Diploma in Information Technology
Purpose:
Source: SAQA official qualification record. Yiba Verified does not own the underlying qualification data shown on this page.
Qualification type
Diploma (Min 360)
Credits
360
Sub-framework
HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
Providers listed
1
Qualification snapshot
Official qualification identity fields captured from the qualification record.
Originator
Mangosuthu University of Technology
Quality assurance functionary
CHE - Council on Higher Education
Field
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences
Subfield
Information Technology and Computer Sciences
Qual class
Regular-Provider-ELOAC
Recognise previous learning
N
Important dates
These dates are carried directly from the qualification record.
Registration start
2024-07-01
Registration end
2027-06-30
Last date for enrolment
2027-06-30
Last date for achievement
2029-06-30
Purpose and entry context
Official SAQA text formatted for easier reading.
Purpose and rationale
Purpose
The purpose of the qualification is to provide a career-focused professional qualification featuring industry-referenced knowledge, skills and attitudes.
A learner will be knowledgeable and competent in the discourse and practice of the Information Technology (IT) discipline but will also have specialist knowledge of a particular sub-discipline of IT (depending on chosen electives) and will be subjected to a range of professional and personal development initiatives relevant to the IT industry.
A Qualifying learner at this level is competent in the development of IT systems in a distributed computing environment, and depending on the chosen electives, will be competent in:
- Designing and producing software products and systems to meet specified needs so that they work reliably and their production and maintenance is cost effective.
Or
- Designing, developing, implementing and managing of networks by integrating knowledge of modern network topologies and protocols to create an appropriate and adequate environment of communication and information sharing.
Rationale
This qualification has been re-aligned to the new Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) and takes into account the latest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry requirements. The qualification has also been formulated to reflect the latest workplace-based trends within the ICT industry, so as to ensure that qualifying learners will have accessibility to employment within the industry. The inclusion of a work integrated learning component as part of a credit-bearing module at Level 6 is a unique concept within the University of Technology ICT sector in South Africa (SA). This, together with the project-based and problem solving approach embedded in the qualification, will have the defined purpose of capacitating the student with workplace-applicable competencies.
The qualification prepares students for entry-level positions in the ICT or related industries in either the software development or the communication networks sub-domains. Students are provided with a general all-round working knowledge of the ICT industry and are required to choose electives at second and third year levels to follow a specified career path.
The qualification provides the learner with the flexibility to articulate within the ICT industry into a wide variety of specialisations and to operate in other industries where ICT is a key component. In particular, this qualification enables graduates to pursue an Advanced Diploma in Information and Communications Technology or any other cognate field.
The objective of the qualification is to satisfy the industry needs, locally, regionally and nationally for ICT with specific reference to the areas of software development and communication networks.
Entry requirements and RPL
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
N/A
Entry Requirements
Admission requirements for this qualification
- A National Senior Certificate (NSC).
Or
- A National Certificate Vocational (NCV).
Or
- Higher Certificate or Advanced Certificate in Information Technology that grant entry to the Diploma in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Structure and assessment
Qualification rules, exit outcomes, and assessment criteria from the SAQA record.
Qualification rules
The qualification will be awarded to a learner who has provided evidence to the satisfaction of the assessors that the stated competence of the qualification, as detailed in the specified outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria.
This qualification comprises 12 compulsory subjects at Levels 5 and 6, totalling 360 Credits.
Subjects at Level 5, 150 Credits
- Information Systems 1, 30 Credits.
- Development Software 1, 30 Credits.
- System Software 1, 30 Credits.
- Technical Programming 1, 30 Credits.
- Information Technology Skills 1, 30 Credits.
Subjects at Level 6, 210 Credits
Students may choose Elective Group A or Group B.
Elective Group A: Software Development
- Information Systems 2, 30 Credits.
- Development Software 2, 30 Credits.
- Technical Programming 2, 30 Credits.
- Information Systems 3, 30 Credits.
- Development Software 3, 30 Credits.
- Internet Programming 2, 30 Credits.
- Industry Exposure 3, 30 Credits.
Elective Group B: Communication Networks
- Distributed Systems 2, 30 Credits.
- Communication Networks 2, 30 Credits.
- Information Technology Electronic 2, 30 Credits.
- Distributed Systems 3, 30 Credits.
- Communication Networks 3, 30 Credits.
- Information Technology Electronic 3, 30 Credits.
- Industry Exposure 3, 30 Credits.
Exit level outcomes
- Analyse and design software solutions to industry related Information Technology problems.
- Utilise the required technical skills to effectively implement the designed solutions in a distributed Information Technology (IT) environment.
- Utilise the required technical skill to design and implement solutions in data communications, networks and the internet environment.
- Demonstrate the effective utilisation of business and management skills to bridge the gap between the IT discipline and the business functional areas in industry.
- Demonstrate the ability to use hardware to its full potential by understanding the technical operation of hardware and to control it on a low level.
- Demonstrate the ability to provide support services.
Associated assessment criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1
- Multi-platform environments are integrated effectively (e).
- Effectively design database structures to support Information Technology (IT) business systems (c).
- Provide solutions for specific business situations (e).
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2
- User interface design principles are applied (c).
- To implement designed IT solutions, the appropriate software programming languages and development environments are applied (c).
- Software solutions are implemented in a client/server environment (e).
- Multi-platform environments are integrated (e).
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3
- Local area Networks are successfully implemented in a multi-platform environment (e).
- Internet solutions are designed and implemented in a client-server environment (e).
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4
- Business skills are effectively utilised in the application of technical skills in a IT business environment (c).
- Management Techniques are applied to utilise IT resources effectively (c).
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5
- Computer hardware is manipulated and described (e).
- Digital electronics are used to implement basic computer functions (e).
- Solutions for technical problems are provided (c).
- Low-level programming to control embedded systems are implemented (e).
- Technical applications in a multi-platform environment are designed and implemented (e).
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6
- Manage a call centre effectively (e).
- Different human computer interfaces are effectively analysed (e).
Integrated Assessment
- Written examination.
- Continuous evaluation.
- Integrated assessment.
Progression and comparability
Articulation options
Horizontal Articulation
Bachelor's Degree in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) or related field.
Vertical Articulation
Advanced Diploma in Information Technology (IT), Advanced Diploma in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) or related specialisation area.
International comparability
Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) in Malaysia offers the Diploma in Information and Communication Technology.
This qualification is specifically designed to provide
- Coverage of the academic aspect as well as the vocational aspect of the wide area of Computing and Information and Communications Technology.
- Learners with the skills to prepare them for careers in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) environment with emphasis on solutions design, software development and technology infrastructure support.
- Learners with academic and professional skills to develop solutions requiring the application of technology in a business and organisational context, so as to facilitate response to continuous future changes in technology and industry practices.
- Learners with critical, independent and cooperative learning skills so as to facilitate responses to continuous future changes in industry practises.
- Learners with intellectual skills, communications ability and team-working capability.
- Learners with opportunities for progression into advanced qualifications of study of International standard in relevant areas.
Conclusion
From the above information it is evident that this South African qualification compares favourably with the international qualification in terms of the development of the skills and the purpose.
Providers currently listed
This reflects provider names published on the official record. It is useful for qualification discovery, but it should not be treated as a substitute for checking the relevant quality body’s latest provider status.
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