NQF Level 2: National Certificate: Production Technology
SAQA QUAL ID – 58781
Purpose:
The combination of learning outcomes that comprise this qualification will provide the qualifying learner with vocational knowledge and skills appropriate to the context of production technology.
This qualification provides learners with the range of learning and skills required to be able to perform a series of activities to support manufacturing, engineering and technology processes. Learners will acquire a range of skills in the identification of production parameters in manufacturing, engineering and technology industries and basic strategies to achieve them.
The qualifying learner will be able to:
Communicate production and manufacturing related operational information to a variety of end users
Optimise organisational structures, functions and processes in order to contribute to achieving production specifications
Maintain a safe and healthy work environment through contributions made to production activities individually and in working groups
Demonstrate an understanding of production technology practices, terminology and systems as applied in manufacturing, engineering and technology
Apply quality standards and procedures in production activities
This qualification is the first qualification in a pathway of three (3) qualifications for learners in the production technology environment.
Rationale:
As a result of an increased need for efficient and quality production processes in the manufacturing, engineering and technology field, the demand for production technology competencies has become more evident.
This qualification contributes to the industries in manufacturing and related fields which will allow learners who achieve the qualification to contribute and function in areas such as production processes, systems and maintenance, quality and occupational health and safety. Learners who will typically embark on this qualification are individuals who have an interest in a career in production technology. The production technology competencies incorporated in this qualification can also be offered as support skills programmes to incumbents in any other manufacturing, engineering and technology field qualifications.
This qualification will add value to a specific manufacturing, engineering and technology context by complementing contexts specific qualifications within these sectors. The supportive relationship between occupational qualifications and this suite of qualifications is embedded in the inclusion of production technology competencies that have previously not been included in mainstream production, manufacturing and technological qualifications in order to address these identified gaps.
The qualifications available in production technology are either provider-based qualifications or national qualifications at NQF Level 5. There are no lower level qualifications that allow a learner access into this specific discipline. These qualifications have therefore been designed in such a way to firstly, facilitate the building of a pool of people that can choose a career in a production, engineering, manufacturing field and secondly, to allow any of the manufacturing and related qualifications to utilise the production technology qualifications as entry qualifications in these industries, since they would include the production technology competencies that these industries require; Thirdly, the qualifying learner will also gain access to further learning as a supervisor or in a managerial position within this specific production environment; and lastly, therefore have a learning pathway to access higher education programmes in this discipline.
This qualification will facilitate the formalising, recognition and strengthening of a historically neglected discipline that will be able to contribute towards efficient, effective, healthy, safe and productive manufacturing, engineering and technology environments, through encompassing applied knowledge, skills, attitudes and values.
NQF Level 2: National Certificate: Wholesale and Retail Distribution
SAQA QUAL ID – 49280
Purpose:
The purpose of this Certificate is to equip learners to understand and acquaint themselves with the underlying principles of all of the major areas related to distribution within the Wholesale & Retail sector, thus enabling them to become more effective employees. The Certificate further aims to provide career paths through various levels and areas of the Wholesale and Retail environment thus promoting the notion of quality lifelong learning. By assisting in the development of competence in the Wholesale and Retail field (arguably one of the bigger, more labour intensive and therefore important arenas for social and economic transformation in the country), this Certificate will provide a stepping-stone for further learning in the Further Education and Training Band.
The Certificate in Wholesale and Retail Distribution, NQF Level 2, is designed to meet the needs of the learners who are already employed and involved in Wholesale, Distribution or Mail Order Retail within the Wholesale and Retail field. Additionally, however, it may also allow access to, and meet the needs and aspirations of the youth and unemployed who wish to pursue a career in these areas, or in fields where this learning may be useful. This furthermore includes adult learners who want to enter the arena or develop their careers in one or more of the related sub-fields. As this Certificate may form part of a learning pathway it may allow mobility to persons operating at any level in the field.
This Certificate provides learners with a grounding in all areas of Distribution. This may enable them not only to increase their productivity within the Wholesale and Retail Sector but also to apply their learning in various other business environments.
