Office Productivity

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Excel

Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application used for organising, analysing, and visualising data. It features tools for performing calculations, creating charts, building financial models, and using formulas and functions to automate data tasks. Excel is widely used in business, finance, and data management.

Word

Microsoft Word is a word processing program used to create, edit, and format documents such as letters, reports, resumes, and contracts. It offers features like spell check, templates, styles, and collaboration tools, making it a go-to application for producing professional written content.

PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation software used to design and deliver slideshows that combine text, images, charts, animations, and multimedia. It is commonly used in business, education, and training to present ideas, reports, and proposals in a clear, engaging format.

Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is an email and personal information management tool that integrates email, calendar, contacts, and tasks into one application. It's widely used in corporate environments for scheduling meetings, managing communications, and organising daily workflows efficiently.

Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that combines chat, video meetings, file sharing, and app integration into a single workspace. It's designed for teamwork, enabling real-time communication, remote collaboration, and project coordination across organisations.

Occupation Certificate: Software Developer (SAQA ID: 118707)

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The Occupational Certificate: Software Developer (SAQA ID 118707, NQF Level 5, 220 credits) is a formal qualification designed to equip learners with both theoretical knowledge and hands‑on practical skills in designing, building, testing, deploying, and maintaining software applications.

Learners will build real-world web applications using a modern development stack that includes Django for back-end development, Python as the core language, MySQL for database management, and Bootstrap, CSS, and JavaScript for responsive front-end design.

In this programme, you will learn to interpret business or user requirements; apply logic and frameworks; pick suitable programming languages; work with web technologies (like HTML5, open‑source libraries), possibly mobile and desktop development; understand software development life cycles; use modeling tools like UML; ensure software quality, security, and maintainability; and gain workplace experience through work modules or a capstone project.

Graduates emerge ready to take up roles such as front‑end, back‑end, or full‑stack developer, applications developer, or software tester. They are qualified to meet industry standards in the digital economy, especially in contexts driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which opens up opportunities both in employment and in entrepreneurship.

Because of its combination of knowledge, practical skills, and work experience, the qualification also provides a foundation for further studies or specialisation in software engineering or related ICT fields.

Knowledge phase

There are twelve modules in this stage. Our delivery approach is as follows:

  1. Our facilitator will introduce you to the contents of the module.
  2. You will review and study the contents on your own.
  3. Our facilitator will review the module and discuss your questions.
  4. After some preparation time, you will take the formative assessment for the module.
  5. Our facilitator will hold a debriefing session on the assessment.

All assessments are taken online and under supervision. They are all automatically marked by our LMS program and you will get your result instantly after completing. We'll permit you to take the assessment a maximum of three times.

Duration. 2 to 3 months.

Here is the list of knowledge modules:

1. KM-01, Computers and Computing Systems, NQF Level 4, Credits 12
2. KM-02, Desktop and Professional Software to Communicate and Visualise Information, NQF Level 4, Credits 8
3. KM-03, Automated Webscraping as a Data Source, NQF Level 4, Credits 8
4. KM-04, Logical Thinking and Basic Calculations, NQF Level 4, Credits 2
5. KM-05, Computing Theory, NQF Level 4, Credits 2
6. KM-06, Software Development with HTML5, Opensource Frameworks and Libraries, NQF Level 5, Credits 16
7. KM-07, UML as Standard Modelling Language for Software and Systems Development, NQF Level 5, Credits 4
8. KM-08, Obtaining, Querying, Manipulating and Presenting Data with and without MVC, NQF Level 5, Credits 6
9. KM-09, Software Development Life Cycle, Programming Languages, Algorithms and Security, NQF Level 5, Credits 3
10. KM-10, Introduction to Software Developer Governance, Legislation and Ethics, NQF Level 4, Credits 2
11. KM-11, 4IR and Future Skills, NQF Level 4, Credits 2
12. KM-12, Design Thinking Principles for Innovation, NQF Level 4, Credits 1

Practical phase

There are fourteen modules in this stage. Our delivery approach is as follows:

  1. Our facilitator will introduce you to the contents of the module and demonstrate the tasks.
  2. You will review, study and practice the contents on your own.
  3. Our facilitator will review the module and discuss your questions.
  4. After some preparation time, you will take the formative assessment for the module.
  5. Our facilitator will hold a debriefing session on the assessment.

You will submit (upload) all practical assessments online. The assessor will thereafter evaluate your work online and give you a result and feedback. We'll permit you to take the assessment a maximum of three times. If you still have not achieved a competent result after three attampts, we will permit additional attempts upon receipt of a marking fee.

Duration. 3 to 4 months.

