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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Employment Relations 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
73760  Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Employment Relations 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Human Resources 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 7  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 
The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with highly specialised applied competence in the mastering, analysis, interpretation and application of Employment Relation Management practices and principles in an organisational context. The learner should also develop advanced intellectual and practical knowledge in preparation for a career in the Employment Relations field and as a basis for further learning. The learner should develop the ability to do advanced research across the Employment Relation Management discipline. The learners should be able to reflect on their decisions and applications of Employment Relation Management as a major discipline to assess the effect thereof in the holistic context of organisational and individual performance improvement. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning in the case of learners not complying with the formal entry requirements will be conducted following the policy and guidelines of the University concerning the recognition of other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. Recognition takes place only where prior learning corresponds to the required NQF-level, and in terms of applied competencies relevant to the content and outcomes of the qualification. Through recognition of prior learning, learners may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that they continue their studies.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bacher of Commerce, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The learners should be able to:
    1. Demonstrate their ability at applying specialised theoretical principles of problem solving skills (both strategic and operational) in managing employment relations and the creation of appropriate responses;
    Reflect on the applications made to resolve contextual abstract problems. (Problem solving skills).
    2. Plan and conduct well developed research in Employment Relations, including the gathering, analysing, synthesising and interpretation of information on Employment Relations issues correctly by utilising the relevant advanced theoretical research principles and reflecting on the specialised research undertaken. (Research skills).
    3. Accountably develop a holistic, interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary macro-vision of the field of Employment Relations to show mastery of the theoretically sophisticated field and to apply knowledge of the field internationally and nationally; and be able to reflect on the applications made. (Macro-vision).
    4. Organise and coordinate a wild range of resources and opportunities in the field of Employment Relations by applying the relevant advanced theoretical principles effectively and responsibly. Reflect on the application, and accept the responsibility for their own activities and evaluating personal and group output in the field of Employment Relations. (Self-responsibility skills).
    5. Practice acceptable social sensitivity in the relationships with others and interact effectively within a learning or professional group by implementing the relevant theory and reflecting on the implementation thereof? (Team building).
    6. Utilise appropriate information management technology (example: computer, e-mail, fax, internet) effectively in the Employment Relations environment (technological and environmental literacy) by independent analysis of new and abstract data and reflect on the implementations made with production of detailed, critical and coherent reports.
    7. Explore the different Employment Relations roles (Manager/ Practitioner/ Community Development facilitator/ Researcher) in the ERM environment (learning strategies) on an advanced level by exploring specialised learning strategies to acquire comprehensive knowledge and reflect on the applications made.
    8. Demonstrate responsible citizenship through their approach towards the holistic application of management capabilities in Employment Relations, and by demonstration of leadership. (Promoting citizenship).
    9. Practice acceptable social, cultural and aesthetic sensitivity towards the different role players in a variety of contexts within community organisations by applying the appropriate advanced theoretical principles and reflecting on the application made by demonstration of negotiation skills. (Cultural and aesthetic sensitivity).
    10. Articulate and expanded range of career options in the field of Employment Relations as a consequence of newly acquired knowledge skills and attitudes and the structuring of learning content in accordance with different career roles (employment seeking skills); and reflect on the applications made.
    11. Recognise and articulate opportunities for independent employment and business opportunities in the field of Employment opportunities and in the field of Employment Relations. (Entrepreneurship).
    12. Promote effective communication and interaction between relevant role players in the business environment by negotiation within a learning or professional context and management of conflict; and reflect on the applications made. (Communication skills). 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Identify and solve problems in the field of Employment Relations correctly by applying the relevant theoretical principles and reflect on the application made? (Problem solving sills).
  • Plan and conduct research in the field of Employment Relations, including the gathering, analysing, synthesising and interpretation of information on Employment Relations issues correctly by utilising the relevant theoretical research principles and reflect on the research undertaken? (Research skills).
  • Apply an accountable theoretical and practical macro-vision of Employment Relations internationally and nationally and reflect on the applications made? (Development of macro-vision).
  • Organise and coordinate resources and opportunities in the field of Employment Relations effectively and responsibly by applying the relevant theoretical aspects reflect on the applications made? (Development of macro-vision).
  • Practice acceptable social sensitivity n the relationships with others and work effectively in a team implementing the relevant theory and reflect on the implementation made? (Team building).
  • Utilise appropriate technology (example: computer, e-mail, fax, internet) effectively in the Employment Relations environment, and reflect on the implementations made? (Technological and environmental literacy).
  • Explore different effective learning strategies and acquire the different capabilities of Employment Relations roles (Manager, Practitioner, Community Development Facilitator, and researcher), and reflect on the applications made? (Explore learning strategies).
  • Promote responsible citizenship through their approach/attitude towards the holistic application of Employment Relations in a variety of contexts? (Promoting citizenship).
  • Are the learners able to practice social, cultural and aesthetic sensitivity towards people occupying different roles in the ERM community (e.g. managers, practitioners, community development facilitators, researchers) and role players in the field of Employment Relations by applying appropriate theoretical principles and reflecting on the manner in which it was applied? (Social, cultural and aesthetic sensitivity).
  • Identify and articulate potential career options in the field of Employment Relations, and reflect on the applications made? (Employment seeking skills).
  • Recognise opportunities for independent employment and business opportunities in the field of Employment Relations and the field of Employment Relations Management? (Entrepreneurship).
  • Communicate and interact orally and in writing with and between the different role players in the field of Employment by applying the theoretical principles of communication and reflect on the application made? (Communication skills).

    Integrated Assssemnt:
    Formative assessment practices that will be implemented:
  • The learners conduct independent research and submit a number of assignments in each of the respective modules. These assignments will be assessed and form the semester mark of the respective modules.

    Summative assessment practices that will be implemented:
  • Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the exit-level outcomes, will be done by means of a 3 hour written examination taken on the conclusion of each module. A sub-minimum of 50% is required in each module in order to proceed to other modules. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Appropriate Bachelor Honours Degree, NQF Level 8.
  • Cognate Postgraduate Diploma, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Commerce, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Both internal and external assessors will be appointed by the Faculty of Economics and Management Science upon recommendation by the Department of Human Resource Management and the Program Employment Relations at this institution. The internal Program and Module Coordinator will form the internal examiners team, while an assessor in the specific field of the study at any other University in S.A, will be randomly selected and appointed as an external examiner.

    At least one internal and one external assessor per module will be appointed. External assessors with at least a doctorate degree on NQF level 8; professor status in the learning and job related area or experience will be selected from different higher education institutions in South Africa or abroad. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Criteria regarding formal qualifications that assessors should have: Master's in related field, but preferably doctoral degree on NQF level 8. Criteria regarding job or learning area experience: Minimum of 05 years' related experience. Criteria regarding experience of or exposure to assessment: Assessors should be SAQA accredited with at least three years of assessment experience in the field of study. 

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

    NOTES 
    This is an old qualification that has been recorded in June 1998 under the title B. Com Honours (Labour relations). The name has changed to B. Com Honours (Employment relations). The rationale for the name Employment Relations (ERM) is that Industrial Relations (IR) is a reactive, fire-fighting operational dimension of Human Resource Management (HRM). In order to cope with the new trends and tendencies in the South African business environment it was decided to integrate HRM and IR into a more holistic and strategic function which can add value in the business process; a development which is globally of critical importance in a company's pursuit of world class status, competitiveness and economic survival. 

    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.
     
    1. University of Johannesburg 


    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.