The IT Diploma October 2006

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The IT Diploma October 2006
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Agenda

• Timeline
• Objectives
• Employer Higher Education views
• Level 3 architecture and outcomes
• Discussion

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Overall timeline tranche 1
June 2006
Sept 2007
Sept 2008
Oct 2005
Design Diploma
STAGE 1
Develop qualifications
STAGE 2
Prepare for delivery
STAGE 3
First teaching
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Diploma objectives

• Develop talent and help students fulfil their
  potential in life, learning and work
• Boost students achievements in education
• Boost students employability, whether directly
  or after Higher Education
• Encourage more students into technology-related
  careers (especially girls)

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Reflecting a changing world

• The global IT industry
• UK IT industry growing 5 8 times faster than UK
  average
• Programming and traditional roles - India,
  China
• UK demand is up the value chain - business
  innovation, IT-enabled process change, customer
  support roles
• The knowledge economy
• Increasing needs for higher-level skills and
  lifelong learning
• Adaptable workforce managing constant change
• IT skills across the workforce (technology in
  business / technology strategy)

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Some facts and issues

• 1.2 million people in the IT workforce growth
  replacement 150,000 a year.
• 80 of IT workforce is male and 80 of IT
  undergraduates are male.
• Employer recruitment into IT professional roles
  shows strong preference for experienced hires and
  graduates. Only 9 in the last year recruited
  college / school leavers.
• Of the graduates entering IT careers, 55 are
  from degrees other than IT.
• The HE IT curriculum tends to be technical
  computing, not integrated IT and business (which
  is the predominant employment requirement).
• Computing A-level decline 28,000 students in
  2003 6,200 students in 2006.
• The school IT (ICT) curriculum is predominantly
  IT user oriented.
• Misperceptions about IT professional careers
  abound.

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The IT Diploma

• Equipping all students with the capability to
  thrive in the e-economy
• - Future IT workforce
• - Future business managers and leaders
• - All individuals
• Focus on technology in business (not IT user
  skills)

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Example jobs post-diploma

• Non graduate entry
• Small business IT Doctor
• Network Technician
• Graphics Designer
• Web Designer
• Systems Operator
• Technical Support
• Entrepreneur

• Graduate entry
• Trainee Business Analyst
• Trainee Project Manager
• Trainee Technical Specialist
• Trainee Application Designer
• Web Developer
• Sales or Marketing
• Entrepreneur

Or many other careers in any other sector!
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Employer views
Current issues You dont know what you are
getting what can a person can actually do.
I dont understand the qualifications
structure. Standards are not high enough,
especially in English. Need more focus on
building and assessing competence.
The Diploma must Seize the opportunity
for clarity and simplicity. Be the
preferred route for employers and universities,
and exciting for students. Set a clear
standard so employers know what a person can do
must reflect achievement and
employability. Be business / IT, not just
technical IT, and create well rounded students.
Include meaningful work-related
experience. Be properly supported by
employers we need to contribute more.
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Employer Steering Group
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Higher Education views
Current issues Standards are not high
enough. English and Maths present significant
issues. Need to develop critical thinking
and depth of understanding. Very concerned
about drop off in applications.
The Diploma Is spot onthe subject matter
is right. Theres no point knowing a lot about
technology if you cant apply it
Is just what is neededprovides an excellent
grounding Looks goodthis combination of
technical, business and practical is right
But Finding teachers is going to be
really hard Computer Science tends to be
separate from business in HE
Realistically, we are likely to take a wait and
see approach
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Critical Success Factors

• For the IT line of learning to succeed, it must
• Blend business, technical and interpersonal
  competencies
• Be the preferred route for employers and all
  universities
• Provide a broad, rounded education (changing
  world)
• Demand clear standards of achievement (including
  English!)
• Have rigour, integrity, relevance a truly new
  approach

And there needs to be coherence between the
Diploma and IT-related A-levels
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Level 3 Diploma

• Overall architecture / balance of content
• Mandatory Learning (Generic Principal)
• High level Learning Outcomes
• Transferable skills
• Module specification
• Additional / Specialist Learning
• Discussion

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LEVEL 3 OVERALL ARCHITECTURE
ADDITIONALOR SPECIALISED LEARNING
GENERIC AND PRINCIPAL LEARNING
The potential of technology
Understanding organisations
Professional development
Making projects successful
Creating technology solutions
Managing technology systems
Core technology skills programming / data
analysis / security
EXTENDED PROJECT
Extended project
WORK EXPERIENCE
PLANNING AND REVIEW CYCLE
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LEVEL 3 MANDATORY LEARNING
Understanding organisations
Professional development
The potential of technology
Making projects successful
BUSINESS
PEOPLE
TECHNOLOGY
Creating technology solutions
Managing technology systems
Extended project
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Maturing Transferable Skills
Level 1
Level 3
Level 2
English and Communication Team Working Critical
Analysis Problem Solving Self-management Creati
ve Thinking Reflective Learning Maths Use of ICT
e.g. Written English business letter
- short business report -
detailed investment case
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L3 mandatory content high-level outcomes

• Assess the contribution of technology in the
  global business environment, and create business
  cases for technology-enabled business solutions.
• Identify and describe the fundamentals of how
  organisations operate and key factors
  underpinning business performance.
• Communicate and operate effectively in the
  business environment, demonstrating use of
  English and Maths to the standard required in the
  professional workplace.
• Identify key factors in the success or failure of
  projects and develop high quality project plans
  relevant to realistic work environments.
• Design and develop software solutions that
  deliver identified business benefits, including
  demonstrating competencies in programming, data
  management and security.
• Support small-scale system operations, including
  systems management, technical problem solving and
  change management.
• Demonstrate effective inter-personal skills
  including team working, critical analysis and
  problem solving, self-management, creative
  thinking and reflective learning.

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Module specification

• For each module of the Diploma, we are setting
  out
• Purpose
• Module descriptor
• Learning Outcomes
• Knowledge and Understanding
• Applied competencies
• Transferable Skills
• Example content
• Example employer contribution
• Guidance to support delivery and assessment

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Additional Learning (Level 3)

• Options, supported by guidance on HE / employer
  relevance)
• A. A-levels (any except Computing or ICT
• B. IT-related qualifications
• B1 Specialist Learning units building on
  Principal Learning
• Level 3
• Stretch content (created with HE)
• B2 IT professional qualifications (approved
  list)
• C. Modules from other Level 3 Diplomas

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Discussion

• To ensure this is highly attractive to HE
• What are the Critical Success Factors?
• Any input on structure or content?
• Any input on grading and assessment policies?