INTRODUCTION
Flexibility in the mode, time and credit accumulation of certificated learning and development is increasingly demanded by working adult learners.
The Professional Certificate, certified and awarded by the London Examinations Board and Association of Certified Professionals in collaboration with Tunku Abdul Rahman University College and Seng Heng Retail Academy is designed to meet the above needs of adult working learners looking to up-skill their knowledge and qualification in a way that suits their work and study demands.
The Professional Certificate allows individual learners the flexibility of committing themselves to undertaking a learning unit in a specific business area and earning credits.
Each Professional Certificate pathway is benchmarked at the United Kingdom’s QCF/RQF Level 4.
PROGRAMME AIMS
The Professional Certificate has the following aims:
- To provide a flexible and credit accumulation pathway to enable adult learners to upgrade their skills and knowledge in the workplace.
- To provide adult learners with recognized certificated learning which contributes to their career advancement.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of the Professional Certificate in New Retail Strategy learners will be able to:
- Gain more comprehensive body of knowledge to develop, formulate and operationalise new retail strategies and operations that are suitable for their business environment
- Develop a range of professional work application skills including techniques and attributes essential for effective and successful new retail performance.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The Professional Certificate comprises a cluster of three specific modules each of which must be completed. Each of the following numbered modules carry 10 credits under the Qualifications and Credit Framework at Level 4. The three modules are:
- Overview of New Retailing
- Competitiveness and Retail Metrics for Growth
- Peak Performance Blueprint: People Performance
ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE
Each Module has a 50 Multiple Choice Question final examination which must be completed within 1.5 hours.
NOTIONAL HOURS FOR EACH MODULE
The normal prescribed notional hours are 100 notional hours for each module. The notional learning time encompasses all time (formal classes consisting of both face-to-face or online live sessions, self-study, reading, researching the internet for information, final examination preparation) spent by the learner in pursuit of achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Note: Those learners with prior knowledge and experience related to the module contents will require less than the 100 notional hours prescribed.
NOTIONAL HOURS FOR FULL PROGRAMME
A total of 300 hours is prescribed for the 30 credits Professional Certificate.
The notional learning time encompasses all time (formal classes, self-study, reading, searching the internet for information, final examination preparation) spent by the learner in pursuit of achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Note: Those learners with prior knowledge and experience related to the module contents will require less than 300 notional hours prescribed.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
This is an open entry programme wherein no prior knowledge is required. Applicants meeting any one or more of the following are eligible to undertake the programme:
- Applicants should normally be at least 16 years old or
- Possess a Level 3 (QCF/RQF) Certificate or
- Possess GCSEs at grade C or above, or equivalents or
- Possess working Experience
PROGRAMME DELIVERY AND DURATION
Participants will be required to successfully complete the following 3 modules each of 10 credits:
- Overview of New Retailing
- Competitiveness and Retail Metrics for Growth
- Peak Performance Blueprint: People Performance
The programme will be delivered via Blended Learning wherein each module will have 16 hours of face-to-face sessions and students will engage in further online learning and interaction with online tutors via a designated online learning portal.
Each module duration is 1 month followed by an online final examination consisting of 50 MCQs. The programme can be completed in 3 months including undertaking the required online final examinations.
PROGRAMME DELIVERY AND DURATION
Participants will be required to successfully complete the following 3 modules each of 10 credits:
- Overview of New Retailing
- Competitiveness and Retail Metrics for Growth
- Peak Performance Blueprint: People Performance
The programme will be delivered via Blended Learning wherein each module will have 16 hours of face-to-face sessions and students will engage in further online learning and interaction with online tutors via a designated online learning portal.
Each module duration is 1 month followed by an online final examination consisting of 50 MCQs. The programme can be completed in 3 months including undertaking the required online final examinations.
MODULE SPECIFICATION
Module 1: : Overview of New Retailing
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the evolution of the retailing industry landscape and its implications for modern retailing practices to sustain business continuity and competitiveness
- Explain internal and external environmental scanning to facilitate new retail seamless strategy formulation.
- Identify and apply key principles, techniques and tools required to successfully
formulate and implement new retail seamless strategy for a product or service
including evaluating business models options. - Examine key concepts and techniques to undertake both offline and online retailing
activities.
Indicative Contents:
- What is New Retail?
- 3 Key Trends in New Retailing
- Evolution of Retail Industry and Global Disruption Trends (VUCA)
- Internal and External Business Environment Analysis
- Emergence of International Marketing Channels
- Principles of Omnichannel Retailing
- Modern Shoppers and Omnichannel Customer Journey
- New Retail Solution in Omnichannel Strategy
- Moving from Conventional Business Model to Seamless Business Model
- 9 Pillars of Seamless Business Model
Module 2: Competitiveness and Retail Metrics for Growth
Learning Outcome:
- Identify the elements of retail marketing mix for decision making in retailing and apply them in various key marketing activities specifically at target markets/ customers.
- Formulate an integrated marketing plan and strategies for offline and online channels in order to maximize return on investment.
- Create innovative and evergreen content marketing concepts that attract, educate, influence, and persuade the targeted audience.
- Illustrate key retail metrics for both online and offline channels for measuring retail performance for better strategy formulation
Indicative contents:
1. Retail Marketing Mix
2. Effect of 4Ps from Digital Landscape
3. Creative Content Management
4. Online to Offline Marketing Campaigns
5. Integrated Marketing Communication and International Advertising
6. Types of Retail Strategy and Benchmarking
7. Retail Metrics & Analytics
8. Retail Productivity and Bottlenecks
9. Characteristics of a Strategic Target Market
10. Sustainable Competitive Advantage for Retailers
Module 3: Peak Performance Blueprint: People Performance
Learning outcomes:
- Understanding individual differences and building empathy to manage different personalities
- Analyzing individual strengths and areas for growth by using the performance equation
and strategies for enhancing people’s impact - Setting performance expectations and objectives for team members
Develop skills to inspire performance instead of enforcing performance
Indicative contents:
1. Introduction to Individual Differences and Empathy
2. Analyzing Individual Strengths and Growth Areas
3. Setting Clear Performance Expectations and Prioritization
4. Performance Metrics and Evaluation
5. Strategies for Inspiring Performance
6. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
7. Managing People Challenges and Conflict
8. Meaningful Feedback and Recognition in Workplace
9. Building Trust and Fostering a Supportive Work Environment
10. Coaching Toolbox for Managers
Learning support and resources
Learners will have the following accessible to them:
- Access to the LMS to undertake their learning and undertake the final examination online
- Face-to-face sessions consisting of 16 hours of scheduled classes at an Approved centre
- Where face-to-face sessions are not possible, live video conferencing sessions will replace the live face to face sessions
- Access to full module learning materials consisting of lesson notes, supplementary PowerPoint, Articles, Case studies, reports, and YouTube videos.