ACS ACADEMY | School of Technology

The National Certificate in IT: End User Computing - NQF Level 3, is designed to meet the needs of learners who require end user computing skills in all sectors of the economy, as End User Computing is an essential skill in any business today. The qualification is designed to accommodate both learners in formal education and learners already employed. It aims to develop informed and skilled learners that can apply the acquired skills in any industry and should contribute towards improved productivity and efficiency in the workplace.

The need for the qualification was highlighted by an IT sector study that was done and confirmed by ISETT SETA. The design of the qualification is unit standard based, to allow learners to qualify for a national qualification by accumulating the required credits via short learning programmes or workplace practical experience or both. It also allows learners to achieve the qualifications through recognition of prior learning, learnerships schemes or formal training.

The qualification at this level is foundational and generic, allowing maximum mobility between qualifications. Apart from the workplace needs the qualification will address, it is also designed as an entry-level qualification into most further education and training fields, because of the wide application of End User Computing in any environment. It will allow articulation into further qualifications in End User Computing or other IT qualifications, as well as entry into any other Further Education and Training where End User Computing is required. 

It is assumed that the learner is competent in skills gained at the further education and training band up to NQF level 2. Further learning assumed is that learners are competent in End User Computing at NQF level 1.

The assumed learning can be acquired in the traditional way of formal study as well as in the workplace. Acquiring the competencies in a workplace (either via formal learnerships or on-the-job training) has the potential of addressing the problems of the past, where formal qualifications were only obtainable by way of formal study.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Many of the competencies used in the IT profession has traditionally been acquired through short courses and on-the-job training, which did not provide formal recognition (at a national level) of the knowledge and skills acquired. These competencies are still today viewed by most industries as invaluable but there is no national recognition. The nature of the IT field means that competence is developed experientially, therefore the assessment processes should recognise experience versus theoretical knowledge. Recognition of prior learning will now allow learners with these valuable competencies to be assessed and recognised formally.

Any learner wishing to be assessed may arrange to do so without having to attend any formal training. For recognition of prior learning the learner will be required to submit a portfolio of evidence of relevant experience, in a prescribed format, to be assessed for formal recognition. The assessor and learner will decide jointly on the most appropriate assessment procedures, subject to the assessment rules of the relevant ETQA. Learning assumed to be in place must be assessed by the assessor prior to any assessment relating to this qualification.