Intermediate Corporate Governance and Administration

APPLICATIONS AND REGISTRATIONS FOR 2012 OPEN 3 OCTOBER 2011 AND CLOSE END OF JANUARY 2012

Intermediate Corporate Governance and Administration is a second level course in the field of Governance and Administration. It offers a broad-based business education to learners who wish to aspire to the Licentiate CIBM professional status granted by Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa (CSSA).

THE COURSE OFFERS

• A Wits certificate of competence supported by the Wits assessment system.
• The certificate may be earned in a year or you may extend completion to 18 months.
• Wits high-quality lecturers
• Success in all three course levels, (Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced) gives you access to the four Professional Board examinations (Corporate Administration, Corporate Financial Management, Corporate Governance and Corporate Secretaryship) under the International qualifying scheme of CSSA.
• The second of a suite of three courses - full articulation
• An opportunity to continue with your business education- a lifelong journey
• A course relevant to business
• A course that builds upon your working experience
• The option of progressing to the Wits B.Com degree with some credit recognition/exemptions on completion of the three levels
• An opportunity to combine work and study
• Run under the auspices of the Faculty of Commerce Law and Management at Wits

WHAT IS THE PART-TIME STUDIES CIS PROGRAMME AT WITS?
Wits Plus, the Centre for Part-time Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand offers evening tuition classes for a range of courses leading to Wits examinations and a Wits certificate of competence. Wits provide a serious study environment on its attractive West Campus. Our evening classes for part-time students are highly interactive. Our lecturers are experienced teachers who are all graduates and professionals in their subject specialisations. Wits has been an approved University tuition centre for CSSA for over 20 years, and is the tuition centre of choice for on-campus, face-to-face, part-time study in Gauteng.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
The Intermediate course in Corporate Governance and Administration on NQF level 5 builds on the Introductory course. It addresses the needs of staff from supervisory to junior managerial level (for example, assistant manager) and is a pre-qualification for the next level of management. The course remains broadly focused but it introduces elements of management.

It is aimed at junior management level. Since there is a dearth of qualified people at this level, there is a definite demand for this course from the formal sector of the economy. It could also add value to anyone participating in the informal sector.

The successful learner will be able to read a balance sheet, complete a tax return and understand legal and information and communication technology issues.

The course provides a basis for further learning by providing subjects that are required by the next level of study and application in the projected Advanced Course at NQF Level 6 and the subsequent NQF Level 7 professional examinations offered by CSSA under their international qualifying scheme.

There is a large demand for qualified staff and this course goes some way in addressing this shortfall. Certificated learners will be able to enter the market as entrepreneurs, doing their own tax returns and books of account. In the Government, NGO and business world, the successful learner will become more confident, given the acquisition of further theoretical knowledge which will prepare him/her for potential promotion.

THE CIS ROUTE - CHARTING A PATH TO THE BOARDROOM
The diagram is a visual presentation of the learning path showing progression from Technician Level of the Chartered Institute of Business Management to Affiliate level, thereafter to Licentiate Level, followed by Associate Level with the final professional qualification being the Fellow CIBM. This is the exit point into the CIS qualification and earns the status of a Graduate of ICSA (Grad ICSA).The study path offers structured study with clear exit and entry points at each “station”. There are recognition points along the way. For an intermediate level student the courses are: Management Information Systems, Management Principles, Taxation and Financial Accounting II and through credit exemptions and recognition from CSSA lead to the achievement of the Licentiate status of the Chartered Institute of Business Management (CIBM.) On successful completion of the combined nine topics (covered by the Introductory and the Intermediate Courses) students also earn a Wits Certificate of Competence in Intermediate Corporate Governance and Administration at Level 5 on the NQF.

After successful completion of the Intermediate course, the student is well prepared to proceed to the Advanced level in Corporate Governance and Administration (NQF Level 6), which comprises 4 topics: Corporate Law, Financial Accounting III, Strategic and Operations Management and Management Accounting and achieves the status of Associate CIBM.

The achievement of the status of Fellow, CIBM involves the final four CSSA courses: Corporate Secretaryship, Corporate Administration, Corporate Governance and Corporate Financial Management. The examinations for these courses are set by CSSA and on completion of these courses the student earns a National Diploma in Governance and Administration (NQF level 7) from CSSA.

CIS AND CIBM STUDY AND MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
The CIS and CIBM study and membership, offers a life-long career support structure for the Chartered Secretary. The CIS course of study is recognised internationally and leads to the acquisition of the premier qualification in Corporate Governance. The CIS qualification is vocationally geared to careers in Accounting, Business Administration and Management, Company Secretaryships and Business Consultancy.

The Graduate of ICSA applies his/her knowledge in gaining working experience to fullfill the admission requirements for membership as an Associate member of ICSA or ACIS. An ACIS member is a qualified Chartered Secretary and can legally act as an Accounting Officer. Further working experience leads to the attainment of the highest and most prestigious Fellowship level of membership at the Institute. As CSSA is a professional body, membership is not automatic and is invited on the basis of academic achievements, personal and professional ethics, working experience and continuing professional development.

