The purpose of the qualification is to build knowledge and skill required by employees in collective investment scheme who have had schooling at or below NQF level 4. It is intended to empower learners to acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to operate confidently as individuals in the South African community and to respond to the challenges of the economic environment and changing world of work in the financial services industry.
As a qualification that covers collective investment schemes and insurance related learning, it provides a framework for learners to develop competencies that will give them insight into the financial services industry in general. It includes a basic study of the financial services industry and the collective investment schemes sub sector. It introduces a basic understanding of the key terms, rules, concepts and principles of the field that will enable learners to be informed workers in the industry. It provides a balanced learning experience that allows flexible access to life long learning, higher education and to productive employment in a range of occupational contexts within the financial services industry. It provides an opportunity for learners to learn and apply academic skills in relation to the workplace and will allow for multi-skilling.
The National Certificate in Collective investment scheme: Level 4 is intended for personnel employed in the collective investment schemes / investment and financial services industries. The focus is on basic information gathering, analysis, presentation and the ability to apply knowledge of the field to solve routine problems within given frameworks.
Qualifying learners are capable of:
Carrying out basic research, information gathering and analysis.
Relating needs and wants to the development and selection of collective investment schemes products.
Interpreting current affairs and their influence on the collective investment schemes industry.
Managing risk in their own lives.
Operating a computer for business purposes.
Depending on the unit standards selected as electives, the learner will become competent in basic skills relating to:
Use of word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software.
Call centres
Sales and marketing
Financial Services related legislation
Risk in financial services.
These unit standards are intended to develop building blocks for the further development of skills that will make the learner a more fulfilled, informed, efficient and cost effective worker in the industry. This should result, in turn, in more effective and efficient service to the consumer and should make the industry more competitive in the global market.
Rationale for the qualification
The National Certificate in Collective investment schemes: Level 4 is designed to meet the needs of people who work in financial services call centres and sales, marketing and management within the Collective investment scheme sub sector. It provides a broad introduction to the collective investment schemes industry and is the first step on a career path for learners who:
Have attained the National Certificate in Insurance: Level 3 and wish to continue on a path of life-long learning.
Were previously disadvantaged or who were unable to complete their schooling and were therefore denied access to Further Education and Training.
Have worked in the collective investment schemes sub sector for many years, but have no formal qualifications in collective investment scheme.
Wish to extend their range of skills and knowledge of the industry so that they can become knowledge workers in the industry.
Are in a learnership in the collective investment schemes sub sector.
Have recently taken up a position in the collective investment schemes sub sector.
The National Certificate in Collective investment schemes: Level 4 allows the individual to work towards a nationally recognised qualification. It is flexible enough to accommodate both learners in formal education and learners already employed in the collective investment schemes sub sector or in the insurance sector that invests extensively in collective investment schemes. It aims to develop informed and skilled learners in the collective investment schemes and insurance sector. The qualification at this level is the start of a career path in collective investment scheme, but is still generic enough to allow maximum mobility between the different sub-sectors of the financial services industry. Learning paths are not strongly indicated although the electives selected will indicate an interest in a possible learning pathway in call centres, sales, marketing or management at level 5.
The intention is:
To promote the development of knowledge and skills that are required in the collective investment schemes and insurance sub-sectors of the insurance industry.
To release the potential of people.
To provide opportunities for people to move up the value chain.
To provide opportunities for people in financial services who work with collective investment schemes.
Learners already employed in the collective investment schemes sub sector and insurance at this level do work that requires a well-developed knowledge of investment products and techniques and a range of skills. Many of the work roles are linked to sales and financial advice. The qualification therefore includes unit standards that require competence in the sales function.
