Higher Certificate in Information Systems

Purpose

• To equip the learners with the fundamental knowledge and skills of programming in general, expose them to a database language and a main operating system environment, and provide them with some background in creating Web pages, thus enabling successful candidates to enter the employment market as junior software developers.
• To secure a basis for further development in one or more of the areas of software development.
• To equip learners with the fundamental knowledge and skills on current Internet technologies, i.e. acquaint learners with a combination of both hardware and software components that will give them a thorough understanding of all the issues involved in creating content for the Web. More specifically learners will be equipped to write cross-platform applications and applets for the Internet, thus enabling them to qualify for entry level positions in the Internet industry.
• To secure a basis for further development in one or more of the areas of Internet technology.
• To equip the learners with sufficient hardware theory, knowledge of systems software and practical experience, enabling them to function in a wide range of positions within the IT industry, including repairs and troubleshooting.
• To equip learners with a basic programming ability.
• To secure a basis for further development in one or more of the areas of IT engineering.
• To equip the learners with the fundamental knowledge and skills of developing software by exposing them to (and gives them extensive practical experience in) a database language and one major programming language, enabling them to enter the employment market as junior programmers.
• The learners will learn to work in one operating system environment.
• To secure a basis for further development in one or more of the areas of programming and software development.

Rationale

As a result of the South African legislative and policy requirements and expectation that the higher education system be actively engaged and involved in bridging the skills gap inherent throughout our societies. This qualification is geared towards closing the skills gap between what higher education produces and the kinds of skills required by industry and the South African societies at large.

It is assumed that a learner entering in any of these programmes leading to this qualification have achieved an FET Certificate at NQF Level 4.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Learners` prior learning is recognized through a formal process of submission of portfolio of evidence and evaluation by our staff in pursuit to recognize any formal or informal learning that the learner might have achieved previously.

Access to the Qualification

• Open access.

Certificate in Information Systems with specialisations in

• Software Development.
• Internet Development.
• Engineering.
• Comprehensive Programming (this includes Programme Languages).
• Information Development.

Certificate in Information Systems (Software Development)

Fundamental Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• End-user Computing; NQF Level 4; 100 Hours; 10 Credits.
• Computing Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.

Core Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• Processing and Logic Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Program Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Relational Database Modelling and Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Software Engineering (unit 1); NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Object Analysis and Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Hardware Essentials; NQF Level 4; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Main Programming Language; NQF Level 5; 320 Hours; 32 Credits.
• (one of C++, Java, Visual Basic 6, C#, VB.NET) 2nd Programming Language; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• (one of CSLA, JVTA, VB6A, CSHA, VBNA) Creating Web Pages with DHTML; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Using Linux; NQF Level 4; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• SQL Server 2000; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• Software Development project; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.

Total = 1260 Hours; 126 Credits.

Specialisation Area B: (Internet Development)

Fundamental Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• End-user Computing; NQF Level 4; 100 Hours; 10 Credits.
• Computing Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.

Core Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• Processing and Logic Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Program Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Relational Database Modelling and Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Software Engineering (unit 1); NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Main Programming Language (Java); NQF Level 5; 360 Hours; 36 Credits.
• Creating Web Pages with DHTML; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Using Linux; NQF Level 4; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• SQL Server 2000*; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• i-Net+ Preparation*; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• XML Technologies; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Servlets and JSP; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Delivering Web Services; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Internet Development Project; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.

Total = 1300 Hours; 130 Credits.

Specialisation Area C: (Engineering)

Fundamental Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• End-user Computing; NQF Level 4; 100 Hours; 10 Credits.
• Computing Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.

Core Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• Processing and Logic Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Program Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Relational Database Modelling and Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Software Engineering (unit 1); NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Main Programming Language; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• (one of C++, Java, Visual Basic 6, C#, VB.NET) Hardware and Operating System Essentials*; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• Server+; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Using Linux; NQF Level 4; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• SQL Server 2000; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• Network+ Preparation; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• i-Net+ Preparation; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• Administering Linux; NQF Level 4; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Security+ Preparation; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.

Total = 1240 Hours; 124 Credits.

Specialisation Area D: (Programming)

Fundamental Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• End-user Computing; NQF Level 4; 100 Hours; 10 Credits.
• Computing Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.

Core Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• Basic Maths for Computing; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Processing and Logic Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Program Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Relational Database Modelling and Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Software Engineering; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Main Programming Language; NQF Level 5; 360 Hours; 36 Credits.
• (one of C++, Java, Visual Basic 6, C#, VB.NET) Using Linux; NQF Level 4; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• SQL Server 2000; NQF Level 5; 200 Hours; 20 Credits.

Total = 1220 Hours; 120 Credits.

Specialisation Area E: (Network Engineering)

Fundamental Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• End-user Computing; NQF Level 4; 100 Hours; 10 Credits.
• Computer Literacy; NQF Level 5; 160 Hours; 16 Credits.

Core Units; NQF Level; Notional Hours; Credits

• Processing and Logic Concepts; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Program Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Relational Database Modelling and Design; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Software Engineering (unit 1); NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Main Programming Language; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• (one of C++, Java, Visual Basic 6, C#, VB.NET) Hardware and Operating System Essentials*; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• MS Exchange Server; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Using Linux; NQF Level 4; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• SQL Server 2000 (Configuring Ms Server: Network Infrastructure); NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• Network+ Preparation; NQF Level 5; 120 Hours; 12 Credits.
• i-Net+ Preparation (Configuring MS Server: Active Directory and Applications Infrastructure); NQF Level 5; 200 Hours; 20 Credits.
• Administering Linux; NQF Level 4; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Security+ Preparation; NQF Level 5; 60 Hours; 6 Credits.
• Advance Networking (new module); NQF level 5; 100 Hours; 10 Credits

Total = 1400 Hours; 140 Credits.

After having completed the Certificate in Information Systems the learner will be

• Equipped with the fundamental knowledge and skills of computer based information technology that are required to qualify for entry level positions in the IT Industry.
• The learner will have the required basic programming skills and sound understanding of the hardware and software development environment in which she/he will operate, and will be able to identify and solve well defined but unfamiliar problems using the correct hardware and software tools and analysis and design techniques.
• The learner will also be aware that computer based systems do not function in isolation, but interface with end user and other systems.
• The outcomes also secure a basis for further studies in one or more of the areas of information technology.

Integrated Assessment

The form of assessment used ensure that learners are provided the opportunity to display an ability to integrate practical performance, actions, concepts and theory across unit standards to achieve competence in relation to the purpose of this qualification.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome;

• Carry out software and hardware installations.
• Utilizing programming languages and associated operating systems software to develop computer programmes of increasing complexity to solve information systems problems.
• Identify all the components of a computer based solution to an information processing problem of low to medium complexity and design and implement a solution using the latest software and hardware tools.