Diploma in Information and Communications Technology in Communication Networks

Programme Objective

Entry Requirements

This qualification provides students with the necessary knowledge, competency, and skills in Communication Networks. Students who complete this programme acquire the fundamental technologies and techniques relevant to the role of a network technician with a pathway to becoming a network engineer which is a highly sought after, in-demand and valued profession. The qualification’s knowledge and skills are aligned to industry certification in computer networking which is internationally recognised.

Students who complete this programme are equipped to provide ICT solutions that mitigate terrain, cost and literacy challenges associated with the African continent by delivering sustainable digital connectivity across hard-to-reach rural areas. As a result, this programme helps build knowledge and skills that are impactful, meet societal needs and align with sustainable development goals such as access to ICT. Furthermore, connectivity through appropriate and sustainable networking solutions contributes towards the eradication of historical boundaries that prevented collaboration amongst African people.

NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC)

NSC with a diploma or bachelor's endorsement with a minimum Admission Point Score (APS):

- 22 (with Mathematics) or 24 (with Mathematics Literacy) Specific subject requirement:

- English - 4 (50-59%)

- Mathematics - 3 (40-49%) OR Mathematical Literacy - 5 (60-69%)

SENIOR CERTIFICATE (SC)

Endorsement: Full exemption/ School leaving. An E-symbol on the Higher Grade or D-symbol on the Standard Grade for English (1st language) OR D-symbol on the Higher Grade or C-symbol on Standard Grade for English (2nd language). In addition, an E-symbol on the Higher Grade, or a D-symbol on the Standard Grade for Mathematics.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE VOCATIONAL (NCV4):

Requirements as defined in the Government Gazette 32743 dated 26^th November 2009 with specific requirements as set out below:

·        50% in the three fundamental subjects which in the case of this qualification are required to be:

o   English

o   Life Orientation and

o   Mathematics – 50 % OR Mathematics Literacy – 60%.

·        In addition, 60% for any of the three following subjects:

o   Systems Analysis and Design

o   Data Communication and Networking

o   Computer Programming

o   Physical Science

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Applications from international students are considered in terms of the institutional equivalence reference document and (where required) submission qualification to SAQA for benchmarking in terms of HEQF.

MATURE AGE ENDORSEMENT

(as per WSU General Prospectus G1.6)

Graduate Attributes

Graduate Attribute 1:

·        Communicate effectively with all role players related to the ICT field the learner will operate in

Graduate Attribute 2:

·        Develop communication networks based on a need assessment.

Graduate Attribute 3:

·        Solve communication network problems for a given scenario.

Graduate Attribute 4:

·        Administer communication networks.

Graduate Attribute 5:

·        Implement and maintain a secure communication network.

Graduate Attribute 6:

·        Use programming skills to address networking issues.

Graduate Attribute 7:

·        Implement and maintain enterprise communication network policies

Teaching and learning strategy.

WSU promotes student centred, technology-infused teaching & learning strategy that accommodates diversity of students (WSU Teaching and Learning Policy). Teaching and learning is underpinned by an active learning approach where students learn from experience, engage with each other and take an active role in their own learning under the facilitation and\or supervision of lecturers through students’ discussions, group work, projects, practical sessions and presentations amongst others.

Towards responding to societal needs in an ethical, scholarly, sustainable, and entrepreneurial manner, the programme imbeds a student-centred learning approach in meeting the local community needs through community-based projects conducted by students under the guidance of lecturers. The students are fashioned to appreciate the importance of originality and intellectual property rights using plagiarism tools, etc. The teaching material ignites the spark in students towards an individual-based inquiry approach by building on the scaffold provided by the teaching staff. Through problem-solving case studies and lessons, students are encouraged to combine application development knowledge and technical skills to address immediate social issues in broader society. This approach encourages students to explore innovative and entrepreneurial ways to link their learning to potential work environments and respond to societal needs.

Through this approach, this programme incorporates and fosters information and communication technology as a central component in students learning environment and practices even beyond educational settings. To this end, learning technological tools to supplement in-class activities such as computers, audio and visual media, internet-based support and application development software are made available to achieve and further learning goals.

Assessment strategy

The overall assessment strategy in the curriculum and materials development stage of module development, and includes the module assessment criteria, as well as the formative and summative assessment, and moderation to be done in each module (WSU Assessment Policy, 2022)

Formative assessment measures students’ progress during the learning process to provide ongoing and incremental feedback. It includes a range of formal and informal assessments typically to monitor the progress being made towards achieving learning outcomes and obtaining a year/ semester mark or predicate, i.e. admission to the summative assessment (WSU Assessment Policy, 2022)

Summative assessment takes place after the learning has been completed, i.e. at the end of a quarter, semester, or year, and provides information and feedback that sums up the teaching and learning process. The intention behind summative assessment is to validate performance and award marks and results (WSU Assessment Policy, 2022)

Progression and Exclusion Rules

Students must complete 360 SAQA credits to be considered for graduation.

Each programme has a set of pre-requisites that determine the combination of modules a student is eligible to register for.

A Diploma student may not register for more than 120 credits in any one academic year.

A student may be promoted to the next level of study, provided he/she has obtained at least 50% of the credits from the previous level. But enrolment for courses in higher levels are subject to meeting the pre-requisite requirements.

A student must enrol for the course/s failed before registering for the course/s in the next level of study.

The specific rules on exclusion for the Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks programmes are as follows:

Refer to 15.8 of the faculty prospectuses and G6 and G7 of the general prospectus for progression and exclusion rules.

