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: 

Advanced Certificate in Information Technology in Support Services 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
85206  Advanced Certificate in Information Technology in Support Services 
ORIGINATOR
The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced Certificate  Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Information Technology and Computer Sciences 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  126  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  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 this qualification is to equip students with a set of skills to enable them to provide a range of advanced and specialised Information Technology (IT) support services to corporate Information Technology networks.

The Advanced Certificate: Information Technology: Support Services will develop three different skills' sets, namely:
  • Advanced network support.
  • Database administration.
  • Open source administration.

    All three of these knowledge areas are introduced to the students in the Higher Certificate: Information Technology: Support Services on a fundamental level and are developed to a specialist level in the Advanced Certificate.

    Advanced network support modules include:
  • Network Architecture B.
  • Security Principles.
  • Client System Configuration.
  • Applications Support.

    The Open Source track includes an introduction to Open Systems and Open Source Administration which is an important inclusion, considering the Government's policy on Open Source and the general growing interest in this field in industry. There are also two database modules: Introduction and Administration.

    The qualification will contribute to the achievement of the intended outcomes by including a good balance of both practical and theoretical modules to accomplish its collective goals. The Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) module is specifically focused to combine and link all the critical components of the course and the application of the skills learned collectively, to assess the relationship between the main disciplines. The Work-Integrated Learning activities further ensure that project and solution development skills are mastered on an application level.

    Service Management covers two areas that have become very important in the modern management approach to Information Technology Service Management, e.g., best practice and corporate governance and it further serves to link the key disciplines covered in the course.

    Rationale:

    This is a vocational qualification which will provide students with a sound knowledge base in the field of Information Technology and will prepare graduates to apply their skills and knowledge in a professional context. Students will be required to undertake practical and specialised intensive learning and position them to further specialise in the niche market of advanced Information Technology support services.

    The qualification provides an opportunity for students who have completed an appropriate Higher Certificate: Technical Information Technology studies to further specialise in this field and improve employment prospects, by offering prospective employers a high level of support skills beyond the fundamental skills generally taught in Certificates and Higher Certificates of this nature.

    Basic and fundamental Information Technology support skills are generally not very hard to find in the job market, but medium and large organisations often require a higher level of competence and a wider skill set from Information Technology support services staff to support the rapid changes in technology, and such skills and knowledge are not widely available. This Advanced Certificate: Support Services addresses the need for a wider range of more advanced computer support services identified by industry and will provide students with a framework of specialised Information Technology support skills which include Database Administration, Open Source administration and Service Management skills and knowledge.

    The Advanced Certificate will help address the national skills shortage in Information Technology as indicated in the Department of Labour's National Scarce Skills List by preparing graduates to take up positions as:
  • Support specialists.
  • Network Local Area Network (LAN) technicians.
  • System support service administrators.
  • Database administrators.
  • Open source technicians.
  • System configuration technicians. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that the student would be competent in the language of instruction (English) and the theoretical and practical knowledge and understanding of Information Technology at NQF Level 5.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Students can achieve this qualification in part or as a whole through Recognition of Prior Learning.

    Learners who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission may be granted access through Recognition of Prior Learning.

    Access to the Qualification:

    A Higher Certificate in a cognate discipline. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Advanced Certificate: Information Technology: Support Services consists of the following compulsory 11 modules at NQF Level 6, totalling 126 credits:
  • Network Architecture B, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to Security Principles, 10 Credits.
  • Client System Configuration, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to Open Source Systems, 10 Credits.
  • Open Source Administration, 15 Credits.
  • Database Introduction, 15 Credits.
  • Database Administration, 10 Credits.
  • Project Management for Work-Integrated Learning, 5 Credits.
  • Service Management, 10 Credits.
  • Work-Integrated Learning Project, 12 Credits.
  • Applications Support, 15 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Maintain, deploy and support open source and vendor-specific systems.

    2. Apply the concepts and principles of professional IT support services and infrastructure in an organisation to enable and support the effective use of IT.