They include, but are not limited to:
Internal Broker Consultants
Brokers
Pension Fund Administrators
Client Service providers
Insurance/Collective investment schemes Call Centre agents
Intermediaries
Marketing and sales agents
The National Certificate in Collective investment schemes: Level 4 should produce knowledgeable, multi-skilled workers who are able to contribute to improved productivity and efficiency within the financial services industry in general and the collective investment schemes sub sector in particular. It should provide the means for current workers to receive recognition of prior learning and to upgrade their skills. It should also assist new entrants to the industry. The qualification is structured in a way that exposes learners to different kinds of investments with a view to enabling them to make an informed choice of a career path linked to financial investments. It is anticipated that this qualification will promote the notion of life long learning. |
Note that the majority of the credits relate directly to collective investment scheme and insurance and the remainder are from financial services related fields. The qualification is made up unit standards at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Motivation for number of credits assigned to fundamental, core and elective
Fundamental credits
SAQA stipulates that at least 36 credits are allocated to Communication and Mathematical Literacy. For the purpose of this qualification 10 credits are also required for Financial Literacy at level 4. Although this is not a SAQA requirement, the industry believes that if learners are to function in a field that manages people`s money, they should be able to manage their own money. This means that 46 credits are allocated to fundamental and will add value to learners both socially and economically in terms of:
Their ability to manage their own finances.
Their ability to operate as literate and numerate workers in a global economy.
Their ability to be informed consumers of the financial services industry.
An awareness of the need to avoid the debt spiral that undermines the economy of South Africa.
At this level decisions are based on management of own finances including responsibility for dependents and finances of a small business or organisation.
Core
Fifty-eight credits have been allocated to unit standards designated as core for the purpose of this qualification. This is to ensure that the qualification has a strong collective investment schemes and insurance sub-sector focus. The Unit Standards classified as Core describe THE BIG PICTURE. They answer the question, What is the financial services sector in general and the collective investment schemes industry in particular all about? They provide an opportunity to develop knowledge of the industry through research and the application of study skills. They introduce learners to collective investment schemes and other investment instruments. The core unit standards provide the basic knowledge and skills that workers in financial services in general need to know about collective investment schemes as an investment. They also promote personal development that will enable learners to make informed decisions about their own investments.
Electives
Learners are required to select electives that add up to at least 16 credits. There are insurance/investment unit standards at level 3, 4 and 5 in this category. It is anticipated that additional unit standards will be written by the year 2003 when the qualification is reviewed. The insurance sub-sector unit standards in this section generally carry 2, 3 or 4 credits each. Additional unit standards from financial services may be added to the list of electives as soon as they are registered.
Four end-user computing standards are included in this category as there are very few positions in the industry that do not require the use of a computer. One unit standard at level 2 on the use of the World Wide Web is included as an elective as the use of Internet is essential in the collective investment schemes sub sector in particular and financial services in general.
There are unit standards for communication at level 2 to 4 that have been registered by NSB 04. This qualification makes provision for learners to demonstrate competence in communication in a South African language other than the language of business to be offered as an insurance/investment related elective at level 3 or above as part of the National Certificate in Collective investment scheme: Level 4. It is assumed that the language of business is probably English. The other official languages are Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, IsiZulu and sign language. The selection of an additional official language should be based on the language(s) of the people who are the target market of the industry in a selected area, provided that:
The language has not been offered under fundamental.
The learner has not already received credit for the language at the same level in the National Certificate in Insurance Administration: Level 3.
Only one language from the Nguni group may be offered as either elective or fundamental.
Only one language from the Sotho group may be offered as either elective or fundamental.
This reflects the multi-lingual nature of South African society and acknowledges the fact that the largest untapped market for investment products is in the Black community. Ability to communicate in more than one South African language is an advantage in many roles within the sector. The inclusion of an additional official South African language in collective investment schemes qualifications will lead to better customer service in a growing market sector.
Unit Standards from NSB 07: SGB Democracy, Human Rights and Peace Education may be included in this qualification once they are registered. This will contribute to the personal and social development of the learner and enable them to function as informed members of a democratic society.