RPL and Credit Transfer

Recognition to Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be used to demonstrate competence for admission to this qualification in line with the university’s RPL policy.  Refer to requirements as per 2024 WSU General Prospectus – Section 4, paragraphs 1.6 and 1.7.

Credit Transfer

Student are allowed to apply for formal credits recognition for modules / courses attained from other institutions, according to the university’s policy on credit transfers.

Articulation rules

Preceding

NSC or equivalent

Vertical Articulation

Vertical articulation is possible within WSU or outside the institution.

e.g. Advanced Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks at NQF Level 7, or Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at NQF Level 7, Bachelor of Computer and Information Science at NQF level 7 or a similar Qualification at NQF Level 7 in a cognate field.

Horizontal Articulation

Horizontal articulation is possible within WSU:

e.g. Diploma in ICT in Applications Development at NQF Level 6, Diploma in ICT in Business Analysis at NQF Level 6, Diploma in ICT in Support Services at NQF Level 6.

Outside the institution, horizontal articulation is possible:

e.g. Diploma in Information Technology at NQF Level 6 or similar qualification at NQF Level 6 in a cognate field.

W60013 – Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks

Level of Study: I

#

Module Name

Module Code

Block

No. of Credits

Course Convener

Module Objective

1

Development Software I

DEV15W0

0

30

HoD

The module is designed to equip students with a solid understanding of the basic principles of programming which apply to all computer programming languages. Students are taught how to analyse problems and how to write structured algorithmic solutions using (formalised) pseudocode and the VB.Net (Console Application) programming language. Students are introduced to the concept of the Program Development Cycle and taught how to use tools associated with each stage.

2

Information Systems I

INS15W0

0

30

HoD

This module introduces students to information technology concepts such as hardware, software, telecommunications, and office automation. It also covers fundamentals of systems and information systems, types of information systems (e.g. transaction-processing systems, management information systems, decision support systems). The module also covers an introduction to relational databases and Entity Relationship Diagrams.

3

Information Technology Skills I

TSK15W0

0

30

HoD

Students taking this module will develop the life skills needed to cope with and survive in an HIV/AIDS environment. The student will also be able to locate appropriate sources of information for research purposes and be able to reference these sources, presentation, self, and group management skills needed in a multi-cultural environment. The student will acquire a basic understanding of the propositional and predicate logic and mathematical thinking that underpins all computer programming, as well as a good understanding of ethical principles relating to IT.

4

System Software I

SSO15W0

0

30

HoD

This module is designed to equip the students with basic technical skills in the information technology environment. The main emphasis is on basic hardware and software concepts. Students will be able to understand fundamentals of computer architecture, understand the fundamentals of computer networks and understand basics of Operating Systems.

Level of Study: II

#

Module Name

Module Code

Block

No. of Credits

Course Convener

Module Objective

1

Communication Networks II

CON26W0

0

30

HoD

The module is designed to equip students with a solid understanding of the basic principles of networking which apply to designing, building and maintaining Local Area Networks (LANs). Students are taught the theoretical fundamentals of data communication and the practical process of analysing a network need or a problem to formulate, document and implement a solution using standard networking tools.

2

Information Technology Electronics II

ITL25W0

0

30

HoD

The purpose of this module is to first provide knowledge of the internal functionality of the computer such as computer architecture and practice, problem-solving skills and logical approach needed to analyze an instruction set architecture and design, Assess the understanding of the fundamentals of the processor and its functions, memory and its functions within the architecture, Input and Output devices and its functionality within the computer architecture.

3

Network Programming II

NTP26W0

0

30

HoD

This module will cover the practical aspects of computer network programming, with an emphasis on the Internet. The goal of this course is to introduce the students to the basics of computer networks and Internet programming. We will introduce the students to the TCP/IP protocol stack and some of its important protocols. Students will also be introduced to I/O handling, multithreading and synchronization, URL class, secure socket programming and network server programming.

4

Distributed Systems II

DIS26W0

0

30

HoD

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to distributed systems. The module will first provide knowledge of the internal functionality of the computer operating systems such as memory, file, device and process(or) management as well as provide hands-on experience of shell scripting using a Linux platform. This module further provides a deeper understanding of distributed systems. In particular, we focus on the principles, techniques, and practices relevant to the architecture design and implementation of distributed systems.

Level of Study: III

#

Module Name

Module Code

Block

No. of Credits

Course Convener

Module Objective

1

Communication Networks III

CON36W0

0

30

HoD

This module provides knowledge and skills required to configure, deploy, secure and troubleshoot switches, routers and wireless network access points in an enterprise network environment.

2

Emerging Technologies III

ETE36W0

0

30

HoD

This module will expand a student’s knowledge of the world of computer networking. Successful completion of this course will enable a student to have a stronger theoretical and practical knowledge of how trending technologies are designed, built, and maintained to make human work more efficient through computer networks.

3

Network Security Concepts III

NSC36W0

0

30

HoD

This module is designed to equip students with a solid understanding of the basic principles of network security and essential concepts necessary to apply to computer networks of various topological nature. Students are also expected to use security standards and authorities including real-world use cases to develop mitigating strategies for securing computer networks.

4

Network Project Management III

NPM36W0

0

30

HoD

This module expands a student’s knowledge of how projects can be successfully initiated, planned, implemented and concluded. Successful completion of this module will enable a student to have a solid understanding of the basic principles of project management that apply to all IT professionals.