Rationale:
This qualification reflects some of the needs of the Wholesale and Retail sector both now and in the future as it developed following much discussion with Wholesalers, Distribution Centres and Mail Order Houses. There is presently no Qualification available for employees at Level 2 in all three areas of the sector and there is great synergy between the needs of the three areas. As a result, based on specific needs expressed, the Certificate in Wholesale and Retail Distribution was developed. The impact of this Certificate on society and the economy is reflected in the multiple job roles and careers within three distinct arenas that can stem from the qualification.
The added value of the skills, knowledge and understanding developed by the Certificate will result in greater productivity resulting from the improved performance by the learner, due to the integration of the learning which may have taken place in the workplace.
NQF Level 2: National Certificate: New Venture Creation
SAQA QUAL ID – 49648
Purpose:
The purpose of the NQF level 2 New Venture Creation qualification is to provide a qualification that can form the basis for structured programmes for potential and existing entrepreneurs to capitalise on opportunities to start and grow sustainable businesses that form part of the mainstream economy, enabling the learners to tender for business opportunities within both the public and private sectors. This qualification is designed for learners who intend to set up or have already set up own ventures. Assessment of the competencies and knowledge in the qualification needs to be done in the context of the learner’s own new venture.
Research has indicated that people working with their own new ventures at this level need the following competencies:
- Acquisition of an entrepreneurial profile which includes an innovation orientation
- An understanding of the industry/sector in which they wish to establish a new venture
- An ability to match new venture opportunities to market needs within a chosen industry/sector
- An ability to determine and manage the financial requirements of a new venture
- An ability to match new venture opportunities to market needs
- An ability to compile and utilise a business plan to manage a new venture and also where relevant, to seek funding for a new venture
Rationale:
The future of South Africa’s economy does not just lie in the formal sector, but within the informal SMME sector too. This is a growing part of South Africa’s economy and requires substantial focus from a developmental perspective. Following the success of the implementation of the National Certificate: New Venture Creation (NVC): Level 4 and upon doing further research, it has been established that there is a great demand to equip entrepreneurial learners with knowledge and skills at NQF level 2 so that they can become part of the mainstream economy as they set up and manage new ventures. Whilst the complexity of learning will be simpler at this level, the main outputs, requirements and competences of such entrepreneurs are broadly the same.
The small business sector is growing and it is in light of this that various stakeholders have taken the initiative to provide mentorship programmes that will assist budding entrepreneurs to become a more integral part of the mainstream economy, serving both the public and private sectors. Apart from the formative development that can take place via these programmes, it also provides more importantly for sustainable development.
Thus the design and establishment of an entrepreneurship qualification aims to:
Develop appropriate skills and knowledge for the establishment and development of an enterprise.
Address the economic/administrative and behavioural barriers that contribute to failures in starting and sustaining an enterprise.
Create long-term solutions for job creation and SMME development via the building blocks and structure of a qualification that practically addresses the learning requirements of budding entrepreneurs.
NQF Level 2: Contact Centre Support
SAQA QUAL ID – 49648
Purpose:
Any individual who are or wish to be involved in the Contact Centre industry, will have access to this qualification. It also serves as the entry qualification into Contact Centre operations and management. This qualification will be registered at NQF Level 2. Portability across both areas of specialisation is therefore ensured.
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 learner`s job. This qualification is intended to enhance the provision of entry level service within the Contact Centre Industry.
Rationale:
The National Qualification in Contact Centre Support: Level 2 is designed to meet the needs of those learners who enter the field of Contact Centres. Contact Centres have become key business tools – integral to the way organisations achieve their business objectives. Contact Centres are a new industry – there is a need to develop career paths in this field, and it is a high growth industry constantly in need of skilled people.
The Contact Centre industry is also fast becoming the next knowledge worker industry. All Contact Centres are currently recruiting, training and performance managing agents. Currently Call Centres sit inside of existing organisations within larger Industries, i.e. Banking, Insurance, PAY-TV.
