Diploma in Commerce in Business Management

Transcription

1 Diploma in Commerce in Business Management The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) The purpose of the Diploma is to develop the skills, knowledge and competence of graduates who aims to manage a small to medium business enterprise effectively and efficiently. This programme also provides graduates with the foundation for growth into management positions within larger business enterprises.. Students will gain sufficient depth of knowledge, together with practical skills through Work-Integrated Learning, to enable graduates to apply their learning in the workplace. The lack of adequate management and business management skills in South Africa plays an important role in the high failure rate in the SMME arena. This qualification will provide a very important and essential skills set to support national efforts to equip prospective business managers and entrepreneurs to produce better economic results. The programme focuses on the financial, economic and business management aspects of commerce, but includes important business related modules to ensure a balanced perspective of modern corporate business to inform the environment within which the graduates must operate and to ensure a well-rounded qualification.

2 Who is this Diploma aimed at? If you are looking for an innovative introduction into managing a business in the world of business then this qualification is for you. If you are interested in managing your own business or becoming a manager in a corporate company then choose this qualification. This Diploma equips students with core business principles and management skills to be able to work in and manage a small to medium size enterprise. Students not only acquire essential skills intended to enhance their own careers, they are also taught how to make a meaningful contribution to the strategic growth of any business or to one day manage their own business enterprises. What is this Diploma s accreditation status? The IIE s Diploma in Commerce in Business Management is accredited by the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and is registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA, ) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) as a 364-credit qualification on level 6 (SAQA ID: 84787). What entry requirements will I need to study this Diploma? You will need to have attained: A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with Diploma entry or A National Certificate (Vocational) (NC(V) with Diploma entry A Senior Certificate or A Higher Certificate or Advanced Certificate in a relevant area or The age of 23 before or during the first year of registration with three years work experience and proven ability relating to the programme as well as adequate communicative skills or The age of 45 before or during first year of registration Please note, requirements for entry to this qualification may change and the above academic requirements for entry apply to 2014 only. At the point of registration, please ensure that the entry requirements for 2015 have not changed. If you are a foreign student, you must ensure that: you have an equivalent qualification to the aforementioned; your equivalent qualification is evaluated by SAQA; you have a valid study permit issued in the name of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) that covers the duration of the qualification. The IIE is committed to the principles of lifelong learning and opening access to higher education. A student who transfers from one to another programme within The IIE, will be given credit at the discretion of the Senate for relevant modules successfully completed. This Diploma in Commerce in Business Management would thus allow articulation into existing and new programmes and the possibility of credit transfer of certain modules where applicable into other IIE qualifications.

3 Students who successfully complete the Diploma in Commerce in Business Management have the option to register for The IIE BCom degree or any of The IIE diploma programmes in a similar field. How is this Diploma structured at Varsity College? The Diploma in Commerce in Business Management is a three year programme and consists of 29 modules (364 credits). The modules are delivered on a full-time basis with lectures on Monday to Friday. The Diploma in Commerce in Business Management is offered over three years with two semesters each. Final examinations are written at the end of each semester. In addition to attending lectures you will be expected to spend time preparing for class or tests, conducting your own research and working on assignments. The Diploma in Commerce in Business Management mainly focuses on developing finance and management. These skills are supported by appropriate knowledge elements identified by industry as critical for graduates to inform the background against which they will be required to function successfully in a business environment. Support modules include economics and marketing which will assist students in mastering the discipline holistically, in the context of a variety of variable internal and external factors in the business environment and as such provide a balanced business context to inform the key disciplines. Furthermore, the first year accounting modules will provide a strong foundation upon which more comprehensive knowledge and applied competencies will be demonstrated in the Financial Management modules of the second and third years. The curriculum will contribute to the achievement of the intended outcomes by introducing students to the fundamental components of the study and then logically progress to cover the more complex elements in the discipline over the duration of the programme, to ensure logical progression and to facilitate the learning process. The work- integrated learning activities ensure that all modules in the programme are linked together by requiring the incorporation and application of various elements of all these modules in practice to successfully complete projects and to prepare students for the world of work What must I pass in order to graduate with this Diploma? In order to be awarded this qualification, you must have achieved a minimum final year mark of fifty percent (50%) for each module of the programme; and have met all the Work- Integrated Learning requirements.

4 What qualification will I obtain? When you graduate you will receive the Diploma in Commerce in Business Management conferred by The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). Career opportunities: what employment opportunities can I pursue after I have completed this Diploma? This Diploma will help address the national skills shortage and graduates will be equipped to take up positions as: Office administrators or managers Managers (variety of positions) Administrative personnel Business managers or trainee business managers Intrapreneurs Entrepreneurs In addition, it provides students access to higher education and to graduates of the programme an opportunity to further specialise in marketing or business. Websites for you to visit:

5 What will I study in this Diploma? CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS STARTING IN 2015 Diploma in Commerce in Business Management Full academic year (February November) YEAR ONE Business Calculations students with the foundational and practical knowledge of mathematical principles, concepts and methods needed by students to perform calculations for various business modules. Accounting 1 A This module covers the basic concepts and principles of Accounting. Students should gain a basic knowledge of the recording function up to the Trial Balance. The basic statutory requirements in a business environment will be addressed. Marketing 1 A students with an understanding of the theories, principles, processes and concepts of marketing in the business environment. Business Management 1 A the student with knowledge and understanding of the context of business, the nature of management and the role of business management in the world of work. This module reviews the different management activities, entrepreneurship, forms of small business and the business environment. Introduction to Personal Computing students with a basic knowledge of personal computers and how they operate. Students will demonstrate their ability to use the various features of different kinds of application software in any given business situation. Accounting 1 B students with basic knowledge and understanding of the foundational concepts and principles relating to the preparation and interpretation of accounting records up to financial statements, including the reconciliations, ledges, year-end procedures for sole traders and partnerships and incomplete records. Marketing 1 B students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to apply their acquired knowledge of the marketing principles and processes to create marketing plan. Business Management 1 B The purpose of this module is to deepen students' knowledge and understanding of the four main management activities as well as the various business functions.

