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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Adhere to professional conduct and business ethics in a Public Relations and Communication environment

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
110296	Adhere to professional conduct and business ethics in a Public Relations and Communication environment
ORIGINATOR
SGB Public Relations Management and Practices
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies			Public Relations
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		2007-07-17	2009-09-09	SAQA 0160/05
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-09-09		2013-09-09

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 is replaced by:

US ID	Unit Standard Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Credits	Replacement Status
335835	Adhere to professional conduct and business ethics	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This Unit Standard is intended for all people working in Public Relations or persons who fulfil a Public Relations function in some form or another in any commercial or non-commercial organisation and so have contact with outside clients.

The person credited with this Unit Standard will be able to:

Use business protocol correctly

Behave in a professional manner

Understand the role of business ethics

Identify and describe the role of professional bodies and/or associations or regulatory authorities in the Public Relations field.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

It is assumed that learners will be competent in Communication at NQF Level 3.

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

Codes of Conduct and Codes of Ethics may be ones relating specifically to the field of Public Relations and/or a specific business organisation/section.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Use correct business protocol.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Titles used by people attending functions and meetings are correctly used in accordance with international standards.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Included but not limited to official forms of address, name tags, place cards, letters, invitations.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Greetings and introductions are performed according to international practice.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Logistics for VIPs is arranged according to status.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Included but not limited to: table plan, transport, accommodation, reception, security.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. National Symbols are known and correctly and appropriately used at functions.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Behave in a professional manner.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The concept of a Code of Conduct is explained with reference to the role of a code in a business environment.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The Code of Conduct of the organisation is understood and applied in all business-related interactions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The Code of Conduct of a professional Public Relations body/organisation is compared to that of a business organisation and an indication is given of any apparent differences.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The Dress Code of the organisation is understood and applied at all times.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Understand the role of business ethics.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The role of the South African Constitution in defining the source of ethics for South African society is explained in the context of the business environment.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The main principles of Business ethics are listed with examples.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The Code of Ethics of an organisation is explained in terms of the operations of the organisation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The relationship between ethics and generally accepted Codes of Conduct is explained for the Public Relations sector.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. The importance of a Code of Ethics for Public Relations Practitioners is explained with examples of the benefits of ethical behaviour.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. The impact of unethical behaviour is explained in terms of its effect on the organisation and its staff.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Integrity, Loyalty, Optimism, Humility, Diligence, Discipline, Conviction.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Identify and describe the role of professional bodies and/or associations or regulatory authorities.

OUTCOME NOTES

Identify and describe the role of professional bodies and/or associations or regulatory authorities in the Public Relations field.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The differences between a professional association, a trade union and a regulatory body are explained in terms of their functions and authority.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The reasons for the existence of professional bodies, associations and regulatory authorities within the field of Public Relations are explained in the context of the roles that they play.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The professional bodies, associations or regulatory authorities are identified for the Public Relations field and for the economic sector of a specific organisation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The benefits of belonging to a selected professional body or association, trade union or regulatory authority within the sector are outlined from the perspective of both the organisation and the individual.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. Information about two of the professional bodies or associations or trade unions authorities is accessed from their website or their publications with a view to deciding on possible membership.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

Assessment of this Unit Standard should be contextual and practical.

Assessors must be registered as an assessor with the Services ETQA or an ETQA that represents the sector in which the learner is employed and which has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Services SETA ETQA.

Moderators must be registered as assessors with the Services ETQA, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Services SETA ETQA.

The mechanisms and requirements for moderation should be applied in accordance with the requirements of the relevant ETQA.

Assessment should include both formative and summative assessment.

Training providers must be accredited by the Services ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Services SETA ETQA.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Codes of Conduct and Codes of Ethics relating to Public Relations and a specific business sector

The SA Constitution

Protocol relating to government, religious groups, royalty, foreign affairs

Introduction of people to each other and forms of greeting

Dress related to type of occasion e.g. black tie, semi-formal, etc.

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Identifying & solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made. When solving problems related to Logistics for Public Relations events.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization, community. When working with others in the planning and execution of Public relations events.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organising and managing oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively. When dressing correctly for the occasion and having the necessary documents, materials ready for a Public Relations event.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collecting, analyzing, organizing and critically evaluating information. When arranging a Public Relations event and deciding on seating at functions, invitations, use of national symbols, etc.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion. In greeting people, sending out invitations, seating plans, name cards, etc.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. When using technology to write and print invitations, place cards, seating plans, etc.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

Demonstrating an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation. When realising that incorrect protocol or inappropriate dress and/or behaviour can have a detrimental effect on the image of the organisation and vice versa.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING

Contributing to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of:

a. Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities;
b. Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts; Through developing correct styles of dress and behaviour and taking note of the needs of divergent groups of people in terms of race, religion, sex, social status, etc.

Through developing correct styles of dress and behaviour and taking note of the needs of divergent groups of people in terms of race, religion, sex, social status, etc.

UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA

N/A

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

This Unit Standard has been replaced by Unit Standard 335835 which is "Adhere to professional conduct and business ethics", Level 4, 4 credits.

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	67461	Further Education and Training Certificate: Event Support	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual
Core	48875	Further Education and Training Certificate: Public Relations Practice	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2009-09-09	Was SERVICES until Last Date for Achievement

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.

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