The Contact Centre National Certificate at NQF Level 2 will provide the broad knowledge and skills needed in the industry and to progress along a career path for learners who:
Were previously disadvantaged or who were unable to complete their schooling and were therefore denied access to Further Education and Training.
Have worked in Contact Centres for many years, but have no formal qualification in Contact Centre Support.
Wish to extend their range of skills and knowledge of the industry so that they can become competent workers in Contact Centres.
The National Certificate in Contact Centre Support: Level 2 allows the learner to work towards a nationally recognised whole qualification. The qualification will allow both those in formal education and those already employed in Contact Centre organisations access, due to its flexibility.
The qualification has building blocks that can be developed further and will lead to a more defined Contact Centre career path at various NQF levels. It also focuses on the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes required to progress further. The intention is:
To promote the development of knowledge and skills that are required in Contact Centres.
To release the potential of people.
To provide opportunities for people to move up the value chain.
Many different roles and careers are linked to and affected by this qualification. They include, but are not limited to:
- Sales Managers
- Contact Centre Managers
- Sales Representatives
- National Account Managers
- Key Account Managers
- Channel Managers
- Contact Centre/Call Centre Supervisors
- General Managers
- Administration Staff
- Category Managers
- Telesales Clerks
- Sales Directors
- Client Services Clerks
- Quality Assurance Staff
- Contact Centre/Call Centre Agents
- IT Staff
The National Certificate in Contact Centre Support: Level 2, should produce knowledgeable, skilled people who are able to contribute to improved productivity and efficiency within the Contact Centre industry. It should provide the means for current individuals in the Contact Centre field to receive recognition of prior learning and to upgrade their skills and knowledge base. The qualification is structured in such a way that it exposes individuals to a set of core competences to give a broad understanding of Contact Centre support operations and the electives, which will allow for a specialisation of competence in either a commercial or an emergency environment. It will also promote the notion of life-long learning.
NQF Level 2: National Certificate: Specialist Hygiene and Cleaning Services
SAQA QUAL ID – 49648
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this Qualification is to develop the foundational, practical and reflexive competencies in an individual, required for a career in the Hygiene and Cleaning Services Industry and to positively impact on social and economic transformation.
Central to the Qualification is the development of a culture of quality service and professionalism in the Hygiene and Cleaning Services Industry. This Qualification intends to produce employable cleaners/team leaders who can find gainful employment in the cleaning industry. This will also achieve the objectives of the NQF.
Credits gained at one level in this Qualification will be transferable throughout the system, giving the learner the opportunity of building up credits towards additional Qualifications in a related field (e.g. Hospitality, Health Care or Manufacturing), or a related branch of cleaning (e.g. Industrial or Textile Cleaning
The credits reflect the practical and theoretical education and training aspects of the Qualification.
Rationale:
The scoping exercise that was undertaken, clearly indicated the need for a Qualification and incorporated Unit Standards that will allow employees in the Hygiene and Cleaning Services Industry to obtain Qualifications and / or standards at NQF Level 2. This Qualification will afford learners, who have attained the GETC: Domestic Services and the National Certificate in Hygiene and Cleaning Services at NQF level 1, the opportunity to develop further along this career pathway.
This Qualification is needed to transform the Hygiene and Cleaning Services Industry by:
Promoting and continually improving a professional image
By instilling a culture of awareness of a clean environment that will improve the quality of life for all South Africans
Creating environmental awareness / consciousness
Adding value to the worker, society and the economy
The Qualification aims to add value to learners by:
Allowing employees within the industry to identify a career path within the Hygiene and Cleaning Industry
Developing further skills in terms of practicing professional team leader abilities
Developing a sense of pride amongst employees for their jobs and their industry
Developing a better understanding of the industry amongst employees
Enhancing a code of ethics inclusive of viable and sustainable environmental management practices
Providing consistent quality and safety standards
Educating clients about hygiene, for the purpose of using “best practice” cleaning methods.
