Luther Varsity in Southern Africa
A Place of Academic and Professional Excellence
Systems
Support
NQF 5 | SAQA ID: 48573 | 147 Credits
The purpose of this qualification is to develop students with the requisite competencies against the skills profile for the systems support career path (The overarching aim being to develop a broader base of skilled ICT professionals to underpin economic growth)
The qualification may be acquired in the traditional way of formal study as well as in the workplace, through scholarships. Acquiring the qualification through scholarships has the potential of addressing the problems of the past, where newly qualified people getting into the industry struggled to get employment, because they were required to have practical experience. While LUSA supports this pathway, it places high value on formal education with workplace experience in order to provide the student with additional teaching to build critical thinking, problem solving, communication skills, customer service, entrepreneurship and professional ethics.
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION
In summary, the purpose of this qualification may be stated as:
To develop students with the requisite competencies against the skills profile for the systems support career path (The overarching aim being to develop a broader base of skilled ICT professionals to underpin economic growth)
The qualification may be acquired in the traditional way of formal study as well as in the workplace, through studentships. Acquiring the qualification through studentships has the potential of addressing the problems of the past, where newly qualified people getting into the industry struggled to get employment, because they were required to have practical experience. The workplace experience can now be gained while acquiring the qualification through the various studentship schemes that are planning to use this qualification.
A qualifying student at this level will be a well-rounded IT professional building on foundational technical skills acquired at NQF level 4, via the National Certificate in IT Technical Support or equivalent. This qualification is expanding the specialisation(s) started at NQF level 4 into the core field of networking and support, with further specialisation(s) into IT Support fields or in any other related vertical or enabled markets.
The qualification is designed to:
- Provide qualified students with an undergraduate entry into the field of networking/systems support, earning credits towards tertiary offerings in the fields of Computer Studies or Computer Science
- Prepare qualified students for initial employment in the computer industry.
- Allow the credits achieved in the National Certificates relating to Information Technology at NQF level 4 to be used as prior learning for this qualification.
- Allow many of the unit standards listed in this qualification, to be used in Studentship Schemes in the Information Systems and Technology sector, as well as other sectors where Information Technology is a key requirement.
Research has indicated that in order to qualify for this qualification, students will need to demonstrate competence in the following:
- Ability to use logical methodology to troubleshoot the common types of hardware and software problems typically encountered in the day-to-day operations of an organization.
- Ability to understand the role of technology in the business context.
- Ability to create integrated technology-based communication systems for improved business effectiveness.
- Ability to store, manage and retrieve knowledge (data) efficiently and effectively to meet organizational requirements.
- Ability to ensure secure information systems that will serve to protect the business from data loss and breaches of integrity.
- Ability to design and reflect business structure in IT Systems appropriately in order to optimize operating efficiencies, flows of data and resource utilization within the structure.
- Ability to mobilize technical and technology-based resources to solve business problems in a specified context.
- Ability to perform cost effectively and efficiently in technology-based projects.
- Ability to manage customer relations appropriately.
- Ability to operate effectively within a change, release and configuration process.
- Ability to utilize technology-based research tools and knowledge-based repositories.
- Ability to identify and communicate business opportunities appropriately.
- Ability to install, support and maintain end-user applications
NB: This qualification has been developed within a CONTEXTUAL QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK i.e. electives indicate the context in which the overall learning programme will be designed and assessed. The core components will be the generic base which is expected to be contextualised to meet the unique and specific issues for the ICT sector, and the range of enabled ( vertical ) markets.
Finally, this qualification has been developed to assist with professionalization across the Information Technology Industry. It is intended to allow qualified students to gain membership of registered professional bodies in the ICT industry.
Rationale of the qualification:
An increasing dissatisfaction of industry employers with the stated lack of ability of the `paper` certified graduates seeking employment in the field of systems support and networking has precipitated a review of the competencies desired by industry.
Three years of research in the sector has revealed the need for entry level candidates who are capable of applying a range of institutionally acquired skills in the workplace, in the field of systems support, in a manner that adds business value.
The stated requirement is for the formation of a new set of skills and competencies, within the specific focus of networking/systems support, contextualised as appropriate for a wide range of related industry sectors.
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
It is assumed that the student must be competent in skills gained at the further education and training band. A learning assumption of this qualification is foundational skills in English and Mathematics at NQF level 4. Further learning assumed is the ability to use a personal computer competently.
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 skills programmes or normal 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):
This qualification may be achieved through the recognition of prior learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience.
Achieving unit standards through RPL:
Any student wishing to be assessed to achieve credits in respect of any or all of the unit standards specified in this qualification may arrange to do so without having to attend further education or training.
