SECRETARIAL STUDIES

DESIGNING THE PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR SECRETARIAL STUDIES

 

Learning how the office and business environments work is beneficial for anyone looking to make it big one day. Secretaries get a lot of exposure to these worlds, since they are constantly involved in the inner workings. They get first hand and on-the-job experience, making it a very lucrative position to be in.

This Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) program, offered by HILAPS Institute, will cover most of the base knowledge as well as some extra skills and abilities you will need to succeed.

The course is up to 9 months in length:

-          24 weeks of classroom studies and evaluations

-          2 months internship

-          1 month of project and defense

Common secretarial tasks include:

1. Maintaining records and files
2. Keeping the office tidy
3. Answering phones
4. Taking messages
5. Typing letters
6. Welcoming clients
7. Maintaining websites
8. Managing petty cash
9. Making travel arrangements

 

Subjects

1. Introduction to Business English

2. Office Communication

3. Excellence in Service: Basic

4. Computer Practice

5. Business Etiquette

6. Organisational Skills

7. Introduction to Entrepreneurship

1. Introduction to Business English

1. Introduction to communication
2. Non-verbal communication
3. Business writing
4. Speaking, listening and reading skills
5. Meetings
6. Presentations
7. Work readiness

 

2. Office Communication

1. Definitions
2. Making sense of the definitions
3. Check your understanding
4. Different types of information that a business person can impart and receive
5. Essential communication skills for a secretary
6. Quick definition: Channel of communication
7. Telephone: Origin and meaning
8. What can we use telephones to do (in everyday life)?
9. The telephone in the workplace
10. Why and how telephones are used in the workplace
11. Dos and don’ts of telephone use

 

3.Excellence in Service: Basic

1. Customer service fundamentals
2. Customer service skills
3. Customer management
4. Customer communication

 

4. Computer Practice

1. Introduction to computers
2. Hardware and software
3. Keyboard proficiency
4. Storage devices
5. Operating System: Windows 7
6. Word Processing: Microsoft Word 2010
7. Desktop Publishing: Microsoft Publisher
8. Microsoft Excel: Introduction
9. Microsoft Excel: Manipulating functions
10. Microsoft Excel: Set display of the worksheet
11. Microsoft Excel: Formulae
12. Microsoft Excel: Charts and graphs

 

5. Business Etiquette

1. Office protocol
2. Professional conduct
3. Communication in the workplace
4. Etiquette in communication
5. Business functions
6. Travelling for business

                                                                                                                                        

6. Organizational Skills

1. Information management
2. Managing incoming information
3. Managing outgoing information
4. Time management
5. Organizing time
6. Coordinating time with others
7. Team time management

 

7. Introduction to Entrepreneurship

        i.            What is entrepreneurship?

      ii.            Characteristics of an entrepreneur

    iii.            Why study Entrepreneurship

    iv.            Creation of Enterprise

 

Instruction Methodology:

-          Lectures

-          Tutorials

-          Workshops

-          Professional Immersion (Internship)

Assessments

-          Assignments

-          Presentations

-          Tests

-          End of Semester exams

-          Internship Report

Trainees will have to complete the recommended assignments, test and exams.

The assignments are designed to help through learning to make sure that they completely understand all the topics covered and that they can apply this to their working environment.

Trainees will also be expected to come up with a business project which they will defend at the end of their training.