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If you are wondering where to learn new skills online or in a classroom, this page explains what a short course is, what it can do for your career, and which short courses BOTI runs, from office administration and computer skills to management, communication and soft skills. To see every option in one place, browse BOTI’s short courses and corporate training programs, which run online, in-house at your premises or at our venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg.
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BOTI runs more than 300 practical courses at your offices anywhere in South Africa, live online or at a BOTI venue - QCTO-accredited and a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor.
Browse the coursesGet a quote for your teamLearning on your own? Self-paced e-learning from R595 (excl. VAT) · Ask your employer to pay
Short courses for working adults and teams
What is a short course?
A short course teaches a specific set of skills quickly, without the commitment of a full qualification. Experience and on-the-job learning teach a great deal, but slowly and unevenly. A short course covers one subject in a structured way, in a day or a few days, so you can use what you learnt at work straight away.
Most BOTI short courses run for one to three days. Live online masterclasses take three hours, and a few technical courses run longer, such as the five-day Python programming course.
Short courses suit working adults who want to fill a specific gap, employers who need a team to learn the same skill together, and people who want to try a subject before they commit to a longer qualification.
Advantages of short courses
- Start learning without leaving your job. A short course fits around work, so you keep working while you learn. This matters for most working people, who cannot step away for a year of study.
- Fill the gap between you and a promotion. Courses in emotional intelligence, leadership, workplace communication and conflict resolution show your employer that you are ready for a bigger role.
- Use the skill straight away. Practical courses are built around tasks people do at work, so you can apply them the next working day.
- Try a subject before a full qualification. A short course is a low-risk way to find out whether a field suits you before you commit time and money to a longer programme.
- Show that you value learning. A completed course tells an employer or an interviewer that you keep your skills up to date, which helps you stand out in job interviews.
- Meet other people. A class is also a chance to meet colleagues from other teams and, when delegates come from different companies, to make new business contacts.
Where to learn new skills online
You do not have to travel to learn a new work skill. BOTI offers three ways to learn online:
- Live online courses. BOTI’s short courses run online as well as in person, with a facilitator, so you can join from home or from the office.
- 3-hour online masterclasses. BOTI’s live online masterclasses cover one focused topic in three hours, on subjects such as time management, Excel, Power BI, business communication, emotional intelligence, AI at work and customer service.
- Self-paced e-learning. BOTI’s e-learning library has 142 self-paced courses that you work through in your own time, and each comes with a certificate.
For more on the online formats, certificates and how to choose, see our guide to online short courses in South Africa.
If you prefer a classroom, the same courses run in-house at your premises or at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg. Employers who want staff to learn their own procedures online can ask BOTI to build a custom online course from those procedures.
Short courses offered by BOTI
BOTI’s short courses are grouped by subject. Each area below links to its full list of courses.
Office administration and personal assistant short courses
For administrators, secretaries, receptionists, personal assistants and office managers who want practical office skills. Courses include the Office Management Training Course (1 day), the Administrative Office Procedures Course (1 day), Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training (2 days, or a 3-day version), Professional Receptionist Training (2 days) and Chairing a Meeting with Confidence and Keeping Good Minutes (1 day). They run at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, in-house at your offices or online. See all administration and office support courses.
If you need a formal qualification rather than a short course, BOTI is accredited by the QCTO to offer the Occupational Certificate: Office Administrator and the Occupational Certificate: Management Assistant, both at NQF Level 5. These are full occupational qualifications, not short courses. Each ends in an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), and the QCTO issues the certificate. Both close to new learners on 30 December 2026, so enrol by that date.
Computer and office software courses
Short computer courses start with the two-day Introduction to Computers course for beginners, and continue with separate courses by level in Excel, PowerPoint and Access. More specialised courses cover computer-aided drawing (CAD), Power BI and Python programming. See all computer and office software courses.
Leadership and management
For new supervisors, team leaders and managers: Supervisory Skills for Team Leaders (2 days), Management and Leadership Development Training (2 days) and Middle Manager Development Training (3 days). See all leadership and management courses.
Communication and business writing
For anyone who writes, presents or speaks for the organisation: Business Writing Skills for Function and Purpose (2 days), the Report Writing Course (3 days) and Public Speaking Training (2 days). See all communication and business writing courses.
Soft skills and personal effectiveness
Soft skills are the personal and interpersonal skills that every job needs. Courses include Mastering Emotional Intelligence (2 days), Stress Management Training (1 day) and Essential Time Management Skills (2 days). See all workplace essentials and personal effectiveness courses.
Finance, projects and process improvement
Managers who need to read the numbers can take Finance for Non-Financial Managers (2 days); see all finance courses. Process improvement starts with Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (4 days); see all project management, agile and process improvement courses.
Other areas
- Sales, marketing and customer care
- Human resources, labour and employment equity
- Health, safety and wellness
- Supply chain, procurement and contracts
- Strategy, risk, governance and compliance
- Artificial intelligence at work
- Train the trainer and ETDP
Short course or qualification?
BOTI’s non-accredited short courses are delivered as professional skills programmes, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance. They do not carry credits towards a qualification. If you need credits, look at BOTI’s QCTO skills programmes and QCTO occupational certificates. Skills programmes end in a Final Integrated Supervised Assessment (FISA), occupational certificates end in an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), and in both cases the QCTO issues the certificate.
How to choose a short course
- Start with the task. Write down what you need to be able to do at work after the course, then look for the course whose outline covers it.
- Check the level. Computer courses are split into beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, so pick the one that matches what you can already do.
- Choose the format. A live online course, a 3-hour masterclass, self-paced e-learning or a classroom course: choose the one that fits your time and the way you learn.
- Train a team together. If several people need the same skill, in-house training at your premises lets the whole team learn at once.
- Ask before you book. If you are unsure which course or level fits, call BOTI and describe the work you do.
Speak to a BOTI consultant
Phone 011 882 8853 or email [email protected], or fill in the form and we will get back to you.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I learn new skills online?
BOTI runs its short courses online as well as in person, so you can learn from home or from the office. It also offers 3-hour online masterclasses on topics such as time management, Excel, Power BI, business communication, emotional intelligence and AI at work, and an e-learning library of 142 self-paced courses. If your team prefers a classroom, the same courses run in-house at your premises or at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg.
What is a short course?
A short course teaches a specific set of skills quickly, without the commitment of a full qualification. It fits around your job, so you can keep working while you learn, fill a gap in your skills before you aim for a promotion, or try out a subject before you decide whether a longer qualification is the right path for you.
What are the advantages of short courses?
Short courses let you start learning without leaving your job, fill the skills gaps that stand between you and a promotion, and show your employer that you value upskilling. They also let you explore a subject before committing to a full qualification, help you stand out in job interviews and give you a chance to meet people from other teams and organisations.
Are there office administration short courses in Johannesburg?
Yes. BOTI’s office administration short courses, such as the Office Management Training Course and the Administrative Office Procedures Course, run at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg. They also run in-house at your premises anywhere in South Africa, or online, which suits people searching for an office management short course they can do online.
Do BOTI short courses come with a certificate?
Yes. BOTI’s non-accredited short courses are delivered as professional skills programmes, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance; they are not accredited qualifications. Each course in the e-learning library also comes with a certificate. If you need credits towards a registered qualification, look at BOTI’s QCTO skills programmes and occupational certificates instead: each ends in a formal final assessment, and the QCTO issues the certificate.
Not sure where to start? Tell us what you or your team need to do better at work, and we will suggest a course and a format. For office staff, the one-day Office Management Training Course is a practical first step. It runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or online. Call 011 882 8853 or email [email protected].