COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Transcription

1 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT B.Tech (Ordinary Bachelor Degree - NQAI L7) in Networking Technologies Programme Reference: RESPONSE TO REPORT ON PROGRAMME VALIDATION VERSION DRAFT 1.0 JUNE 2011

2 Table of Contents 1 Introduction Background Recommendations Observations Changes to Programme Documents WKPL3101 Work Placement Module Alternative to Work Placement Teams Project Training Course/Workshop Company Visits Learning Outcomes MICR3201 Networked Embedded Systems BUS3201 Financial Management RPL Statement Cisco Education ii

3 1 Introduction Proposed title Nature and duration of programme DIT awards sought BTech in Networking Technologies 3 years full-time Bachelor of Technology in Networking Technologies Higher Certificate in Networking Technologies Classifications of awards Professional/external accrediting body Distinction; Merit Upper Division; Merit Lower Division; Pass N/A 1.1 Background The proposed programme is designed to prepare school leavers and mature applicants to work in all industrial, commercial and service organisations, to support their communications and computer networks and to provide ancillary technical services. To date graduates from the Higher Certificate in Electronic and Computer Systems progressed to the one-year add on BEngTech in Electronic and Computer Systems. However, this Higher Certificate was redesigned in the context of a decline in student intake and was revalidated as a Higher Certificate in Networking Technologies. It follows therefore that the one-year add on BEngTech should be redesigned. It was decided that the two programmes should be merged into an ab initio level 7 programme, with the option of a Higher Certificate exit award. This document provides Programme Committee response to Report on Programme Validation (Q3). to Validation Report (Q3) 1 of 10 June 2011

4 2 Recommendations 1 The Panel recommends that the Programme Committee should develop an alternative activity to the work placement for those students who are unable to secure a placement, whether this is a project or additional modules. The Panel notes that the Programme Committee intends to submit proposals for approval through the College processes. The Programme Work Placement document has been produced. The document clearly indicates the purpose, structure, assessment approaches, etc. It also identifies all stakeholders and their roles and responsibilities. The programme documents have been extended to include a description of an Alternative to Work Placement. The descriptor of the Work Placement Module has been modified to better reflect the programme learning outcomes. The Work Placement Document, and new descriptor are given in Section 4.1 of this document. 2 The Panel recommends that the stated learning hours for the networking modules and the project should be amended to reflect the allocation of 10 ECTS to these modules, otherwise the credit allocation for these modules should be reconsidered. The module descriptors and relevant programme documents have been updated to reflect the required learning hours for the following modules: Code ECTS Title Weekly hours In-class Independent Lecture/ Lab Learning* Learning tutorial NETW Network Fundamentals (CCNA 1) NETW Routing Protocols and Concepts (CCNA 2) NETW LAN Switching & Wireless (CCNA 3) NETW WAN Technologies (CCNA4) PROJ Project 4 8 * Further in class learning. e.g. in-class assessment etc. The above changes have been sent to College of Engineering and Built Environment AQE committee. to Validation Report (Q3) 2 of 10 June 2011

5 3 The Panel recommends that the phrasing of some of the module learning outcomes should be reviewed, to reflect more clearly the programme level. The learning outcomes for Stage 3 modules have been reviewed. All changed modules are specified in Section 4.3 of this document. These changes have been sent to College of Engineering and Built Environment AQE committee. 4 The Panel recommends that all information given to students regarding this programme should be clear as to the implications of following this programme compared to other level 7 programmes which are accredited by Engineers Ireland, in particular in relation to the mathematics requirement. The programme documents (Part B, Access, Transfer and Progression Section) and Student handbook have been extended to include the following: While graduates are not eligible to progress directly to stage 3 of DT081 (Level 8) BEng (Honours) in Communications and Computer Engineering, they are eligible to apply for direct entry to stage 2 of DT081 programme provided they undertake and successfully complete, achieving a lower merit grade or better, two bridging modules drawn from DT081/1, thus: MATH1301 Mathematics 1 COMP1602 Computer Programming 2 5 The Panel recommends that the RPL statement in the Programme Document should be reviewed to ensure its compatibility with the DIT RPL policy. The Programme RPL Statement has been reviewed by Dr Anne Murphy (DIT RPL Policy Officer). The programme RPL statement will be changed as specified in Section 4.4 of this document. to Validation Report (Q3) 3 of 10 June 2011

6 6 The Panel recommends that as part of the recruitment strategy for this programme the Programme Committee might consider targeting second level girls schools in order to increase the number of females on the programme. The Programme Committee plans to investigate recruitment strategies deployed in other engineering schools with the view of increasing the number of female students. In the past, the School (together with other schools in the Faculty of Engineering) had visited a number of second level girls schools, but there was no correlation between the number/frequency of visits and the number of female applicants. to Validation Report (Q3) 4 of 10 June 2011

