Commerce

All students need to be able to understand and make decisions in the financial world we live in. 

The Commerce faculty at Baradene College aims to deliver teaching and learning programmes that offer authentic learning experiences, which enable all students to meet their full potential. Our focus is to develop the commercial capabilities (skills and knowledge) of our students, to enable them to make informed and rational decisions, in order for them to participate effectively in the rapidly changing world they live in.

What is Commerce about?

Students explore how the economic and business world operates. 

In Accounting, students become equipped with the ability to make real life financial decisions, to prepare and communicate financial information to users and to be accountable to stakeholders for their actions. 

In Economics, they examine the choices people make about the use of limited resources to satisfy unlimited wants. Economics explores issues around sustainability, enterprise, citizenship and globalisation. Economists are interested in the factors that influence the well-being of people and aim to find solutions to improve people’s standard of living. 

Year 10 Business Studies is an introduction of these subjects.

What is the difference between Accounting and Economics?

Even though they are both commerce-based subjects, they are completely different. 

Decision making in business can be assisted using financial information. Accounting helps us to understand financial information and make important decisions such as improving profitability or investment decisions. Topics include Xero, cashflow, forecasting, financial documents, financial statements and the analysis of these.

By studying Economics, students will consider how New Zealanders are affected by the economic decision-making of individuals, communities, businesses, the government agencies in New Zealand and overseas.

They will:

• Develop an understanding of the New Zealand economy and the policies that the Government uses to manage it.
• Make sense of economic problems that they may be facing, now and in the future.
• Make connections between New Zealand’s economy and the global economy.

Why study Commerce?

Commerce provides many job opportunities in virtually every sector and therefore prepares the student well for their future employment and adult life. Studying any Commerce subject will enable students to make financial decisions for themselves and others. 

Many Year 13 students that go onto tertiary study, study a Business/Commerce degree. These involve both Economics and Accounting in the first year, thus the student is well positioned to move to the tertiary level content.

For those that don’t carry onto tertiary study, the learning and knowledge about the way in which the economy/business works and how both individuals and organisations can make sound financial decisions is invaluable, as are the practical skills developed in both courses.

Are Accounting and Economics becoming redundant with the improvement of software to complete many jobs previously completed manually?

No. While software may complete many jobs more quickly and accurately than in the past, this has shifted the work of accountants and economists into consulting and advocate roles where a deeper understanding of the underlying concepts is essential. Sound commerce advice will always be needed.

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Subjects in this Faculty

Community Development Worker, Statistician, Hotel/Motel Manager, Urban/Regional Planner, Elected Government Representative, Sales Representative, Auditor, Advertising Specialist, Sales and Marketing Manager, Agricultural/Horticultural Consultant, Retail Manager, Bank Worker, Farmer/Farm Manager, Property Manager, Buyer, Insurance Claims Officer, Communications Professional, Event Manager, Accountant, Accounts Officer, Actuary, Finance Manager, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Quantity Surveyor, Economist, Management Consultant, Data Analyst, Engineer, Psychologist,