Advanced Diploma in Informatics

Purpose

The purpose of this Advanced Diploma in Informatics is to equip learner with the necessary knowledge and skills to work as a business analyst, a database administrator or an Information Technology (IT) project manager that is in demand in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. This qualification provides the required knowledge, understanding, abilities and skills to critically analyse and propose appropriate solutions to a multi-disciplinary range of problems. More specifically, the qualification provides an opportunity to conduct research and stimulate innovation.

Qualifying learners will be able to provide the needed knowledge and skills to align business processes, provide system management solutions, to design solutions for IT problems based on research, and to apply project management methodologies in the design of business solutions within any organisation.

Rationale

This qualification was designed based on feedback, where industry stated the required skills and knowledge, as well as review of other global institutions of higher learning confirming the required knowledge and skills.

This qualification equips a learner with the fundamental knowledge and skills of a Business Analysis, a Database administrator and an IT Project Manager, with the ability to further their abilities to research, identify, analyse, design, propose expansion and manage an IT project, thus improving the efficiency of the organisation. Emphasis is also on providing adequate theoretical and practical knowledge on analysis and presenting solutions to organisations.

The qualifying learner would be able to assist any organisation (local or globally) to assess their current situation, manage the IT project and propose solutions which shall enhance the organisation's economic and social stance. This qualification aims to provide the necessary skills and depth of knowledge to ensure that learners fulfil the relevant employment markets needs and consist of a combination of learning outcomes that have the defined purpose of capacitating the learner with workplace applicable competencies.

The learning outcomes of this qualification will allow articulation into the Postgraduate Diploma in Informatics, which will further equip learners with the required knowledge to engage in innovative research and development.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy of the institution provides for learners to enter the qualification main stream by undergoing the RPL process. RPL may be used to demonstrate competence for admission to this qualification. RPL may also be used to obtain credits for some modules.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Diploma in Informatics, Level 6 with 360 Credits.

Or

• National Diploma in Information Technology, Level 6 with 360 Credits.

Or

• Bachelor in Information Systems, Level 7 with 360 Credits.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 7 totalling 120 Credits

• Principles of Research, 15 Credits.
• Strategic Information Systems, 15 Credits.
• Information Systems Architecture, 15 Credits.
• Business Analysis and Application, 15 Credits.
• Information and Technology Management, 15 Credits.
• Knowledge Management, 15 Credits.
• Information Technology Project Management, 15 Credits.
• Information System Research, 15 Credits.

1. Align business and selected system models and applications to an Information Technology (IT) information system.
2. Select and examine the principles, tools and techniques that are used in information systems management solutions.
3. Apply the principles and practices of knowledge management within an organisation.
4. Apply fundamental research methodologies and techniques to analyse and design solutions for IT problems.
5. Apply IT project management methodologies within a project or an organisation.
6. Interpret strategic Information systems and databases within an organisation.
7. Design and apply information, business, system application, technical architectural domain within information system enterprise architecture.
8. Apply strategies to align the design of the system with the organisation.
9. Produce a researched orientated solution based on industry expectations.
10. Present information on the overall knowledge acquired throughout the program.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Business and selected system models and applications are identified and explained for an IT information system.
• Business and selected system models and applications is applied to an IT information system.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Identify and examine information system principles, tools and techniques in order to manage solutions.
• Select the appropriate information system principles, tools and techniques is to manage solutions.

Associated Assessment Criteria Exit Level Outcome 3

• List and explain knowledge management principles and practices used in an organisation.
• Examine knowledge management principles and practices used in an organisation.
• Justify the most appropriate knowledge management principles and practices used in an organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Identify and explain fundamental research methodologies and techniques for analysing and designing solutions for IT problems.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Identify and discuss advanced IT project management methodologies.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Identify various strategic information systems and databases within an organisation.
• Apply various strategic information systems and databases within an organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Explain information, business, system application and technical architectural domain.
• Apply an information system enterprise architecture.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Explain strategies to align the design of the system with the organisation.
• Identify the alignment between system and organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Identify and research a solution for industry expectation.
• Produce a solution for industry expectation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Recap all knowledge throughout the qualification.
• Create and present this knowledge.

Integrated Assessment

The institutional assessment policy is applied by creating each module to have at least two (formal) assessments, assignments, projects and class tests (the quantity of the assignments, projects and class tests varies per module). Once a predicate mark has been achieved, the learners will write the one examination (summative assessment) per module. The combination of predicate and examination mark (divided by two), will provide the final mark for the learner per module.