HNC/HND Administration and Information Technology (SQA)
The HNC and HND in Administration and Information Technology provide candidates with a progression route into employment in a general administrative role in small to medium enterprises. It also provides opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge required for more specialist posts, demanded by larger organisations. These qualifications allow candidates to develop technical and administrative knowledge relevant to current practice; interpersonal skills relevant to an administrative role; personal effectiveness; and communication and presentation techniques.
Why Deliver This Qualification?
The HNC and HND in Administration and Information Technology offer a number of benefits to candidates:
- they provide skills, knowledge and capabilities needed for employment
- progression to higher education
- they can enhance career prospects
- teaching and assessment can be aligned to the candidate’s workplace
- achievement is certified and nationally recognised
Awarding Body
Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
Who does this qualification suit?
The HNC and HND Administration and Information Technology are appropriate for candidates who have an interest in a career in administration at any level. The HND in Administration and Information Technology develops further the skills and knowledge necessary for candidates who seek positions of greater responsibility within the administration function and/or further academic study. Candidates are likely to come from the following target groups:
- school leavers
- adult returners to education
- those in employment who wish to enhance their career prospects
Entry Requirement
- Any relevant National Qualifications Group Award at SCQF level 5 or 6
- Any two relevant National Courses at SCQF level 6, together with three Standard Grade passes at level 3 or above.
- Relevant National Units at appropriate levels (eg achievement of the Core Skills entry profile).
- SVQ Business and Administration level 2 or 3.
- Equivalent qualifications from other awarding bodies.
Access to the HND
In order to achieve the HND Administration and Information Technology candidates must gain a total of 30 HN credits from the appropriate parts of the qualification structure. Progression from HNC to HND typically varies between a requirement to have a minimum of between 12 and 15 credits, usually including all of the HNC Administration and Information Technology mandatory Units.
Progression
Candidates could progress to:
- HND from HNC
- second year of a Business, Management or IT related degree from HND
- employment in an administrative/senior administrative role
Work Experience
Work experience that may be considered suitable could include:
- paid or voluntary roles that include aspects of administrative work
- a range of reception/clerical/office work with some degree of IT skills
- active involvement in charity activities that require a range of administrative tasks including planning, organising and completing fund raising activities, minute taking, participating as officials on committees including formal meetings, liaising with others, working with others etc
Structure of HNC
Candidates will be awarded an HNC in Administration and Information Technology on successful completion of all of the Units and the Graded Unit in the mandatory section and an appropriate combination of optional Units up to a total of 96 SCQF credit points. The HN Design Principles require an HNC Group Award to incorporate at least 48 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 7. The HNC Administration and Information Technology mandatory section comprises 72 SCQF credit points at level 7 and 8 SCQF credit points at level 6. Candidates must complete an additional 16 SCQF credit points from the optional section and there are no restrictions on the SCQF level from which to draw these credit points. This equates to 10 HN credits from the mandatory section and 2 HN credits from options. The framework section (pages 6 to 8) illustrates the composition of the mandatory and optional parts of the award, and the credit value and level of each unit.
Structure of HND
Candidates will be awarded an HND in Administration and Information Technology on successful achievement of all of the Units in the mandatory section and an appropriate combination of Optional Units up to a total of 240 SCQF credit points. The HN Design Principles require an HND Group Award to incorporate at least 64 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 8. The HND Administration and Information Technology Units comprises at least 80 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 8 (88 SCQF credit points if Developing the Individual Within a Team is achieved at SCQF level 8), at least 72 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 7 (80 SCQF credit points if Developing the Individual Within a Team is achieved at SCQF level 7) and 8 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 6. Candidates must complete a further 72 SCQF credit points from the optional section and there are no restrictions on the SCQF level from which to draw these credit points. This equates to 21 HN credits from the mandatory section and 9 HN credits from the options. The qualification framework (pages 10 to 12) illustrates the composition of the mandatory and optional parts of the award, and the credit value and level of each Unit.