7 3 Observations 1 The Panel acknowledges that Cisco certification is not an integral part of the DIT award, however it recognises the importance of this certification to students. Therefore it suggests that the Student Handbook could provide an overview of all Cisco Certified Network Academy (CCNA) modules to inform students of Cisco career paths, as well as the means to obtaining Cisco certification, ie where examinations should be taken at the end of each module or at the end of CCNA4. The Programme Document Part A and Student Handbook will be changed as specified in Section of this document. 2 The Panel notes the School s intention to develop an Honours degree add-on to this programme and it suggests that the following areas which currently do not feature significantly in the level 7 programme, might be considered for inclusion in a level 8 programme or within the level 7 programme: testing (eg ISEB testing certification), Voice Over IP/PABX/ Skype), virtualisation, cloud computing, large storage mechanisms (eg SANS, RAID), scripting and script languages (SED or awk), IT room design (eg power, heat), video requirements on the network, MPLS. The Programme Committee welcomes the panel s suggestions and will give every effort to incorporate the suggested topics and areas to the new Honours degree add-on to : 3 The Panel notes the derogations sought from the General Assessment Regulations as outlined above and is happy to support these. The derogations sought from the General Assessment Regulations were approved by DIT Academic Council on March, 16 th to Validation Report (Q3) 5 of 10 June 2011

8 4 The Panel notes that the School intends to submit proposals for the transfer of existing students on years one and two of the Higher Certificate in Networking Technologies to the new BTech programme and that these proposals will be submitted for approval within the Institute. Fourteen DT089/2 students have requested to be transferred to the new /2. The request has been forwarded to Kevin St Registrations Office. to Validation Report (Q3) 6 of 10 June 2011

9 4 Changes to Programme Documents 4.1 WKPL3101 Work Placement Module Pre-Requisite Modules code(s) Co-Requisite Modules code(s) ECTS Credits Module Code Module Title None None 20 WKPL3101 Work Placement WKPL3101 Work Placement Module Author: Lejla Rovcanin Module Description: This module provides the student with an opportunity to work in a relevant business/industrial placement for the duration of four to seven months. In the event that an external work placement is not feasible the procedures outlined in the Alternative to Work Placement, described in the Work Placement Document, will apply. This module normally occurs in the first semester of Stage 3 of the programme. Module Aim: The aims of this module are to: Provide students with exposure to the practices, procedures and structures of a commercial/industrial/business/government workplace environment. Further develop the student s awareness of the need for the development of effective communication skills and team work. Offer the student the opportunity to apply his/her knowledge and skills in a work place setting. Increase the prospects of future employment (e.g. offer the student exposure to potential employers) Expose the student the processes at different levels within a company. Help the student to reflect on his/her expectations of job and career. Learning Outcomes: On completion of this module, the learner will be able to: 1. Prepare relevant documents for seeking work placement: Curriculum Vitae, letter of application, etc. 1. Integrate into a work environment, observing the rules of that work place regarding, for example, punctuality, health and safety regulations, environmental legislation and completing tasks/work as may be set down by the supervisor. 2. Demonstrate their communication and teamwork skills in a working environment. 3. Apply knowledge, skills and competencies acquired during the programme of study to the analysis and solution of workplace problems. 4. Describe the organisational structure and business aims and how work is planned and organised within the placement company. 5. Present the outcomes of their work placement, evaluate the success of the work placement and write a professional report on the experience. 6. Reflect on the effect of the work placement and analyse the learning experience resulting from the work placement. Learning and Teaching Methods: Work experience and regular reporting of the activity. Module Content: to Validation Report (Q3) 7 of 10 June 2011

10 Specific to the particular Work Placement Module Assessment: Students are required to prepare a report. A presentation will be made by the student to his/her peers. Students will also be required to submit monthly learning reports as well as weekly progress reports. Logbook and Monthly learning reports 30% Final Work Placement Report 40% Work placement presentation to peers 10% Performance Assessment (by Industrial Supervisor) 20% Essential Reading: As appropriate to the particular Work Placement. Supplemental Reading: Further Details: As appropriate to the particular Work Placement Work Placement document contains more details (e.g. roles, responsibilities, assessment, templates, forms, etc.). DATE of Academic Council approval 4.2 Alternative to Work Placement The alternative to work placement will be a technical group project Teams Teams of 3 to 4 students will work together on an assigned project. The students will have both group and individual tasks (e.g. develop and deliver a training workshop, write reports, etc.) Project The aim of the project is to design and develop a product or service and could include a proposal to create a company to deliver such product/service. Apart from the technical content, a strong emphasis will be placed on the business/entrepreneurial aspects of the project. Each team will develop a business plan, market research report, Health and Safety policy etc. The finished project will be commercialisation ready, and the teams will develop accompanying webpage, video artefacts, promotional leaflets, and other marketing material. Normally, each project will be linked with a real client. Potential clients include, but are not limited to DIT societies, research groups, communities, etc. Where possible, relevant companies (manufacturing/selling similar products/services) will be visited. The teams will be based in the School. All students are expected to successfully complete DIT Health and Safety and Manual handling on-line courses. Students will spend on average 8 hours a day working on the project tasks for the duration of semester 1. Students attendance and punctuality will be monitored. to Validation Report (Q3) 8 of 10 June 2011

