGINATOR
Oval International Computer Education
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National Certificate	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Generic Management
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 5	Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L5	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2018-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31		2022-12-31

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.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

This qualification has been developed for those who want to be on the junior and supervisory management levels within a business environment. The qualification provides the learner with relevant managerial skills and computer software proficiency to enable them to meet the demands of a management position within a dynamic technological business environment.This qualification will also provide the groundwork for further development of the learner along specialist areas within commerce and industry. Liaisons with industry and recruitment agencies has informed us that front line personnel with accounting, managerial skills and computer literacy are in great demand. With this in mind this programme is structured to incorporate the basics of business and computers that would provide the students with potential employment.

Rationale for the qualification

This introductory programme provides learners with socially uplifting and essential competencies and necessary skills to promote social and economic progress.The primary goal is to facilitate the development and awareness of the business environment, the recognition that business activities have an impact on society and ultimately to cultivate expertise in areas that would be more beneficial to the learner`s development and their integration into industry.

In the context of the current government policy, especially those related to the affirmative action opportunities, the majority of learners are from disadvantaged groups, and not equipped with the skills and the knowledge to adequately fill these vacancies. With this identified niche in mind this programme brings the disadvantaged into the fold.

Therefore, in addition to the basic principles of management and, consistent with the creation of employers rather than employees, entrepreneurship is included. Graduates are thus able to earn and learn at the same time.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

It is assumed that the learner has a qualification at least at NQF level 4 with proficiency in basic arithmetic, numeracy and accounting, communication and English, or has several years` relevant Management and/or Accounting experience.

The learner is to present the following skills before he/she can enter the programme:

Basic literacy skills such as reading and writing.

Communicate effectively in written form.

The ability to analyse, interpret and critically evaluate written and verbal information.

The ability to build new, innovative and creative solutions based on knowledge covered, problems and conditions discussed.

Basic level mathematical and accounting skills relating to arithmetic and numeracy especially.

Communicate effectively with peers and lecturers on a conversational level.

It is assumed that the learner has the following knowledge and understanding before he/she can enter the programme:

Questioning used in written tests, assignments and examinations.

Forms of written and oral communication.

Accounting process.

Dynamics of working with people.

Recognition of prior learning

Candidates with relevant prior learning may also qualify for acceptance. The RPL credits allocated to candidates are dependent on the nature of prior learning

Various evaluation techniques are used in assessing prior learning, as there are no set criteria. A very flexible approach is adopted.The following evaluations are administered by qualified staff:

Formal assessment - a written test or examination will be administered.

Informal assessment - demonstrations at work, interpretation of case studies.

Practical tests - demonstration of a skill.

Oral presentation - valuable information from real life situations in tutorial presentations, students asked to deal with problems in management, away from the context of formal textbook, but using his own personal experience.

Mini assignments - pertaining to specific core aspects.

In addition, applicants are required to subject themselves to an interview and their CV must be forwarded.

The candidate is advised to reflect on his/her prior learning and experience in the light of identified learning outcomes. The candidate then gathers evidence and presents it in the form of a portfolio to demonstrate the extent to which the learning outcomes have been attained.

If the candidate shows proficiency in these and other performance criteria, exemptions will be granted to him or her on the basis of having entered the programme with equivalent prior learning.

A student who does not qualify in terms of the above but is employed in a management position with a minimum of three years experience will be admitted to the programme only after the following requirements have been met:

The candidate must gather evidence and present it in the form of a portfolio to demonstrate the extent to which he/she has attained the outcomes via previous learning.

The candidate must attend an interview conducted by the Head of Department.

Assessments in the form of demonstrations, written and oral tests and presentations, meeting specific performance criteria are conducted.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

N/A

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Communicate and work effectively with others as a member of a project team, social group, and the college community and public and company representatives.
2. Discuss the conduct of entrepreneurship.
3. Discuss the development and influence of management styles in the context of new business trends.
4. Discuss the conduct of business in a range of contexts.
5. Use a range of software skills to contribute to effective reporting, analysis and decision-making.
6. Develop solutions to business problems of limited scope.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1.
1.1 Mechanisms by which tasks, responsibilities and roles are assigned and implemented are explained.
1.2 The correct application of a specific range of communication media is demonstrated.
1.3 Specified software packages are correctly used to generate reports and business information of a financial, textual and visual nature.
1.4 Techniques for the successful implementation of change in a given situation are described.
1.5 The role of customer care is explained.

2.
2.1 A range of opportunities within set of specified business sectors are discussed.
2.2 The traits of successful entrepreneurs identified and discussed.
2.3 The characteristics of product and service quality are explained.
2.4 A self-appraisal is conducted.
2.5 Structures of businesses are reviewed.
2.6 Sources of funding for business are evaluated.
2.7 Business ideas are generated and correctly assessed.

3.
3.1 Various management styles are identified and distinguished.
3.2 The development of a specified range of management styles are traced and justified.
3.3 The relevance of various management styles to specified situations is evaluated.

4.
4.1 Corporate mission statements are reviewed and evaluated.
4.2 The role of managers in business is explained.
4.3 A range of management styles are reviewed and evaluated.
4.4 Appropriate tools and models are use to analyse business situations.
4.5 Marketing theory and practices are described.
4.6 Specific human resources issues are elucidated
4.7 The influences of a specified range of factors in the external environment are reviewed.
4.8 Internal control principles and measures are demonstrated.
4.9 The interdependence between the various functions of a corporation is explained.

5.
5.1 The relationships between management and information systems in the context of a commercial business are described.
5.2 Software with given specifications, application and selected environment are correctly and effectively used.
5.3 Specified management problems are correctly solved.

6.
6.1 The influences of management practices and styles are reviewed.
6.2 Reasons for differences in management and operational strategies across various types of businesses are evaluated.
6.3 Various management skills and business concepts are assessed and correctly selected to assist in given situations
6.4 Management and information technology principles and, specified applications software are applied to selected business transactions and, are correctly used to contribute to the effective operation of a business enterprise.

Integrated assessment

The programme is assessed in terms of Outcomes Based Education where assessment of the student takes place continuously throughout the academic year in the form of projects, group work, and oral presentations.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Comparisons of the qualification with foreign educational institutions in Britain, indicate that the qualification is strongly consistent with international standards and trends. The qualification addresses the needs of commerce and industry domestically and internationally, as well. These comparisons were made on the basis of outcomes and assessment criteria.

In delivery independent / group study is not given as much emphasis in the programme as in foreign institutions such as

Solihull College (UK).

North Lincs College (UK).

City and Guilds College (UK).

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

There is sufficient overlap between this programme and the Degree in Business Management to permit a learner, on completion of this programme, to obtain credits and continue into the second year of the Degree in Business Management.
Moreover, several units in this programme are common to the Certificate in Computerised Accounting, an accredited programme offered by the Institution. This latter programme is more vocationally orientated. Hence, learners who offer the Certificate in Computers and Management, can be awarded credits towards the Certificate in Computerised Accounting.

MODERATION OPTIONS

At least an honours degree in the learning area and relevant industry experience is required from moderators.

Moderators are required to moderate the end of the year examination scripts. A sample of the scripts(10%) is made available to the moderator together with Evaluations and the marking memo for this purpose.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Staff members are in possession of a qualification appropriate to the learning being assessed. Staff have attended workshops and seminars on assessment.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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.

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