WHAT IS THE COURSE ABOUT?

AND INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE

ADMINISTRATIONHNC/HND

This course reflects the increasingly important role that administration and information technology play in today’s business environment.

This course will provide you with a broad range of office based skills and knowledge required for a career in office administration. You will develop specialist skills in IT, desktop publishing, communication, presentation and projects.

The Higher National Certificate (HNC) is studied part time over two years. The Higher National Diploma (HND) is studied full time over two years. Both qualifications provide excellent career opportunities in a range of business and IT environments.

WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?• Typically a minimum of 32

UCAS points

• BTEC Level 3 Diploma

Substantive work experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications. Mature students (21 years of age or over) without evidence of the above qualifications but with relevant experience, will be required to demonstrate enthusiasm and aptitude for higher-level study.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: UCAS points/BTEC Level 3 Diploma STUDY MODE: Full/Part Time DURATION: 1 or 2 YearsASSESSMENT: Coursework PROGRESSION: Employment in an Administrative/Senior Admin/Managerial Role or Degree Study

WHAT SUBJECTS WILL I STUDY?YEAR 1IT IN BUSINESS – WORD PROCESSING AND PRESENTATION APPLICATIONSThis unit will provide an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge of word processing and presentation packages to aid business communication. This unit will be relevant to candidates who envisage a career in administration with a particular focus on document production and presentation.

IT IN BUSINESS – SPREADSHEETSThis unit introduces features and functions of a spreadsheet for practical and effective use in an office environment. It is relevant to candidates wishing to develop their knowledge of spreadsheets.

IT IN BUSINESS – DATABASESThis unit will enable you to develop an understanding of complex database design. This will develop an understanding where storage and analysis of information is becoming increasingly important.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES This unit sets in context the effective use of modern digital technologies for administration purposes. This will be relevant for candidates wishing to enhance their knowledge and skills in ICT.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATIONIn preparation for working as an administrator this unit looks at :

• The role of the office supervisor/administrator, including decision making at strategic, operational and tactical levels and target setting

• Different organisational structures are studied as well as different methods of communication and how to evaluate the effectiveness of these

• Reporting methods for meetings

• Office systems and procedures

• Examine current and emerging legislation

COMMUNICATIONThis unit is designed to develop skills in analysing, summarising, evaluating, and producing complex written business information. It also develops skills in presenting and responding to complex oral business information. The unit enhances skills for learning, life and work and there is a particular emphasis on employability.

RECORDING FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONSThis unit will enable you to develop the knowledge and skills required to provide financial data to a business in order to complete a trial balance, a VAT return and a bank reconciliation. It is primarily intended for learners who wish to develop book-keeping as a skill within an administrative role, or for those considering a career in book-keeping or finance. It is also relevant to learners with appropriate work experience who wish to obtain formal recognition of their book-keeping skills.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNINGThis unit will help you to take responsibility for your own learning and development. In particular, it provides a framework for the development of the personal and general skills and qualities, which employers seek in the workplace. DESKTOP PUBLISHINGThis unit will provide an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge involved in the design and production of detailed publications using desktop publishing software. Candidates will be required to prepare desktop published documents combining text and graphics relevant to a working environment. The unit would be

suitable for candidates wishing to develop greater competence in document design, layout and production.

PROJECT MANAGEMENTThis unit will enable you develop the basic knowledge and skills required to plan, implement, monitor, review and evaluate a small-scale project.

YEAR 2ADVANCED WORD PROCESSINGThis unit will allow you to develop and apply advanced word processing skills to assist in the production of business related documents. Learners will be required to solve problems and make decisions relevant to a working environment. This unit would be suitable for learners wishing to gain advanced skills in document management and processing.

ADVANCED SPREADSHEETSThis unit will develop in-depth technical skills to facilitate a high level of competence in the use of spreadsheet software to resolve business problems and facilitate business processes. Learners will develop spreadsheet skills to support the management, analysis and forecasting of data for decision-making. Learners will also develop critical, analytical and evaluative skills allowing them to create customised solutions to business problems.

ADVANCED DATABASESThis unit will develop an understanding of database design and the use of advanced features to provide information that is specific or summarised to enhance decision-making. The unit is primarily intended for learners moving into managerial positions where the storage, management and reliability of information is increasingly important. Acquiring an appreciation of database management systems, creation of forms, and

sophisticated queries will help any manager make the most of relational databases to support their decision-making.

OFFICE MANAGEMENTThis unit introduces the essential skills required to effectively manage and organise an administrative environment. It would be suitable for candidates wishing to progress to a supervisory or managerial career within an organisation

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN BUSINESSThis unit will provide an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in identifying, evaluating, managing and presenting business information to facilitate and influence decision-making. The unit requires learners to consider the role of information in the decision-making process, evaluate data, communications systems and ICT innovations, use planning and control tools for project management and use software application presentation tools to present findings and recommend actions.

PRESENTATION SKILLSThis unit will help to develop the skills required for the advanced use of presentation software, including a range of multi-media, and to apply these skills to deliver effective presentations. It would be suitable for learners involved in preparing and delivering presentations for business, vocational or social purposes.DEVELOPING THE INDIVIDUAL WITHIN A TEAMThis unit is designed to enable you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to participate effectively in team projects and to lead teams completing projects. This unit would be suitable for anyone wishing to develop the skills required for effective team participation and leadership.

EMPLOYABILITY EXPERIENCEThis unit is designed to enable you to demonstrate that you can, in the normal work environment, work with others to complete a task.

WORK PLACEMENTThis unit is designed to give recognition for a range of work experience activities that learners may complete as part of a Higher National programme. It is intended for learners who will benefit from a flexible approach where a work placement opportunity is tailored to individual needs and is part of their course of study and/or current employment needs. The work placement should take into account any individual prior learning and aim to develop work related skills. The aim of the unit is to develop the necessary essential workplace skills and experience to consider appropriate career development opportunities. The unit aims to enhance existing or new employment prospects and where possible to support progression into paid employment.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: AN INTRODUCTIONThis introductory unit is intended for candidates who are preparing to study Human Resource Management, or are considering a career in this discipline. It is also for those candidates who may wish to gain a holistic overview of how Human Resource Management can add value to an organisation.

PROJECT MANAGEMENTThis unit will enable candidates to develop the basic knowledge and skills required to plan, implement, monitor, review and evaluate a small-scale project.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURESThis unit is designed as an introduction to the generic administrative skills and procedures required of the modern office environment.

RESEARCH SKILLSThis unit is about developing the candidate’s ability to access and evaluate information from a variety of primary and secondary sources by planning and reporting on a research investigation.

VISUAL COMMUNICATION: SOCIAL MEDIAThis unit is intended to introduce, explore and develop awareness of, social media and how this communication tool can be utilised to maximise the marketing reach of a project/business/campaign.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?A variety of assessment methods will be used within the programme and tasks will typically feature examinations, short objective/multiple choice tests, essays and structured reports, oral presentations and reflective learning logs.

WHAT ARE MY PROGRESSION AND CAREER OPTIONS?The intention is to develop high quality graduates who will possess the intermediate Higher Education Skills identified as requirement for employment.Learners achieving the HNC or HND in Administration and Information Technology may have the option of progressing to:

• Second year or third year of a Business, Administration, Management or IT related degree

• Employment in an administrative/senior administrative/managerial role