Higher National Diploma – Business (Accounting and Finance)

About Pearson BTEC:

BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications that are globally recognized and benchmarked. The BTEC suite of Pearson qualifications, Higher Nationals (HNs) are widely supported by higher education and industry as the principal vocational qualifications at Levels 4 and 5. BTEC is one of the world’s most successful applied learning brands, helping students develop their practical, interpersonal and thinking skills for more than 30 years. Pearson BTEC Higher National qualifications take a student-centered approach to the curriculum. There is a flexible, unit-based structure that focuses on developing the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills the student will need to succeed in employment and higher education. They represent the latest in professional standards and provide opportunities for students to develop skills and behaviors for work, for example by taking part in a group project or meeting a client brief.

Professional Accreditation Body:

Pearson BTEC

Program Overview:

Pearson BTEC Diplomas are widely recognized as equivalent to the first two years of a three-year bachelor’s degree. Pearson Higher National Diploma students can “top-up” their qualifications by progressing directly to a third-year degree at over 60 plus Pearson progression Partners across the globe (40+ countries).

Duration:

1. Higher National Diploma (Business) 24 Months (After G.C.E Advanced Level or equivalent). 32 Months (After G.C.E Ordinary Level or equivalent)
2. Higher National Certificate (Business) 12 Months (After G.C.E Advanced Level or equivalent). 32 Months (After G.C.E Ordinary Level or equivalent)

Program Structure:

The programme consists of lectures, case studies, presentations, multimedia tutorials and research projects. It is designed to develop students’ practical skills related to management techniques and to enhance their ability to work professionally in a group or independently in a disciplined and structured environment.

Career Progression:

The Level 4 Higher National Certificate provides a solid grounding in business, which students can build on if they decide to continue their studies. The Level 5 Higher National Diploma allows students to specialize by committing to specific career paths and progression routes to degree-level study. Once students have achieved the Level 5 Higher National Diploma, they can develop their careers in the business sector by:

• Entering employment
• Continuing existing employment
• linking with the appropriate professional body
• committing to continuing professional development, or
• going to university

HND: The Higher National Diploma (HND) is a Level 4 and Level 5 qualification made up of 240 credits. It is usually studied full time over two years, or part time over four years.

• Requires 240 credits, of which 120 credits are at Level 5 (7 units) and 120 credits are at Level 4 (8 units).
• Total qualification time = 2, 400 hours.
• Total guided learning hours = 960 hours.
• Mix of core, specialist and optional units totalling 240 credits.
• Optional units are selected to make up the remaining credit value.
• Specialist units can also be selected as optional units for the General Business pathway, and for any of the specialist pathway certification.

Only one specialist unit is permitted to be used as optional from any given specialist pathway.

About the Modules/Units:

Unit 19: Research Project (Pearson Set)
Credits: 30
Module Description: This module involves Research skills which are vital for the workplace as they are for academic development. Research skills enable students to identify a problem, collect informational resources that can help address the problem, evaluate the resources for quality and relevance, and come up with an effective solution to the problem. The aim of this unit is to offer students the opportunity to engage in sustained research in a specific field of study. The unit enables students to demonstrate the capacity and ability to identify a research theme, to develop a research aim and objectives and to present the outcomes of such research in both written and verbal formats.

Unit 20: Organizational Behavior
Credits: 15
Module Description: This module focuses on understanding, explaining and predicting the behavior of individuals in the workplace and can assist in the development of
practical solutions to organizational and managerial problems. The aim of this unit is to develop knowledge and understanding of how organizational behavior concepts, theories and techniques can be applied in work and management settings in order to enhance individual, team and organizational performance. Students will be able to apply this knowledge in a variety of business situations.

Unit 21: Financial Reporting
Credits: 15
Module Description: This module involves the financial results of an organization that are released to both stakeholders and the public. Reporting typically encompasses the following financial statements: the income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows. The overall aim of this unit is to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required in the preparation and interpretation of financial statements for incorporated organisations.

Unit 22: Management Accounting
Credits: 15
Module Description: This module includes a profession that supports management decision making, planning and performance management systems. Management accountants provide expertise in financial reporting and control to assist management in the formulation and implementation of an organization’s strategy by providing appropriate financial information and undertaking related accounts administration. The overall aim of this unit is to develop students’ understanding of the scope and purpose of management accounting. The focus of the unit is on critiquing cost and management accounting techniques and using management accounting to monitor and evaluate company performance in complex operating environments.

Unit 23: Financial Management
Credits: 15
Module Description: This module includes planning, organizing, directing and controlling the financial activities of an organization and applying general management principles to financial resources. Financial departments are responsible for calculating capital required, investing capital, allocating profits and managing the finance of the organization.The overall aim of this unit is to introduce students to core financial management principles and strategies. Students will consider the significance of the financial management function in an organization as it seeks to maximize shareholder value, manage risk and achieve business objectives in complex operating environments.

Unit 43: Business Strategy
Credits: 15
Module Description: This module supports individuals who are working in or towards managerial roles in all market sectors to develop and enhance strategic thinking and planning that will improve organizational performances of businesses in their respective competitive markets. The aim of this unit is to develop students’ awareness of the different types of strategic approaches that could be used in an operational, tactical or strategic role for an organization. This will be underpinned by a thorough knowledge and understanding of the theories, models and concepts that could significantly support an organization’s strategic choice and direction.

Unit 55: Planning Social Media Campaigns
Credits: 15
Module Description: This module involves Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs on countless themes, the ability to leave comments about news, online stores, file-sharing platforms and wikis have become essential elements of daily life. They are also valuable tools in the way that businesses communicate with their existing and potential audiences. While we are experiencing a time of transformation that generates interesting opportunities, we are also faced with new challenges for organizations and individuals. The rapid growth in social media raises questions about authorship, authenticity and privacy, to name but a few.