THE B COM OPTION AT WITS
For students who complete all three certificates at Wits, a further option is to enrol for the B Com degree, and credits may be granted towards the 10 credit B.Com degree [1] Earning a B.Com could commit you to a further three to four years of part-time study. You proceed at your own pace and emerge with two highly sought after qualifications, giving you the background, skills and specialisations for a successful business career.

Students who are already B.Com graduates, may opt to add to their breadth of knowledge by taking the four professional specialist courses in the CIS programme (Corporate Secretaryship, Corporate Administration, Corporate Governance and Corporate Financial Management), provided their B Com degree encompassed the range of topics completed up to the Advanced Certificate level.

STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE
Topics offered: Management Information Systems, Taxation, Financial Accounting II and Management Principles. The achievement of these topics will result in the award of a “stand alone” Certificate of Competence in Intermediate Corporate Governance and Administration. The Certificate is positioned at NQF Level 5

The intermediate course qualifies the learner for Licentiate membership of the Chartered Institute of Business Management (CIBM).

WHO SHOULD REGISTER FOR THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMME?
As an Intermediate Level Course, it is aimed at working people performing junior or intermediate management functions, administrative, financial or company officer functions, or holding more advanced supervisory positions. It will add value to the qualifying learner’s employability. We are targeting people with mature attitudes to learning, strongly motivated in their careers, seeking the dual challenge of successfully combining work and study.

ARTICULATION POSSIBILITIES
This course articulates with the Wits Introductory and Advanced courses in Corporate Governance and Administration (status of Associate CIBM) and will then lead the learner into the final phase of the International CSSA qualifying scheme, and the status of Grad ICSA

ADMISSION CRITERIA
Learners are expected to have completed the Introductory Corporate Governance and Administration or an equivalent and comparable certificate or qualification at NQF level 5 offered by other Higher Education Institutions.

Learners are expected to have acquired a basic competency in the written English (first or second) language at NQF level 4. Numeracy competency indicated by an NQF level 4 pass in one of Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy and Accounting is required. Students who are not competent in mathematics are advised to consider an initial year of study in the Foundation Mathematics or Mathematics for Access short course programme, earning a certificate of competence from Wits Plus. [2]

Computer literacy will be a distinct advantage.

This Intermediate Course is targeted at those learners who already have a degree of competency and who wish to expand and develop their skills and knowledge levels.

LENGTH OF CERTIFICATE TIMETABLING
Two of the four topics (Management Information Systems and Management Principles) will be taught over a 14 week period (one semester). Taxation and Financial Accounting II will be taught over 28 weeks (two semesters). It will be possible for the student to complete the course in the minimum time period of a year, provided 3 topics are studied in each semester. The duration of each lecture will be 2 hours, which results in a total of 28 contact hours for each of the semester topics, and 56 hours for each of Financial Accounting 11 and Taxation - total contact hours will amount to 168 hours. An additional 168 independent/self-study (10-12 hours a week) will be expected of students.

TEACHING OF THE PROGRAMME
Lecturers will mainly be drawn from the School of Economic and Business Sciences, the School of Law and the School of Accountancy of the University of the Witwatersrand. All our lecturers are university graduates with extensive practical work experience in the areas of their subject specialisation. All are competent teachers.

ASSESSMENT METHODS / EXAMINATIONS
A combination of tests, assignments or marked tutorials, and a final three hour examination in will be used in each topic, thus combining formative and summative assessment. An external examiner will be appointed in line with standard Wits practices and quality assurance, and moderation of examinations will be the responsibility of the Wits school most closely associated with the course.

Examinations are held twice yearly: May (end of semester one) and October (end of semester two).

Lectures will be held in the First National Bank Building (FNB) or the Wits Plus building or the Commerce, Law and Management (CLM) building on the West Campus, Yale Road, Braamfontein from 17h30 to 19h30. Lecture venues will be displayed in the Corporate Governance and Administration (CIS) office on the day that lectures commence.

Topics will be offered subject to a minimum registration of ten students.

FACILITIES AT WITS
We offer a one-stop professional administration service to our part-time students in the Wits Plus Building, West Campus. Secure well-lit parking is provided (an annual parking fee is levied). A coffee shop at the Tower of Light is open for evening refreshments. CSSA students have access to the Wits Plus computer laboratory and are permitted to study in the Wits Commerce library and may consult the books of this library on a reference basis only. The Wartenweiler Library on the East Campus has a 24-hour reading/study facility.

REGISTRATION

Register at the Corporate Governance and Administration (CIS office), Second floor, Wits Plus building, West Campus, Wits University, Yale Road, Braamfontein.

Contact details: Mrs. René Cole. Tel: 011 717 9502. Fax: 086 726 4465.

