Advanced Diploma in Computer Science

Purpose

The Advanced Diploma in Computer Science aims to prepare learners for Postgraduate studies through deepening of their knowledge and understanding of the current trends and practices in the computer science and related fields. The never-ending demand on computer scientists and software engineers to satisfy the ever-changing requirements from the Information Technology (IT) industry in this country and abroad demands a continuous supply of well-trained workforce. The qualification aims to prepare learners for such a market. Learners with this qualification will be able to help IT companies, specialising in various application domains, improve their competitive advantage through the application of the acquired theoretical and practical knowledge. In so doing, assist the organisations in achieving its objectives and subsequently improving the economic stance of the country.

The purpose of the qualification is to teach a deep and systematic understanding of the current theories, practices and methodologies in Computer Science and Software Engineering. This qualification aims to develop learners' ability to formulate, undertake and resolve more sophisticated theoretical and practical problems and tasks introduced at Diploma level. Upon successful completion of the qualification, the graduates will implement and recommend solutions to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) problems resulting in various domains. The successful learners will possess the necessary knowledge and skills to work in multiple capacities in software and other IT-related industry. For example, learners can work as computer programmers, system developers, or assist with systems integrations.

The purpose of the qualification is to prepare learners for Postgraduate studies through deepening of their knowledge and understanding of the current trends and practices in the Computer science and related fields. The never-ending demand on computer scientists and software engineers to satisfy the ever-changing requirements from the IT industry in this country and abroad demands a continuous supply of well-trained workforce. The qualification aims to prepare learners for such a market.

To achieve this purpose, the institution aligned the modules in the qualification to the qualification outcomes as follows:

• Design, analyse algorithms and data structures to create more efficient solutions.
• Design and develop service-oriented applications in distributed systems.
• Apply system-level perspective to recognise the functionality of context of computer systems and the human-computer interaction thereof.
• Apply problem-solving skills and the knowledge of computer science to solve real-world problems.
• Employ analytics data techniques in decision making.

Upon successful completion of the qualification, the qualified learners will implement and recommend solutions to ICT problems, thereby assisting in strengthening the country's economy. With the ever-increasing speed of technology change, especially in virtual reality and interactive environments, the shortage of developers for these new technologies will become a significant problem in the IT industry in South Africa.

Rationale

The rationale for re-curriculation of the qualification is to meet the ever-changing demands of the organisation environment and comply with the skills shortages encountered in the local and global economy. The goal is to encourage a more community-centric approach to teaching and learning within the field of Computer Science.

On completion of this qualification learners will provide the needed knowledge and skills to function as a: computer qualification, systems developer, or assist with systems integrations, within any organisation, as all organisations require Information Technology to further itself including the research, identification, analysis, and design; propose expansion, testing, maintenance and deployment of organisational IT systems to aid innovation, and for betterment of corporate responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, which improves the social and economic stance of the country.

With rapidly changing technology associated with mobile and communication devices, the shortage of software developers for these new technologies is becoming a significant problem in the Information Technology (IT) industry in South Africa. The qualification will provide these developers who can develop solutions to complex computer science problems. This qualification targets learners who have completed the Diploma in Computer Science and includes articulation into the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science. According to industry reports, web and mobile device software developers are already in high demand, and this will exponentially increase in the future. Learners with this qualification would be able to help companies, specialising in providing web and mobile device solutions, to improve its competitive advantage through the application of the acquired theoretical and practical knowledge, thus increasing the profits of the organisation and improving the economic stance of the country.

The demand from employers for learners capable of working effectively in an IT sector continues to grow, as does their need for technical skills and expertise. This qualification aims to provide the necessary skills and depth of knowledge to ensure that candidates remain attractive to relevant employment markets. The qualification is a combination of learning outcomes that have the defined purpose of capacitating the learner with workplace applicable competencies. This qualification will build on the solid foundation provided by the Diploma in Computer Science and will equip the learners for any future learning endeavours in Mobile and Web Application Development in particular, and in Software Development, in general. The learners gain the necessary skills to apply for several job positions in demand in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

Most of the learners completing this qualification can join the industry as computer qualifications. Currently, the top tier programming languages in the industry are Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, C#, C++, and Objective-C languages. A quick search on the most significant job search website in South Africa indicates that there are currently more than a thousand qualification vacancies for each of the two main groups of languages (Java and C++). While some top tier languages may be fading, it will still be the best foundation to have and potential programming employees need to know one or more of these languages to find a job quickly. Second-tier languages are waiting to break into the mainstream but haven't entirely made it. They have proven their worth by building active communities of support, but they still aren't used by a large number of more conservative software companies. Scala, Go, Swift, Closure, and Haskell are examples of second-tier programming languages. It is important to note, however, that the aim of this qualification is not to produce a qualification in a particular language, but to produce a qualification that understands programming concepts and structures and can quickly adapt to a different programming environment.

Circulation guidelines provided by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and other Universities and Universities of Technologies in the country informed the design of this qualification. The qualification aligns to international best practices. Furthermore, advisory committee members and other industry stakeholders during industry visits and visits to learners doing WIL in the industry participated in several discussions on this topic.

This qualification will provide learners with the knowledge and skills necessary and relevant to offer computing-based solutions to address the problems that are important to society and the economy. The emphasis of this qualification is to provide adequate theoretical and practical knowledge to implement and recommend solutions to main-stream Computer Science problems.

The need for highly trained people in the computer science domain is widespread throughout South Africa.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution use RPL to demonstrate competence for admission to this qualification. It also use RPL grant credits for some learning outcomes. The assessment for evidence of prior learning happens through formal institution policies and procedures.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Diploma in Computer Science, NQF, Level 6.

Or

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualification Framework Level 7 Totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Distributed Programming, 15 Credits.
• Software Engineering, 15 Credits.
• Service-Oriented Computing, 15 Credits.
• Theoretical Computer Science, 15 Credits.
• Data Structures and Algorithms, 15 Credits.
• Integrated Software Project, 15 Credits.
• Human-Computer Interaction, 15 Credits.
• Introduction to Data Science, 15 Credits.

1. Design, analyse algorithms and data structures to create more efficient solutions.
2. Design and develop service-oriented applications in distributed systems.
3. Apply system-level perspective to recognise the functionality of context of computer systems and the human-computer interaction.
4. Apply problem-solving skills and the knowledge of computer science to solve real-world problems.
5. Employ analytics data techniques in decision making.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Explain various data structure and algorithms.
• Design and analyse solutions using algorithms and data structures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Explain the core concepts of distributed program and service-oriented computing.
• Design and develop service-oriented applications in distributed systems platforms.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Explain fundamental design and evaluation techniques of human computer interaction.
• Demonstrate the interactivity of user interfaces through prototypes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Design, develop and implement the project using the integrated skills learnt from the other module will be prepared to an integrated plan.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Define and explain big data and data mining platforms.
• Capture massive amounts of data, store and analyse using appropriate data mining and big data tools.

Integrated Assessment

The integrated assessment takes the form of an appropriate variety of assessment methods. The assessment includes summative evaluation in the way of written or oral exams, and formative assessment in the kind of problem-solving assignments, computer programs, projects, presentations, case studies, portfolios, logbooks, documentation, and towards the end of the year, a reflective assessment where learners will complete a single integrated systems project that will incorporate the identification, analysis, designing and development of a real-life scenario based in the Computer science environment.