PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION
The cognitive and conceptual tools and practical techniques which are incorporated in this Higher Certificate: Office Administration will equip students to advance their qualifications in higher education and to provide them with the basic business management skills needed to be employed and to progress in business administration. In addition the inclusion of the module Experiential Learning provides the student with the basic practical knowledge which can be applied in the workplace.
The purpose of this Higher Certificate: Office Administration is to equip students with foundational knowledge and skills to either be employed in a small business or a large corporation. This qualification provides a broad introductory understanding of the establishment and management of a business, incorporating the following skills:
- Administration and management support skills.
- Communication skills.
- The skills to be employed in a computerized environment.
- Related vocational skills.
This Higher Certificate: Office Administration having both a practical and a theoretical foundation, seeks to equip students to undertake administrative and management support functions in the increasingly computerized environment of a business office. The qualification provides a foundation for functioning in any business environment and provides essential skills that will complement a number of alternative career choices.
Rationale:
In designing the Higher Certificate: Office Administration at NQF Level 5, priority was given to the needs of the South African economy and the demand for qualified office administrators. This programme will benefit society as both the generic and specialisation components of the programme are required skills in business and are incorporated in the job titles as published in the “Scarce Skills List” published by the Department of Labour during 2007 and subsequently updated. This programme also takes into account the need for computer literacy in the South African Economy and the increasingly computerized environment that a business operates within, both in South Africa and globally.
This programme has been developed to meet the NQF objectives as it offers the student knowledge and applied competence including the basic skills required for employment in a range of professional administrative positions in the business environment. This qualification also creates a pathway for successful candidates who did not initially meet the admission criteria for entry into diploma studies to continue with further studies at successive levels of the NQF. The programme development requires students to develop the ability to apply problem solving and decision making skills, collect and organize information for specified purposes, perform appropriate administrative tasks to support a given process, use appropriate office technology to complete tasks and work effectively in a team or within a group. The inclusion of interpersonal skills directly addresses the personal development of each student. The didactic approach of this programme is based on exposing the student to a practical approach to learning supported by a strong theoretical basis. This means that all assessments will focus on both the theoretical and practical evaluation of student’s work.
On completion of this programme, students will be employable as administrators in small and medium organisations, or in entry level positions in large organizations. As such they can be employed as:
- Receptionists.
- Secretaries.
- General office administrators.
- Managers’ Personal Assistants.
- Events coordinators/administrators.
- Virtual Personal Assistants.
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES
- Demonstrate effective use of a personal computer and associated equipment and software packages:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> End User Computing A (ENUCF010).
> End User Computing C (ENUC030).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Apply the basic principles of business management in a business environment:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Business Management 1 A (BUMA121).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Apply mathematical skills in a business environment:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Business Calculations (BUCAx111).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Communicate effectively and professionally in a business environment:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Business Communications C (BUCO020).
> Interpersonal Skills (New).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Explain the role and function of the Internet in a business environment:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> End User Computing A.
> End User Computing C.
> Information Management (New).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Explain the role and value of administration to support management functions in a business context:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Office Administration (New).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Explain the importance of, role and function of public relations in a business to support the effective management of a business:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Introduction to PR(New).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Explain the importance of, role and function of human resources relations in a business to support the effective management of a business:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Introduction to Human Resources (NEW).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Apply typing and writing skills to record minutes and information accurately and fulfil general office administration requirements:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Typing and Dicta-typing (New).
> Speedwriting (New).
> Office Administration (New).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Explain and use interpersonal skills to relate to others and build working relationships:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Interpersonal Skills (New).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
- Explain the importance of Information and how it is managed in a business environment:
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
> Information Management (New).
- Modules in which this Outcome is to be achieved:
Higher Certificate in Office Administration
| DURATION | 3 Years |
| SAQA QUAL ID’ | 73371 |
| NQF Level | 05 |
| QUALIFICATION TYPE | Higher Certificate |
| MINIMUM CREDITS | 133 |