    3. Communicate effectively and appropriately in a professional environment.

    4. Work effectively in a group or team to support IT users and infrastructure to achieve common goals.

    5. Solve IT related problems in an unfamiliar context.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in this qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

    1.1 Databases and the processes needed to support and administer them are explained.
    1.2 Open source systems are deployed and maintained.
    1.3 Concepts and principles of Information Technology support services in a business or corporate environment are applied to enable the effective use of Information Technology.
    1.4 Generally accepted good practice strategies and techniques are applied to ensure the security in a LAN networking environment.
    1.5 Network Security is constructed by applying strategies and techniques identified as common best practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

    2.1 A critical understanding of the principles of Information Technology Support Services is demonstrated.
    2.2 Knowledge of methods of enquiry into Information Technology Support Services is demonstrated.
    2.3 Information in Information Technology support services is critically evaluated.
    2.4 Databases are developed, managed and maintained using a query language.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

    3.1 Information is communicated in a reliable and coherent format in a business environment using professional business communication discourse and formats.
    3.2 Analysis of evaluation of problem scenarios is communicated to clients.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

    4.1 Peer contribution is evaluated to achieve the common goal of a given project.
    4.2 A practical project is implemented using project management skills in resolving specified problems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

    5.1 Problems relating to Information Technology support in an unfamiliar context are solved.
    5.2 The principles and practices of basic project management are explained and applied to a series of practical scenarios.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Learning and assessment are integrated.

    Formative assessment is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited numbers of outcomes. Students are given feedback on their progress in the achievement of learning outcomes and assignments based on the learning material.

    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. Summative assessment includes examinations, projects, laboratory reports or equivalent assessment, such as portfolios of evidence and tests the student's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of the qualification or part thereof. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The IIE qualification was compared with qualifications in Computer Science, Computer Support Services and Information Technology in Australia, New Zealand and United States of America (USA). It shows similarity to qualifications in Australia, USA and New Zealand, specifically with the University of Adelaide, Computer Power Institute and Middlesex County College in the USA.

    The qualification compares favourably with the Network Administration Certificate offered at the Middlesex County College, New Jersey, USA. This qualification combines a common core of specialist subjects, i.e., computer applications, operating systems and architecture, network technologies, PC services and support and various technical support subjects.

    The Graduate Diploma in Information Technology (Network Engineering) offered at the University of Adelaide Australia, compares positively as it includes a similar range of disciplines from a practical focus in computer science concepts, computer systems, computer architecture, computer network and applications and operating systems.

    The Diploma in Information Technology (Client Support) offered at the Computer Power Institute in New Zealand, contains a similar collection of disciplines and knowledge. The Diploma examines the fundamental computing concepts and the core areas, such as PC fundamentals, networking fundamentals, operating systems, customer services and computer hardware and allows for group interaction within the qualification.

    Thus, in its application development approach, this qualification aligns well internationally and with industry requirements. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:

    This Qualification articulates horizontally with any relevant cognate Advanced Certificate or Diploma at NQF Level 6.

    Vertical Articulation:

    The Qualification articulates vertically with a cognate Advanced Diploma or Bachelor's Degree at NQF Level 7. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • The IIE ensures the quality of its qualifications through a stringent process of internal and external control.
  • The IIE, which is a multi site provider, has a sophisticated system of internal and external moderation to assure quality and ensure equity of provision. Feedback from moderators is used to improve the quality of assessment, material and student support as well as to ensure fairness and validity in any particular examination cycle. External moderation is also used to ensure that the quality of the programme content and its assessment is comparable to that offered by other providers.
  • The lecturers, Heads of Programme and other members of the team identify appropriately qualified moderators. The criteria for this identification is that they are either currently (or have recently) been lecturers at a registered higher education institution; that they carry a qualification one level higher than the one being moderated and that they are subject matter experts (by virtue of their qualification and own educational experience) in the module being moderated. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors and moderators hold a qualification at least one level higher than the qualification being assessed or moderated. Moderators are also required to have more than two years teaching experience. Assessors with fewer than two years' experience are required to have their assessment work moderated by a peer. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 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.
     
    1. The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd 


    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.