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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in Business Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
87026  Higher Certificate in Business Management 
ORIGINATOR
IQ Academy 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  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 05  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 Higher Certificate: Business Management is to prepare learners for a career in management or to proceed to higher levels of study and specialisation in the field of business management. This qualification provides learners with academic knowledge, which is imperative for a career and/or academic advancement in the field of business management. In the provision of this knowledge the learner becomes more attractive to the marketplace and thus more employable.

The qualification comprises a range of subjects including contemporary practices in the world of business management and draws upon the expertise of academics and employers. A wide range of subjects allows learners to combine skills such as general management, marketing, transition to leading others, finance for managers and human resources management. The application of skills in the business management field is enabled through the teaching and learning approach of the institution. The applicability of the skills learnt is advantageous to entrepreneurial, small and medium enterprises and benefits large organisations.

The Higher Certificate: Business Management at NQF Level 5 provides learners with the required competencies to be employed in various managerial roles in the economic sectors and will enable learners to follow different career opportunities both nationally and internationally.

Rationale:

The qualification provides an exciting career opportunity for learners who are involved with or interested in becoming involved in the business management field. The field of management is a dynamic world with changes occuring constantly. The need for knowledgeable and competent managers in South and Southern Africa, with due regard for the rise of developing economies, is well understood. This programme is seen as an entry point to management and provides a gateway to knowledge which will lead to the success of the individual, in the context of managing self and teams and, in turn, the success of the nation.

The curriculum has been designed to give learners a solid foundation in the field of business management, whether in a non-profit or for-profit organisation. Many people in industry have technical know-how and competence; however when asked to step into a managerial role they are ill-prepared. In addition, new entrants to the workplace often find it difficult to contextualise the function of management, to solve problems and make decisions. This qualification will enable both skilled and unskilled people alike to broaden their knowledge and skills to be effective managers and accountable leaders.

This qualification is a response to the workplace need for competent managers across all economic sectors. Government, business and labour have expressed the current and future need for competent junior and middle managers to grow the economy. The skills, knowledge, attitudes and values required by managers are captured in this qualification. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is assumed that the learner is:
  • Competent in the knowledge, comprehension and application of language at NQF Level 4/Grade 12, or equivalent.
  • Competent in the provider's language of instruction.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    The Higher Certificate: Business Management, NQF Level 5 may be achieved in part or wholly through the process of Recognition of Prior Learning. Provision should be made for prior learning to be recognised if a learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes embedded in this qualification.

    This Recognition of prior learning may:
  • Grant learners access who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission.
  • Grant learners credits towards modules contained in this qualification.
  • Grant learners credits towards the achievement of the qualification.

    Access to the Qualification:

    The admission criterion for this programme is:
  • A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a minimum of 30% in the English language.
  • An appropriate equivalent qualification at NQF Level 4 will be considered.
  • Via Recognition of Prior Learning. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Learners need to complete a total of 120 Credits for the qualification at NQF Level 5, comprising the five Compulsory Modules totalling 100 credits; and one Optional Module, totalling 20 credits.

    Compulsory Modules - 100 Credits:
  • Business Management, 20 Credits.
  • Human Resources Management, 20 Credits.
  • Finance for Managers, 20 Credits.
  • Marketing Management, 20 Credits.
  • Transition to Leading Others, 20 Credits.

    Optional Modules - 20 Credits (Choose one):
  • Project Management, 20 Credits.
  • Integrative Case Study, 20 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Explain, interpret and evaluate business management.
    2. Demonstrate, explain and apply marketing management principles.
    3. Analyse and present aspects of finance for managers.
    4. Explain, compare and apply aspects of human resource management.
    5. Analyse and evaluate the transition to leading others.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:

