SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD: 

Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of local and international trade 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
117668  Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of local and international trade 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Transport and Logistics Operations 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Transport, Operations and Logistics 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  15 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A learner accredited with this standard will be able to utilise his understanding of local and international trade and the function of his/her specific organisation within the local and global trade arena to enhance organisational service levels to internal and external. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following unit standards or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Communication NQF 3
  • Numeracy NQF 3 

  • UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The scope of this Unit Standard is for any person working in the greater transport environment where knowledge and application of the nature and context of local and international trade in a general sense is required. The range includes innovative responses to concrete but sometimes unfamiliar problems across a number of organisations within the transport environment using basic analytical interpretation of information. ( This standard is aimed at providing a foundational knowledge of local and international trade, regardless of whether the learner is in the freight handling, forwarding and clearing, ships brokering or any other sub-sector within the South Africa transport industry)

    The context of this Unit Standard refers to knowledge components, aspects and practices encountered within the wider international trade environment, as they impact trade in South Africa.
    The level assigned to this Unit Standard is appropriate because a fairly narrow range of knowledge and cognitive skills is applied. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Know the basics of supply and demand in the global market. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concept of "scarce resources" is understood and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The concept of "Opportunity cost" is understood and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The impact of Supply and demand (including that of shortage, surplus and price elasticity) on the specific industry is explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Know the basics of absolute and comparative advantage and the need for International Trade. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The reasons for international trade are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The concept of absolute advantage is explained 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The concept of comparative advantage is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The global pattern of maritime trade and the reasons therefore are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The differences between freight buying and selling locally, as opposed to importing and exporting to and from international organisations is explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Know the basic underpinning components of the value chain. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The Concept "value-chain" is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The concept and impact of "Inbound logistics" on the specific organisational function is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The concept and impact of "Outbound logistics" on the specific organisational function is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Transport costs in the supply chain are identified and explained 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The role of exchange rates in international trade is explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Know and demonstrate an understanding of the basic philosophy of international trade agreements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concept and utilisation of Trade agreements is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Current trade agreements affecting the ships agency industry are identified, and the impact there-of on the industry are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Import and export customs tariffs and their effect on ships agency operations are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Protective barriers in international trade are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The concepts of ownership and risk involved in trade, and their relationship to payment within the international trade environment are explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Know and demonstrate an understanding of the different modes of transport, and support services in international trade. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concept of distribution of goods from producer to end-user is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The various modes of transport (including air, road, rail and shipping) are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The difference between the various modes of transport in terms of their relative advantages and disadvantages, are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The basic role of support services (Range: Customs, Forwarding, Clearing, Warehousing, 2nd and 3rd party Logistics Service Providers, Ships Agency) within the global transport industry is explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Know and demonstrate a comprehension of the Southern African market context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The Southern African markets related to the shipping industry in terms of our trading partners and the nature and volume of trade are understood. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape & SADC members
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The commodities commonly imported and exported by sea, road, rail and air are explained.
    [e.g Sea - Dry bulk, Breakbulk, Fluids, Liner] 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The transport infrastructure related to each mode of transport is explained.
    [ e.g. SARS, Port Authorities, Customs, Rail, Ports, Coastal and Inland Terminals] 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited by the Transport SETA and/or relevant ETQA.

    2. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA at its discretion.

