About the course

This Certificate is specifically designed to give small business owners, and anyone with a suitable business idea, all the tools they need to achieve an e-enabled business focused on and ready for export.

A very valuable feature of this programme is the one-on-one sessions with a business mentor (the first after the completion of the diagnostic tool).  All the mentors for the programme are experienced business advisors themselves.  They can offer valuable feedback, guidance and support and help you integrate the learning from the programme into your business.

The programme is designed to be practical – everything you learn will be directly applicable to your business.  It is also designed so that you only study what you need.

There is a short questionnaire to help you decide if the Certificate is for you.

If, on completing this questionnaire, you think this programme suits your needs, then you must complete the Open Polytechnic Online Business Skills Diagnostic process, which assesses your current capability and your core business skills and gives an overview of how your business is doing.  It also establishes what courses would be most useful for your individual situation and what areas of your existing knowledge could be credited towards your study.

The first step is to complete the online diagnostic tool after which we will arrange for a business mentor to visit you to take you through the results. They will discuss which of the programme’s courses best suits your current position in moving your business toward e-enabled export. This analysis and discussion is paid for separately before you enrol.  (The fee is $395.00 to complete this process).

After the visit from the mentor you will be ready to enrol in the programme.

Download the brochure for this programme, ( .pdf 456kb) document will open in a new window.

Programme structure

The Certificate programme consists of eight courses.  To be awarded the Certificate you need to pass each course or be awarded a credit on the basis of previous knowledge.  Two of the courses are compulsory - you must complete them to achieve the Certificate.

These courses will show you how to:

• work more effectively, both within the business and in your wider commercial relationships
• produce business plans for short, medium and long-term goals, including export
• manage your day-to-day business operations efficiently
• identify your e-business needs and decide what technology investment would give you the best results
• develop the e-business skills you need to take your business into exporting
• recognise the capabilities needed for exporting and identify where you may need additional help
• develop your own business website to sell your products and services online.

Compulsory courses

7586 Planning for Small Business Development
7587 Exporting for a Small Business

Optional courses

(chosen with the help of the diagnostic tool and your mentor)

7580 Personal Skills Development and Management for Small Business Owners
7581 Financial Management for a Small Business
7582 Operations Management for a Small Business
7583 Managing People in a Small Business
7584 Marketing for a Small Business
7585 Establishing an e-Business

A very valuable feature of this programme is the one-on-one sessions with a business mentor (the first after the completion of the diagnostic tool). All the mentors for the programme are experienced business advisors themselves. They can offer valuable feedback, guidance and support and help you integrate the learning from the programme into your business.

Course availability

Once you have completed the online diagnostic tool and worked with a business mentor to establish your study needs you can enrol at any time.

These courses offer you the opportunity to study in your own time at your own pace, in the way that best suits your business and personal commitments.

Study options

The courses are presented in a multimedia format, partly online and partly through printed material. The course material is further supported by books, pamphlets, CDs, DVDs, a web-building tool and online links to further information.  You'll be encouraged to share ideas and experiences in online discussion groups.

Entry requirements

Before you can enrol in the programme, you must complete the diagnostic tool and work with a business mentor to establish your study needs.

Level of study

At the completion of the programme you will be awarded a level 4 Certificate in Entrepreneurship (Export).

Hours of study

Each course will take approximately 100 hours of study.

Fees

Download the fee schedule for 2010

Diagnostic Tool

To complete the diagnostic tool:  $395.00

Additional fee information

What do I do now?

Complete the prequalification questionnaire. If the course is for you, move onto the diagnostic tool.

Contact the Programme Co-ordinator.

Download an enrolment form ( .pdf 230 kb) document will open in a new window.

For further information free phone 0508 650 200 or email

Programme Coordinator/Programme Leader

The programme leader is Chris Matthews