    This qualification aims to address all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • The business, its environment and its challenges are explained and analysed using appropriate examples.
  • The role and functions of management are explained and the required competencies are defined.
  • The management and logistics of the operation are effectively defined and explained.
  • The concept of a business plan is explained and the various components and contents thereof are described.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • The marketing environment is defined and a marketing orientation is recommended.
  • The value of the management of the marketing environment is explored and discussed.
  • The market selection process is described and recommendations for brand position are made.
  • The new economy and social issues are considered and explained and the appropriate marketing mix is identified.
  • The principles and objectives of Marketing Management are applied within the business environment.
  • The application of marketing to the broader organisational function is described.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • The role of the financial manager within the organisation is discussed.
  • The financial markets are explained and interpreted.
  • The cost of capital to a company is discussed and calculated.
  • The capital investment decision is explained and the concept of wealth maximisation is considered.
  • The concepts of working capital and net working capital are explained and ways in which the cash conversion cycle can be shortened are identified.
  • The principles of financial management in managerial decision-making are applied.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • The role of people and human resources management within an organisation is discussed and defined.
  • The concept of human resource planning and staffing is discussed and explained.
  • The training, development and learning processes for employees are recognised and managed.
  • The management of labour relations in the workplace is discussed and understanding of the fundamentals of industrial action is demonstrated.
  • The concept of strategic leadership and human resource management is considered and explained.
  • The functions and roles of human resources and marketing management within the business environment are discussed.
  • The principles of Human Resource Management are applied in support of the business objectives.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • The concept of life skills is discussed and explained.
  • The importance of communication and the elements associated therewith are explained and own communication skills are evaluated.
  • The concepts of problem solving, decision making and conflict are described and a problem is analysed.
  • The nature of leadership is defined and explained and various leadership traits are considered and described.
  • The management of groups and diversity is discussed and the concepts are explained.
  • The measurement of performance and its relation to the service profit chain are discussed and explained.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Assessment of competence is done through a combination of formative and summative assessment methodologies, tools and procedures, which will not discriminate against learners in an unjust or invalid way.

    The purpose of assessment is to determine whether a learner has met the outcomes of the qualification in terms of theory and practice. Integrative techniques are therefore used to assess applied competence. Candidates should be required to demonstrate that they can perform the outcomes with understanding and insight. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    A Certificate in Business Management is a well-known and widely available international qualification, which is designed specifically to prepare entry-level learners for a career in the field of business management. Most of these qualifications are very flexible in their choice of modules or subjects, and they address contemporary issues such as social marketing, matrix organisations, project management and leadership. This is understood to be a result of the expansive field of business management that needs to be addressed to develop learners with the appropriate skills for careers in business management.

    This Higher Certificate in Business Management was compared with other Business Management / Leadership qualifications in United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States of America.

    United Kingdom: The Association of Business Executives (ABE).
    Course Title: Diploma in Business Management (Higher) - Level 5:
    Compulsory Units:
  • Financial Accounting
  • Human resource Management
  • Marketing Policy, Planning and communication
  • Organisational Behaviour
  • Quantitative Methods for Business Management
  • The Business Environment
    Optional Units (Choose 2):
  • Managing the Customer Relationship
  • Economics for Business
  • Principles of Business Law
  • Entrepreneurship and Business Development
  • Managerial Accounting

    The Association of Business Executives (ABE), Diploma in Business Management at Level 5, is compatible with this Higher Certificate. The subjects offered are very similar and cover the same type of subjects.

    Ireland: Grafton College - offers a Higher Certificate in Business in Management.
    Modules include:
  • Business Communication
  • Business Information Systems
  • Business Law
  • Business Mathematics
  • Economics
  • Financial Accounting
  • Management Accounting
  • Personal Development and Work Place Skills
  • Principles of Marketing
  • Statistics

    The Modules are geared towards the Irish Law and system of operating, but the overall content compares favourably with that of the South African qualification.

    United States of America: Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts.
    This Institution offers a series of Courses, equivalent to the NQF Level 5, for which a Certificate is awarded on completion of all the courses.
    Course Titles:
  • Applied Statistics
  • Competition in Telecommunications
  • Introduction to Financial and Managerial Accounting
  • Integrating e-Systems and Global Information Systems
  • Law for the Entrepreneur and Manager
  • Management Communication for Undergraduates
  • Managerial Psychology
  • Managerial Psychology Laboratory
  • Operations Management
  • Optimisation Methods in Management Science
  • Patents, Copyrights' and the Law of Intellectual Property
  • People and Organisations
  • Practical Information Technology Management
  • Systems Dynamics Self Study

    The Sloan School of Management courses compare favourably in content with the South African Higher Certificate Modules.

    Conclusion:
    Certificates in Business Management exist in many forms and permutations. However, the qualifications tend to share three characteristics, which are:
  • Articulation to cognate programmes at the higher levels;
  • A sharing of common outcomes in the field of business management;
  • Flexible programmes that allow for variety, choice and electives.

    It is noted that this South African qualification compares satisfactorily with those offered internationally. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:

    The qualification articulates horizontally with any cognate Higher Certificate at NQF Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:

    The qualification articulates vertically with any cognate Advanced Certificate or Diploma at NQF Level 6. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Assessors and moderators assessing or moderating a learner against this Qualification must be registered as an assessor and/or moderator with the relevant Quality Council.
  • Formative assessment will be conducted internally with internal moderation being done by registered moderators.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at the exit point of the Qualification. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    For an applicant to register as an assessor for this Qualification, the applicant should:
  • Hold a relevant qualification at least at NQF Level 6.
  • Have workplace experience in business management. 
    		•

    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. IQ Academy (previously known as Fernwood Business College) 


    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.