11 4.2.3 Training Course/Workshop Each student will deliver a 60 minute training course/workshop to his or her peers by the end of the work placement alternative. The course should address an important aspect of the project work. The student will use a number of resources in researching the training material such as, Internet resources, DIT library resources, etc. The primary source of information for the training course will be DIT modules from a College other than our own. The student will identify relevant modules and provide a justification of the relevance of the chosen module. The table below provides a few examples of possible training courses and relevant modules. Training Course Examples Relevant Module How to market product x in an international market French Culture & Society Using the social web to marked a product Online Marketing Using viral marketing as a sales tool E-Marketing, Digital Media Using statistics to improve product design Introduction to Statistics Developing a management strategy for a new business Strategic Management 1 Table1. Sample training course topics and relevant module The student is expected to attend and participate in a 5 ECTS module. Full attendance on their chosen module is compulsory and will be recorded. The purpose of attending the module is to expose the students to different learning environments and to aid the student s preparations for the training course, therefore the student will not engage in the chosen module assessment. The primary goal of this training course and attendance at the chosen module is so that the students will gain experience of a different environment such as their work placement colleagues will have. In addition they will gain valuable communications skills during the process Company Visits The students will visit relevant companies to learn about their structure, origin, the products, markets, current issues, etc. As a part of the work placement alternative activities, each team will identify relevant companies in the area (a number of companies that produce a product/service similar in nature to the project) and establish contacts with a view to visiting the companies. All communication with any external body will be approved by the academic supervisors. During the visit the project team may present their project/proposals and perhaps receive a presentation and tour of company. The aim of the visit is to learn about the production or delivery of the product/service; for instance, the students could investigate if the company outsources manufacturing or servicing of the products and relate this to their own business plans etc. Furthermore, the company structure, size (number of staff employed, turnover, etc.) marketing strategies, current issues etc. will be investigated and consequently reported on. This will require additional research by the students to complement material 4.3 Learning Outcomes Learning outcomes are updated for the following modules: MICR3201 Networked Embedded Systems On completing this course the student will be able to: o Analyse the architecture of an advanced microcontroller to Validation Report (Q3) 9 of 10 June 2011

12 o Compare the relationship between IEEE and ZigBee protocols and analyse the electrical principles behind ZigBee transmissions o Determine and select components that make up a ZigBee network and implement one o Identify ZigBee security options o Analyse common AT commands and syntax o Determine the basic components of an RFID system, and use them to synthesise common problems o Configure the RFID reader to enable communication with either ICODE or Mifare transponders o Read and write data from and to RFID transponders BUS3201 Financial Management On completion of this module, the learner will be able to: o Prepare a set of accounts and other financial statements required to set up and organise a limited company. o Analyse a set of these accounts to provide financial information for a range of interested parties o Prepare a cash flow statement for a viable business o Set up a costing structure for stock valuation, pricing, planning and control of a business o Organise a budget structure to provide timely and comprehensive information for management to run the business efficiently. o Identify the breake-even point of the business activity by differentiating between fixed and variable costs. o Assess the long term capital investment requirements of a business. o Put all of the above in the context of setting up and maintaining a business 4.4 RPL Statement Point 3 of the programme RPL statement was augmented as follows: Exemptions are granted with ECTS credits but without grade. All granted exemptions will be recorded using appropriate DIT information systems (e.g. BANNER) so that they can be distinguished from standard results The following point was added (this is Point 8): Grounds for appeal are outlined in DIT Policies and Procedures for RPL document. Final point is updated with the current URL as follows: More information about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at DIT is available on the DIT website at: to Validation Report (Q3) 10 of 10 June 2011

13 4.5 Cisco Education The CISCO Certification section of the Student Handbook and Cisco Education section of the Programme Document Part A were extended to include the list of Cisco certification levels as follows: The Cisco Networking Academy Program offers five levels of IT certification: o Entry, o Associate, o Professional, o Expert, o Architect. The CCNA certification is highly valued in the global networking industry and provides validation of the skills and knowledge required for entry-level networking careers. to Validation Report (Q3) 11 of 10 June 2011