Digital and Technology Solutions Synoptic Project Course Descriptor

Course Summary

This course is a digital technology solutions project, conceived and executed by the student. The project will demonstrate a high-level of IT technical knowledge, aligned to achieving organisational goals and enabling effective institutional change. The project may focus on any element of digital technology, technical solutions, process improvement or managerial, but must align to the student’s specialism: Software Engineer, Business Analyst, IT Consultant, Cyber Security Analyst, or Data Analyst. The project will culminate with a dissertation and presentation. The dissertation will combine research with organisational needs and project management and will enable the learner to deepen their understanding of a particular area of digital technology solutions.

Course Aims

• Give students the opportunity to carry out independent research and in-depth analysis in digital technology solutions.
• Train students to write up their findings and ideas clearly, coherently and to a high-professional standard.
• Train students to present their own arguments logically and competently, to engage specialist and non-specialist stakeholders.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Employability Skills

Teaching and Learning

The formal taught contact hours on this course are formed predominantly by online supervisory tutorials, typically 12 x 1 hour.

Students are expected to carry out independent research into the topic. Readings should include a mix of books, journal articles, policy papers and other relevant documents, depending on the topic and the approach taken in the dissertation.

Course information and supplementary materials are available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Students are also expected to manage their directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:

• Supervision = 12
• Private independent study = 588

Total = 600 hours

Assignments (see below) will be completed as part of private study

Assessment

Formative

Students will be formatively assessed during the course by means of a project plan review. This will not count towards the final degree but will provide learners with developmental feedback. 

Summative

All summative assessments will be assessed in accordance with the assessment aims set out in the programme specification.

Feedback

Students will receive formal feedback in a variety of ways: written (via email or VLE correspondence) and indirectly through online discussion groups. Students will also attend a formal meeting with their Mentor. These reviews will monitor and evaluate the learner’s progress.

Feedback is provided on summative assessment and is made available to the student either via email, the VLE or another appropriate method.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books 

• Walliman, N., (2004), Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success, London: Sage.
• Swetnam, D., (2001), Writing Your Dissertation: How to Plan, Prepare and Present Your Work Successfully, Begbroke: How To Books Ltd.

Journals

Students are encouraged to consult relevant journals on their relevant specialism.

Electronic Resources

Students are encouraged to consult relevant electronic resources on their relevant specialism.

Indicative Topics

• How to solve a business problem in an organization with technology
• Managing technology projects to a successful outcome
• Using real-world data and scenarios