Further Education & Training Certificate: Business Administration – 61595

Learners should be competent in the following:

• Communication at Level 3
• Mathematical Literacy at Level 3
• Computer Literacy at Level 3, or the equivalent thereof

The National Certificate in Business Administration Services: NQF Level 4 is designed to meet the needs of those learners both employed or unemployed, who are already involved or wish to become involved in the field of Administration.

Administration is an essential field of learning as Administration competencies apply to all industries and to many non-commercial ventures such as sports/recreation clubs, religious groups, etc. This means that there is an on-going need for skilled Administrative people to carry out these functions both in the commercial and non-commercial sectors. There is also a need to develop career paths in this field so as to offer people involved in Administration the opportunity to continue with a programme of life-long learning, which will make them knowledgeable and skilled employees with enhanced employment opportunities. 

The National Certificate in Business Administration Services: Level 4 is a generic Qualification which offers Administrative knowledge and skills to learners who: 

• Have attained the National Certificate in Business Administration: Level 3 and wish to continue on a path of life-long learning in Administration 
• Were previously disadvantaged or who were unable to complete their schooling and were therefore denied access to Further Education and Training 
• Have worked in Administration for many years, but have no formal Qualifications in their area of expertise 
• Wish to extend their range of skills and knowledge of Administration so that they can become knowledge workers 
• Are contracted in a learnership agreement 
• Have recently taken up a position in Administration 
• Have not yet acquired the skills and competencies required for learning in Administration at NQF level 5. 

The skills, knowledge, values and attitudes reflected in the Qualification are building blocks that will be developed further in Level 5. The intention is: 

• To promote the development of knowledge and skills that are required for the efficient performance of Administrative functions in any commercial or non-commercial environment 
• To release the potential of people. 
• To provide opportunities for people to move up the value chain. 

The Core Component of the Qualification offers the learner knowledge and skills in the Management of Records, Comprehension of written and verbal texts, Business Writing, Problem Solving, Ethics, Cultural Awareness, Self-Management and Self-Development, Project Teamwork and Business Policies and Procedures. The Qualification through its Elective Component enables the learner to specialise in areas of Administration such as Reception, Executive Administration, Financial Literacy, Relationship Management, Legal Knowledge, Communication, Project Administration and Support, Call Centre Administration and Human Resources. 

Learners working towards this Qualification will find that the acquisition of competence in the Unit Standards, which make up the Qualification, will add value to their jobs. This Qualification is intended to enhance the provision of service within the field of Administration within all business and non-commercial sectors. The Qualification ensures progression of learning, enabling the learner to meet standards of service excellence required within the Administration field of learning, through building day-to-day Administration skills as well as general operational competencies. It will provide the broad knowledge, skills and values needed in the Administration field for all business and non-commercial sectors and will facilitate access to, and mobility and progression within, education and training.

• On achieving this Qualification, the learner will be able to: 
  1. Have knowledge of the procedures for stock and fixed asset control and be able to: 
  • Apply such knowledge and maintain the appropriate registers
  • Ensure that employees have the resources they need on an on-going basis through efficiently ordering and distributing stationery and other requirements. 
  1. Develop Administrative systems together with other employees to: 
  • Control and keep all information required by the organisation up to date
  • Ensure the confidentiality of information
  • Control the availability of resources information
  • Develop administrative procedures relating to the systems and to write them into a manual for use by other employees. 
  1. Improve organisational effectiveness, by being able to: 
  • Manage all Administration records him/herself
  • Assist others in the organisation to do so 
  1. Present information that is routinely and regularly required, as well as specific information that is requested from time-to-time: 
  • Appropriate report format
  • On time
  • Using listening, reading and writing skills. 
  1. The learner will also be able to: 
  • Identify information sources to be able to quickly access information when it is required
  • Liaise with clients (internal and external) to verify that the format used for reports serves the purpose
  • Make amendments to report format and writing style, if necessary. 
  1. Manage service providers in that the learner will be able to: 
  • Identify appropriate service providers
  • Institute the appropriate provisioning procedures to secure the service of providers
  • Draw up contracts for the provision of services and goods by suppliers
  • Monitor the delivery of the service and/or goods in terms of quality, quantity and time schedules for delivery
  • Take appropriate action when service providers fail to deliver as agreed. 
  1. Be an effective employee in the Administrative section of an organisation by being able to: 
  • Plan and organise own work
  • Establish and maintain sound working relationships
  • Comply with the organisation`s ethics and code of conduct
  • Maintain files and records as required
  • Set personal goals and develop and manage him/herself in a business context. 
  1. Be aware of how fraud can be present in an office environment and assisting in its control by: 
  • Knowing what types of fraud can exist in an office environment
  • Being aware of the legal and organisational implications surrounding fraud and either reporting it or failing to report it
  • Analysing trends and the impact of fraud in the organisation/sector
  • Being able to describe and be part of the implementation of fraud control measures as they relate to the level of authority of the learner. 
  1. Display Cultural awareness in dealing with customers and colleagues and utilising the differences in a positive way to enhance the effectiveness and image of the organisation. 
  1. Identify and solve work related problems together with others in the section so as to: 
  • Improve the working climate in the administration department
  • Aid the effectiveness of the organisation 
  • Apply efficient time management processes, procedures and techniques to:
  • Improve his/her productivity
  • Assist others in the administrative section to do likewise 
  1. Be an effective member of a team and be able to: 
  • Cooperate with others to carry out joint tasks
  • Apply sophisticated teamwork skills
  • Utilise diversity to its fullest capacity. 
  1. Become a knowledge worker and be able to: 
  • Monitor the media (newspapers, television, radio and magazines) and identify articles/news clips, etc. that are applicable to Administration and/or the sector in which he/she works and see their implication for his/her organisation.
  • Realise that he/she and his/her organisation are part of a larger system that is interdependent and dependant on other sectors
  • Conduct basic research projects in relation to the Administrative function.

This qualification requires a total of 140 credits as listed below:

The Fundamental Component consists of 56 Unit Standards in: 

• • Mathematical Literacy at Level 4 to the value of 16 credits.
  • Communication at Level 4 in a First South African Language to the value of 20 credits.

• Communication in a Second South African Language at Level 3 to the value of 20 credits.

It is compulsory for learners to do communication in 2 different South African languages, one at NQF level 3 and one at NQF level 4

Core: all 73 credits.

Learners are to achieve Unit Standards to the minimum of 11 credits.