6 Business Communication This module focuses on effective and professional communication in a business environment and requires students to apply communication theory to demonstrate the skills needed to present and communicate information reliably and appropriately. Employment Practices the student with the foundational knowledge of employment practices in the world of work, including basic conditions of employment

7 YEAR TWO Business Management 2 A The focus of this module is on the application of management activities. Economics A This module provides students with foundational knowledge of the nature and scope of microeconomics, the principles and theories of microeconomics and the different market mechanisms that affect market demand and supply. Advanced Spreadsheet Projects Students learn to use spreadsheets as a management tool to represent, analyse and report numbers and data in business for a variety of reasons, including supporting decision making in business. Financial Management 1 A In this module, students are required to apply their knowledge of accounting principles and concepts to make informed financial decisions within the business environment. This includes the interpretation of financial information that enables sound financial and investment decisions. Business Management 2 B The focus of this module is on the impact of the dynamics of the business environment on the application of management activities. Economics B This module provides students with knowledge of economics from a macroeconomic perspective. Students will gain comprehensive knowledge and understanding of markets, government policy, national economies and the factors influencing national economies. This module provides students with the wider perspective of economics as a whole within a national context. Introduction to Project Management This module provides the student with foundational and practical knowledge of Project Management, the characteristics of the main project phases and the tools used in project management. It further provides knowledge of the four phases of project management, from sourcing a viable project, planning resources and budgets, executing the project to closing the project by having the client sign off on the project. Financial Management 1 B This module will provide the student with foundational knowledge of the analysis of financial statements. This module also examines profit and loss analysis and the influence of sales, production and manufacturing, and related costs on profit and loss projections.

8 Consumer and Buyer Behaviour students with the foundational and practical knowledge of the nature and principles of consumer behaviour in marketing, the individual as a consumer as well as the influence of groups on consumer buyer behaviour. This module further provides the student with the opportunity to apply the principles of consumer buyer behaviour to advertising. Work-Integrated Learning Year 2 In this module students will be required to analyse a given case study and identify an aspect of the business that requires improvement or a different approach to function better. Students will then develop a plan to accomplish this and present it as a possible solution. Commercial Law This module provides students with the fundamentals of South African legislation as it applies to the business environment. Emphasis is on legal compliance and the legal implications of entering into contracts.

9 YEAR THREE Business Management 3 A the student with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of strategic management. The module will focus on strategic inputs, formulation and implementation of strategic actions. Financial Management 2 A In this module, students examine the management of business finance. Beyond the understanding of how business finance and profit and loss relate to business operations, they now focus on methods to control budgets, expenses and profit and loss. Quality Management This module provides students with a basic knowledge of quality management and introduces them to the methods and processes used for the improvement of quality and overall operational performance Risk Management This module develops in students the ability to measure and manage the different kinds of risks that modern enterprises face. To achieve this, students will plan and analyse the strategies, techniques and tools for managing corporate risk. Business Management 3 B the student with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of strategic management. The module will focus on strategic inputs, formulation and implementation of strategic actions. Financial Management 2 B This module focuses on stocks, shares and regulations relevant to companies and business entities for accounting purposes. It further explores financial strategy as part of the corporate strategy. Industrial Relations This module deals with the industrial relations role players and principles and practices of industrial relations within the South African context. Work-Integrated Learning Year 3 In this module students will partner with an NGO or NPO and analyse an aspect of its business. Identify an aspect of the business that may require improvement or a different approach to function better, or identify an opportunity for business growth. Students will then develop a well-motivated strategy to accomplish this and present it to the NGO partner. The NGO is not obliged to implement the plan.

10 TIMETABLES Our full time programmes are aimed at students wishing to dedicate themselves to full time face to face studies for the duration of their qualification. This means that students are expected to be available for classes during the morning and/or afternoon throughout the academic year depending on how the timetable is structured. Unfortunately, students are not necessarily able to select a morning or afternoon format to suit their personal circumstances. We absolutely encourage students to take up part-time employment outside of class time, weekends and in the evenings, but full-time students must prioritise their studies and avoid committing to work schedules until after they have received their timetables and academic calendar from the institution, to ensure that the two do not clash, with the understanding however, that their studies must still take priority over work, and that timetables remain subject to change throughout the year. While we strive to offer time efficient timetables (where classes are grouped together into the morning or the afternoon), we cannot guarantee that either format will necessarily be available for all programmes every semester. Where students are repeating modules, these modules may be offered in the evenings or weekends. Students are required to attend classes or, should the module be offered online or via distance, workshops may be provided. Students may also be required to write assessments or submit coursework or assignments outside of normal class-time. Work- Integrated Learning (WIL) The work- integrated learning activities ensure that all the key elements in the programme are linked together by requiring the incorporation of various elements of the programme to successfully complete projects. Students must complete the Work- Integrated Learning component to achieve the graduate requirements of this programme. Varsity College staff is available for career advice. Call your nearest campus to discuss your career options with one of our student advisors. VERSION September 2014