Email address: Rene.Cole@wits.ac.za

FEES FOR 2013

R26 300-00 for all four courses or R4300.00 each for the two semester courses (Management Principles and Management Information Systems) and R6700-00 each for the full year courses (Taxation and Financial Accounting II). Fees include course notes, tuition and exam fees and CSSA exemption fees, but exclude the cost of textbooks, parking fee (approx R428.00 for the year for part-time on-campus parking) and a once-off access card fee of R130.00.  There is a replacement fee if cards are lost.

Fees must be paid in full by close of registration depending on the number of courses taken. Credit and debit card payments can be made at the Wits Plus CIS office. EFT and bank deposits are to be paid into the bank account indicated on your invoice which you obtain when you register.

NB: in order to register we require your ID book, original matric certificate and original academic transcripts of any post school qualifications. Married women are required to provide a copy of their marriage certificate.

Please bring your deposit slip to our office to complete your registration. Faxed or emailed copies of bank deposits will not be accepted as proof of payment.

CSSA EXEMPTION

Students who complete this Certificate successfully may apply to CSSA for exemption.  There is an exemption fee payable to CSSA, which is included in the fees above.

TIMETABLE for 2013)

Monday: Management Information Systems

Tuesday: Financial Accounting II

Wednesday: Taxation

Thursday: Advance Commercial Law

Thursday: Management Principles (offered in the 1st semester only)

NB: IN ORDER TO AVOID A TIMETABLE CLASH YOU MAY REGISTER FOR ONLY ONE COURSE PER EVENING.

DESCRIPTION OF TOPICS FOR THE INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATE IN CORPORATE GOVERANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.

1. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS: Macro-descriptor: Understand basic principles of business information systems and systems development. Syllabus: It covers information concepts and systems; information systems and organizations; competitive advantage; performance based information systems; careers in information systems; technology: hardware, computer types and software (systems software, application software, software-issues and trends); organising information (data management, data modeling- the relational database model, database management systems- DBMS); telecommunications (the internet, the world wide web, the internet and telecommunications, intranets, extranets, network issues); electronic business (introduction to electronic commerce, infrastructure, technology development, transaction processing TPS, TPS- management and control, enterprise resource planning- ERP); decision support systems- DSS, decisions and problem solving, management information systems-MIS (financial MIS, human resource MIS, manufacturing MIS) , components of DSS, group support systems, executive support systems); specialised systems (artificial intelligence, expert systems); computer security (goals of information security risks : risks to hardware, software and online systems); controls ( access controls, data entry controls, audit trail, backup) , security measures (firewalls, encryption, digital signatures); recovery (business recovery plan).
2. MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES: Macro descriptor: Understand basic business management principles. Syllabus: This topic covers the analysis of market changes and provides the tools to assess technological, legal, social and political factors in the business environment. The following areas are covered: Introduction to Management; definition of management and aims of management; the environment of management; management activities (planning, organising, leading and controlling); organisational change; leading; productivity improvements and Influencing factors; hierarchy of management; major attributes of technical, human and conceptual skills.
3. TAXATION: Macro descriptor: Handle individual and corporate tax returns timeously and accurately in accordance with the Income Tax Act. Syllabus: It focuses on the current law relating to taxation and its practical application to companies, close corporations, partnerships and individuals. The following areas will be covered: tax Law, tax payable, the tax return; the principle of fringe benefit tax; principles of the taxation of benefits on retirement, death and resignation; resident-based tax; capital gains tax.
4. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING II: Macro-descriptor: Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of financial accounting principles and their applications, and a basic knowledge of corporate financial accounting. Syllabus: This topic covers financial accounting principles and their application; an introduction to corporate financial accounting; a general revision of Financial Accounting 1; the framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements; partnership accounting, accounting for branches, corporate accounting; group financial statements; taxation; cash flow statements; the analysis and interpretation of financial statements and accounting information as an aid to management.
5. ADVANCED COMMERCIAL LAW:  Macro description:  Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the law relating to a range of contracts. Syllabus: This course will enable students to understand Intellectual Property Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Law of Agency, Law of Competition, Secured Transactons, Negotialbe Instruments, Law of Trust, Law of Insolvency and the Administration of Estates. 

[1] Conditions apply - discuss with the Wits Plus office (tel: 011 717 9505/9510 ) as all entrants into the B Com programme at Wits must demonstrate competence in Mathematics (defined at matriculation mathematics Higher Grade D and above or Standard Grade B and above or an equivalent technikon standard) and in English. Discuss your options with us as you may be advised to join the Foundation Mathematics or Mathematics for Access course programme, earning a certificate of competence from Wits Plus.

[2] FOUNDATION MATHEMATICS: This course is compulsory for students who do not have the required symbols for matric mathematics. It is aimed at upgrading matric mathematics results for subsequent study of Economics, Computational Mathematics and Financial Accounting.  The timetable for Foundation Mathematics will be finalised at a later stage.

[2]MATHEMATICS FOR ACCESS: This course is compulsory for students who do not have matric mathematics. The timetable for Mathematics for Access will be finalised at a later stage.