Here is the list of knowledge modules:

1. PM-01, Use Software to Communicate and Visualise Information, NQF Level 4, Credits 3
2. PM-02, Use and Manage Spreadsheets and Workbooks, NQF Level 4, Credits 3
3. PM-03, Use Desktop Applications to Analyse, Visualise and report on Data, NQF Level 5, Credits 3
4. PM-04, Use a Visual Analytics Platform and Visualisation Tools to Analyse, Visualise and report on Data, NQF Level 5, Credits 3
5. PM-05, Query and Massage Data, NQF Level 5, Credits 3
6. PM-06, Apply Logical Thinking and Maths, NQF Level 4, Credits 3
7. PM-07, Apply Code to use a Software Toolkit/Platform in the Field of Study or Employment, NQF Level 5, Credits 3
8. PM-08, Develop Software using HTML5, Opensource Frameworks and Libraries, NQF Level 5, Credits 16
9. PM-09, Design and Build Web Applications, Desktop Graphical User Interfaces or Mobile Apps, NQF Level 5, Credits 8
10. PM-10, Use a Cloud Automation Platform to Create Solutions, NQF Level 4, Credits 8
11. PM-11, Develop Software using Python, NQF Level 5, Credits 12
12. PM-12, Apply the Development Cycle when Developing Software, NQF Level 5, Credits 16
13. PM-13, Participate in a Design Thinking for Innovation Workshop, NQF Level 4, Credits 4
14. PM-14, Function Ethically and Effectively in a Team, NQF Level 4, Credits 4

Integrated Practical Assignment

You will be given a software specification for which you will need to develop and deploy a fully functioning web-based application.

Work Experience Phase

You will be assigned to company in which you will be required to work towards building and deployng a software program under supervision. This is called the capstone project. You will be assessed against a set of criteria that are set in the curriculum.

Duration. 5 to 6 months.

EISA Examination

You will be required to take the national EISA Examination which is set by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). Consider this examination to be similar to a Matric examination.

Duration. 3 hours.

Office 365 A1

You will receive a free license to Office 365 Education A1 while you are studying. This gives you free access to online versions of MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Teams, and many other Microsoft products.

Job Placement Service

Once you are qualified, our sister company Zakheni ICT (Pty) Ltd will actively search for job opportunities for you. These may be full-time, part-time or project work.

2026

To be advised.

Admission Requirements

1. Grade 12 or equivalent relevant NQF Level 4 qualification. Must have 50% or greater on English Home Language or English First Additional Language and Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy)

2. Achieve a rating of 7 or above on the ZTQ Solutions' battery of recruitment and selection tests. These are short (mostly 10 questions) online assessments covering:

  • English listening comprehension
  • English reading comprehension
  • Mathematics (Grade 12 level)
  • Cognitive skills
  • Software developer aptitude

3. Selection interview

Minimum Device Hardware Specification

1. You will need to have your own computer device that meets the specification below. We cannot stress enough the importance having a robust device with unlimited (or sufficient) data to connect to online lessons, stream videos, download and upload digital resources and take online assessments on our learning management system - the t-LMS.

2. Specification

  • CPU (Processor): Intel Core i5 12th Gen and above OR AMD Ryzen 5 7500 series and above
  • Memory (RAM): 16GB and above
  • Storage: 500GB SSD
  • Graphics (GPU): 2GB Dedicated Graphics Card
  • Camera & Microphone

Software Specification

1. Operating system: Windows 11 Pro

2. All other software will be provided by ZTQ Solutions or is open source

Books and Stationary

1. Books. If required, we will tell you which book to purchase prior to the start of the course.

2. You will need to supply your own stationery.

Potential job you'll be eligible to apply for...

1. Junior Full Stack Developer. Works on both front-end and back-end code under supervision; assists with building and maintaining web applications.

2. Front-End Developer Focuses on building the user interface using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React or Vue.

3. Back-End Developer Develops server-side logic, databases, and APIs, using technologies like Node.js, Django, or PHP.

4. Web Developer Creates and maintains websites or web apps, often working across both front-end and back-end depending on project needs.

5. Software Developer Designs, writes, tests, and maintains software applications, potentially for desktop, mobile, or web platforms.

6. Application Developer Builds functional software applications for end-users, typically focusing on solving specific business needs.

7. Junior DevOps Developer Supports development and deployment workflows; assists with automation, testing, and code integration tasks.

8. QA/Test Automation Developer Writes automated tests to ensure code quality and functionality; works closely with the development team.

9. Technical Support Developer Provides technical assistance and bug fixes for existing software systems; may assist with light development work.

10. Intern Software Developer Entry-level position (often paid or part-time) to gain experience on real development projects within a team.

Articulation Options

Articulation options refer to the study paths a student can take after completing a qualification. It explains what higher-level courses or related programs the student may qualify for next.

This qualification provides opportunities for horizontal and vertical articulation options.

  • Horizontal Articulation: Occupational Certificate: Computer Technician; NQF Level 5.
  • Vertical Articulation: Advanced Certificate in Information Technology Governance, NQF Level 6.