    3. Moderation should encompass achievement of competence described in both individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the qualification. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the Specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated Assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the Specific outcomes, to the standards described in the Assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, Assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.
    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
    1. Knowledge and understanding of:
  • Economic activity in terms of supply and demand for goods and/or services.
  • The need for, and nature of, international trade
  • The global pattern of trade
  • Trade Blocks (e.g. SADC, Lome Convention, GATT, SACU)
  • And ability to explain, the general concept of the value chain for a particular industry.
  • And ability to explain, the specific concept of outbound logistics for raw materials, manufactured goods and services industries.
  • And ability to explain, transport costs in the supply chain
  • And ability to explain, the role of exchange rates in international trade
  • And ability to explain, the specific concept of inbound logistics for raw materials, manufactured goods and services industries.
    2. Know and explain:
  • The concept of trade agreements and balance of payment.
  • The concept of specific trade agreements relevant to ships agency and other support services.
  • The various import and export customs regulations affecting business.
  • The quota concept and protective barriers in general (e.g. anti-dumping duties; tariffs; sanctions) and those quotas affecting ships agency in particular.
  • The concept of distribution of goods and services in the broadest sense.
  • The different modes of transport used, and the roles of these modes.
  • Credit arrangements and methods of payment.
  • Standard conditions of carriage, and basic risk and insurance principles 

  • UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information relating to aspects of international trade. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills - orally or written - in order to share understanding of specific, relevant aspects of international trade. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, but are inherently interdependent. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each Specific outcome, or groups of Specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the Assessment criteria.
  • The Assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be Assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent

    In presentation of this Unit Standard, the training approach should be proportioned as follows:

    1. Theory: 70%
    2. Tutorial: 30% 

  • REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Accreditation process (including moderation):
    Methods and tools of assessment:
    The following methods of assessment have been identified as the preferred measurement and assessment of learner competence in the above-mentioned Assessment Criteria

    1. Oral assessment methods (e.g. presentations)
    2. Written tests/case studies/projects
    3. A portfolio of evidence - valid, reliable and authentic evidence from past achievements and experience may serve to supplement the assessment of applied competence.

    These methods must be carefully selected based on the purpose of the assessment (For example, the written method could be used to assess knowledge or on-job demonstration for practical competence). The assessment must integrate a number of different methods (no less than two of those detailed above) in order to give the assessor reliable and valid proof of competence and evidence of required attitudes

    The following tools may be used to supplement the above minimum assessment methods:

    Valid, reliable and authentic evidence (presented as a portfolio of evidence) from past achievements and experience may serve to supplement the assessment of applied competence. The portfolio should include inter alia:

    1. Written statements from persons (e.g. current and/or previous employer, colleague, peer, manager, external customers) confirming competence of the learner
    2. Relevant certificates or awards
    3. Previous assessment records
    4. Journals/logbook

    Conducting assessments

    1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA and be familiar with the full text and subject matter content of the Unit Standard being assessed.
    2. The assessor must ensure that the assessment covers the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  59298   Further Education and Training Certificate: Freight Forwarding and Customs Compliance  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  TETA 
    Core  49155   Further Education and Training Certificate: Shipping  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  TETA 
    Elective  57831   National Certificate: Freight Handling  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  TETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Aldabri 106 Institute for Quality Pty Ltd 
    2. Andebe Group 
    3. Bev Short Training Consultants 
    4. BPL Academy 
    5. DB Schenker Logistics Campus MEA Pty Ltd 
    6. DQ Staffing Solutions 
    7. Edu Wize Group Pty Ltd 
    8. Gauteng City College 
    9. Global Maritime Legal Solutions Pty Ltd 
    10. Innovative Shared Services 
    11. Learning Exchange Pty (Ltd) 
    12. Limadi Industrial Projects 
    13. Makwedeng Training 
    14. Metro Minds 
    15. Networx for Career Development 
    16. P and R Development and Training (Pty) Ltd 
    17. Production Management Institute (PMI) 
    18. Quantum Leap College Pty Ltd 
    19. RICHARDS BAY COAL TEMINAL COMPANY LIMITED (Legacy) 
    20. Robertsons Cargo Consultancy 
    21. Robertsons Cargo Consultancy (Pty) Ltd 
    22. SA Maritime School and Transport College 
    23. School of Shipping 
    24. Shipping And Transport College Pty Ltd 
    25. SPINA Consultancy cc Cape Town 
    26. TIESPRO (Pty) Ltd 
    27. Training Consultant and SD College 
    28. Triton Express (Pty) Ltd 
    29. Triton Express Pty Ltd 



    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.