In addition, unit standards from sales, marketing, management, accounting, call centres and other related financial services sub sectors may be included as electives to ensure relevance of the qualification to people in different positions in the sub-sector. |
|
ID |
UNIT STANDARD TITLE |
PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL |
NQF LEVEL |
CREDITS |
Core |
8990 |
Describe collective investment schemes |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
2 |
Core |
9001 |
Explain basic transactions in the collective investment industry |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
2 |
Core |
9000 |
Indicate how collective investment scheme portfolios are reported |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
2 |
Core |
8994 |
Manage risk in own life |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
3 |
Core |
8999 |
Outline the structure of the collective investment industry |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
2 |
Core |
8986 |
Research the history of the Financial Services Industry in South Africa |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
10 |
Core |
12182 |
Analyse new developments reported in the media that could impact on the collective investment industry |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
10 |
Core |
12166 |
Demonstrate knowledge and insight into the Collective Investment Schemes Act, 45 of 2003 (CICSA) |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
2 |
Core |
12165 |
Demonstrate knowledge and insight into the Unit Trust Control Act (1981 amended 1988) |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
2 |
Core |
12164 |
Demonstrate knowledge and insight of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS) (Act 37 of 2002) |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
2 |
Core |
12181 |
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic investment techniques |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
2 |
Core |
12170 |
Describe different types of equity based investments |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
3 |
Core |
12171 |
Describe different types of interest bearing investments and compare these to equities |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
3 |
Core |
12180 |
Describe the sales function in a Collective Investment Scheme Manager |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
4 |
Core |
12183 |
Indicate how different needs lead to the development of different investment products |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
5 |
Core |
7468 |
Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business, national and international issues |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
6 |
Fundamental |
9302 |
Access information in order to respond to client enquiries in a financial services environment |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
2 |
Fundamental |
8968 |
Accommodate audience and context needs in oral communication |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Fundamental |
8971 |
Analyse and respond to a variety of literary texts |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Fundamental |
9303 |
Communicate verbally with clients in a financial environment |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
3 |
Fundamental |
8972 |
Interpret a variety of literary texts |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Fundamental |
8969 |
Interpret and use information from texts |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Fundamental |
8973 |
Use language and communication in occupational learning programmes |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Fundamental |
8970 |
Write texts for a range of communicative contexts |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Fundamental |
9015 |
Apply knowledge of statistics and probability to critically interrogate and effectively communicate findings on life related problems |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
6 |
Fundamental |
10389 |
Describe the basic principles of personal income tax |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
3 |
Fundamental |
10385 |
Develop a business plan for a small business |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
5 |
Fundamental |
8974 |
Engage in sustained oral communication and evaluate spoken texts |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
5 |
Fundamental |
8977 |
Evaluate literary texts |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
5 |
Fundamental |
10388 |
Interpret basic financial statements |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
3 |
Fundamental |
10386 |
Investigate the possibilities of establishing and running a small business enterprise (SMME) |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
3 |
Fundamental |
10387 |
Investigate ways of managing financial risk in own lives |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
6 |
Fundamental |
8978 |
Motivate judgements on selected literary texts |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
5 |
Fundamental |
8975 |
Read analyse and respond to a variety of texts |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
5 |
Fundamental |
9016 |
Represent analyse and calculate shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional space in different contexts |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
4 |
Fundamental |
8979 |
Use language and communication in occupational learning programmes |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
5 |
Fundamental |
7468 |
Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business, national and international issues |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
6 |
Fundamental |
8976 |
Write for a wide range of contexts |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
5 |
Elective |
7573 |
Demonstrate ability to use the World Wide Web |
Level 2 |
NQF Level 02 |
3 |
Elective |
7567 |
Produce and use spreadsheets for business |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Elective |
7575 |
Produce presentation documents for business |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Elective |
7570 |
Produce word processing documents for business |
Level 3 |
NQF Level 03 |
5 |
Elective |
12168 |
Analyse the Financial Services industry and the role of insurance in a business environment |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
9 |
Elective |
12167 |
Demonstrate knowledge and insight into the Capital Gains Tax Legislation as it applies to insurance and investment |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
2 |
Elective |
14315 |
Demonstrate knowledge and insight into the Income Tax Act (58 of 1962 and the accompanying regulations) as amended as it applies to insurance and investment products |
Level 4 |
NQF Level 04 |
2 |
Elective |
12185 |
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of risk in a financial services environment |
Level 5 |
Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 |
5 |