Achieving the qualification through RPL:
To achieve the qualification through RPL, the student must submit him/herself to be assessed against the integrated assessment criteria of this qualification.
QUALIFICATION RULES
Rules regarding NQF levels of credits:
The qualification consists of a minimum of 147 credits and has been designed in accordance with the SAQA rules of combination
Rules regarding Fundamental, Core and Electives:
- All fundamental outcomes are compulsory for this qualification (40 credits)
- All core outcomes are compulsory (77 credits)
- A minimum of 30 elective credits need to be completed.
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES
Exit Level Outcomes
A student will be able to:
- Use a logical methodology to troubleshoot the common types of hardware and software problems typically encountered in the day-to-day operations of a department in an organization.
- Understand the role of technology in the business context.
- Demonstrate basic application support skills
- Demonstrate operating system support skills
- Demonstrate network support skills
- Relate business problems and information technology solutions
- Demonstrate appropriate technical reporting skills
- Demonstrate appropriate customer care in the context of IT support
- Function appropriately in a change management process within a support team
- Demonstrate hardware support skills for server computers
- Demonstrate an understanding of Systems Support contextualized within a selected work area.
| ID | UNIT STANDARD TITLE | NQF LEVEL | CREDITS |
Core | Administer a local area computer network | 5 | 7 | |
Core | Demonstrate an understanding of different computer network architectures and standards | 5 | 5 | |
Core | Demonstrate an understanding of issues affecting the management of a local area computer network (LAN) | 5 | 4 | |
Core | Demonstrate an understanding of local area computer networks, by installing a networked workstation | 5 | 5 | |
Core | Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of Multi-User computer Operating systems | 5 | 7 | |
Core | Demonstrate an understanding of Wide Area Computer Networks (WAN`s), comparing them with Local Area Networks (LAN`s) | 5 | 5 | |
Core | Demonstrate appropriate customer care in the context of IT support, according to a Service Level Agreement | 5 | 8 | |
Core | Describe enterprise systems management and its role in IT systems support | 5 | 3 | |
Core | Design a local area computer network for a departmental office environment | 5 | 5 | |
Core | Install and commission a local area computer network | 5 | 9 | |
Core | Install and configure a multi-user networked operating system | 5 | 9 | |
Core | Monitor and maintain a multi-user networked operating system | 5 | 6 | |
Core | Test Networked IT systems against given specifications | 5 | 4 | |
Fundamental | Use computer technology to research a computer topic | 4 | 3 | |
Fundamental | Work as a project team member | 4 | 8 | |
Fundamental | Apply the principles of resolving problems for single-user and multi-user computer operating systems | 5 | 7 | |
Fundamental | Conduct a technical practitioners meeting | 5 | 4 | |
Fundamental | Demonstrate an awareness of ethics and professionalism for the computer industry in South Africa | 5 | 3 | |
Fundamental | Demonstrate an understanding of estimating a unit of work and the implications of late delivery | 5 | 5 | |
Fundamental | Explain the principles of business and the role of information technology | 5 | 4 | |
Fundamental | Writing business reports in Retail/Wholesale practices | 5 | 6 | |
Elective | Assemble a server computer and peripherals from modules | 5 | 5 | |
Elective | Create database access for a computer application using structured query language | 5 | 9 | |
Elective | Demonstrate an understanding of Computer Database Management Systems | 5 | 7 | |
Elective | Install a server computer and peripherals | 5 | 7 | |
Elective | Install and commission multi-user application software for a server computer | 5 | 5 | |
Elective | Install and commission multi-user system software on a server computer | 5 | 7 | |
Elective | Install high-volume/High-Speed computer cabling for server computer system | 5 | 10 | |
Elective | Maintain and repair a server computer to module level | 5 | 10 | |
Elective | Maintain and repair colour photocopiers/printers | 5 | 5 | |
Elective | Maintain and repair computer printers | 5 | 3 | |
Elective | Maintain and repair facsimile (fax) machines | 5 | 3 | |
Elective | Maintain and repair high-volume photocopier machines | 5 | 5 | |
Elective | Maintain and repair photocopier machines | 5 | 4 | |
Elective | Maintain and repair scanning systems | 5 | 4 | |
Elective | Maintain and repair server computer peripherals to module level | 5 | 10 | |
Elective | Operate an enterprise server computer system | 5 | 6 | |
Elective | Support a local area computer network | 5 | 10 | |
Elective | Administer security systems for a multi-user computer system | 6 | 15 | |
Elective | Demonstrate an understanding of change management for computer systems | 6 | 3 |
Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)