Practicum/Research Project

This module provides an opportunity for students to undertake a task of a suitable size that allows him/her to apply the appropriate skills and knowledge learned in the Higher Diploma. It is normally expected that the project will involve, in addition to evidence of meeting targets in the area of self and time management, relevant background reading and research, and use of appropriate tools and techniques for design and development. 

Work produced here must be of professional competence suitable for the level of the Higher Diploma course. Students will undertake a significant piece of individual applied academic work in an area of their own interest relevant to, and demonstrating technical skills acquired in, their programme of study. Students will normally need to research one or more academic topic areas and then apply their findings to the construction and implementation of a computer-based system.

Mobile App Development and Web

This module introduces students to how to develop applications for Android smartphones and tablets. It demonstrates the need to know how to successfully develop your own Android applications. It also addresses all the fundamentals; including user interfaces, networking, SMS messaging, and databases. It is a practical module primarily for those who wish to extend their programming ability beyond and to deploy their own Android Apps themselves in the market.

Advanced Programming

This module will focus not only on the Java programming language, but also the Java programming style and topics on advanced software design using Java and Java's network programming. This course covers the techniques of object-oriented programming in Java and the characteristics of the Java programming language. 

The language features such as event-driven programming, GUI, Collection classes, packages, exception handling, and multithreading with concurrent programming are discussed. Java graphical user interface and animation tools are important parts of this course. Advanced topics such as network programming, threads, and sockets are introduced with an executable example.

Cyber Security

This module prepares students to leverage intelligence and threat detection techniques, analyse, and interpret data, identify, and address vulnerabilities, suggest preventative measures, and effectively respond to and recover from incidents. The module will briefly introduce students to some digital forensics investigation techniques and imaging tools.

Data Structures & Algorithms

This module introduces students to the fundamentals first approach which builds a strong foundation of advanced programming data structures, algorithms, concepts, and techniques. This module introduces students to programming in a problem-driven way that focuses on problem-solving rather than syntax, illustrating advanced data structure concepts by example, and provides hands-on practical laboratory exercises for students to gain programming and technical skills.

Management of Information Systems

This module introduces students to the vital role of information systems in supporting an organisation's business processes and enhancing decision-making capabilities. The strategic implications of information systems will be analysed, and students will be introduced to decision-making processes, data analytics, risk management, and IT audit for managing an information system for an organisation.

Data Communications and Networks

This module introduces students to and gives a clear understanding of how networks from in-home local area networks (LANs), to the massive and global Internet, are built and how they allow us to use computers to share information and communicate with one another.

Database Management Systems

This module introduces students to the database which is fundamental to current business information system activities. A database typically provides features to enhance compactness, reliability, flexibility, and Internet applicability. Students will be introduced to the concepts and fundamentals of database systems. 

Students will be able to specify and create a database model, including the setting of various parameters that can be modified to suit different structured or unstructured data requirements, the design of data, as well as the development of mechanisms for maintenance, storage, and retrieval of data based on the business requirements. An open-source database tool is considered for verifying the features.

Security Administration

This module introduces students to the fundamental concepts with hands-on practice of how to administer, configure and update security programmes and mechanisms, including the application of system patches to ensure that enterprise assets are adequately protected against threats. This also includes the authorisation, management, and monitoring of access control permissions and/or rights to various IT facilities.

Security Architecture

This module introduces students to design security architectures and controls; either introducing security principles into the design of architectures to mitigate the risks posed by new technologies and business practices, or the actual design and specification of applicable security components, along with the incidental control measures, to meet defined business security needs.

Cloud Computing

This module provides students with a detailed and essential foundation in cloud computing. Cloud computing is the up and rising technology that will be considered critical in today’s business world. This introductory module to cloud computing describes and explains fundamental aspects of cloud computing concepts, models, technologies, and applications.

This module provides students with practical skills to examine, translate complex software ideas and concepts into a web application and establish key design principles and methodologies. Students can select and use appropriate tools and techniques with which to design, build, implement, and test a web application. This module also provides an opportunity to gain work skills to be able to provide professional documentation for the web pages produced.

Web Technologies

Computer Systems & Network

This module focuses on fundamental computer architecture, network fundamentals, protocols, and models. This module introduces the categories of the network functions, evaluates and justifies networks, and device performance using the OSI model and the most widely used TCP/IP protocol suite.

Software Development

This module provides students with technical skills, communication skills, to develop applications by coding, testing, debugging, documenting, and reviewing in accordance with object-oriented programming standards for development and security. 

The module focuses on programming fundamentals such as introduction to computers and object-oriented programming, basic computation, variables, control structures, arrays, and the procedural programming methodology. It then progresses to introduce the object-oriented programming concepts of objects, classes, and inheritance.

Maths for Computing

This module introduces the basic concept of quantitative approaches to computing mathematics. This module will help students to attain essential knowledge in mathematical concepts and skills that are required for the study and application of computer science.

Information Systems Modelling & Design

This module develops the skills and techniques required for creating an overall plan for the design of software, design of functional specifications based on user and business requirements incorporating various controls, functionality, and interoperability of different elements into designing an information system, modeling which describes the overall architecture in software, databases, hardware, and third-party frameworks that the software will use or interact with. It also covers some of the key legal, social, ethical, and professional issues relating to information systems development.