Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences - Information Technology and Computer Sciences
Purpose and Rationale
Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology (BICT)
Purpose
The Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology (BICT) aims to equip learners with ICT knowledge and computing skills to address industry and societal needs. The qualification focuses on providing theoretical, analytical, and practical knowledge in emerging ICTs, enabling professional and academic growth in fields like applications development and analytics. It aims to develop holistic practitioners with creative and innovative skills, ethical principles, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to industry and society. Additionally, the qualification aims to produce independent learners capable of research contribution and lifelong learning.
Upon completion of the qualification, learners will be able to:
- Utilize advanced ICT knowledge to solve problems and develop applications for industry and society.
- Evaluate different types of knowledge within ICT fields, including policies and practices.
- Apply various methods and techniques in ICT.
- Analyze complex ICT problems and provide effective solutions through research.
- Make ethical decisions and justify them based on appropriate values.
- Access information, validate sources, and manage information effectively.
- Communicate ideas using appropriate academic or professional discourse.
- Adapt ICT processes in diverse contexts and understand the contextual nature of problem-solving.
- Identify and address learning needs independently while reflecting on their approach for lifelong learning.
- Work efficiently in teams and take responsibility for their work and actions.
Rationale
ICT is considered a scarce skill, as highlighted in the National Labour Scarce Skills Document. The BICT program aims to stimulate economic growth and address regional, national, and international ICT needs, aligning with the Mpumalanga Provincial Growth and Development Strategy. With the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) emphasizing high-demand skill sets, the growing market for smart home devices, IoT, analytics, and mobile applications targeting IoT devices presents an opportunity for innovative projects. The BICT seeks to prepare learners for the market demand, empowering them with practical, professional, and soft skills to succeed in various ICT roles. The qualification also creates pathways for further studies, enabling learners to contribute original research to the African context and shape South Africa's future actively.
Outcomes
- Apply and evaluate key terms, concepts, principles, insights, methods and ICT technologies to solve ICT-related problems and develop applications that provide solutions to industry and society in general.
- Evaluate the different types of knowledge and explanations that are typical within the various fields of ICT, including policies and practice.
- Apply a wide range of current methods and techniques used in ICT.
- Identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex ICT problems, through independent, supervised research, using technical knowledge and expertise as well as both theoretically and empirically- grounded approaches to arrive at effective solutions.
- Take decisions and act ethically and professionally, and justify those decisions and actions drawing on appropriate ethical values and approaches within an ICT environment during interactions with different clients in different contexts.
- Develop appropriate processes for accessing and processing information for a given context, independently validate the sources of information, evaluate and manage the information.
- Develop and communicate own ideas and opinions in well-formed arguments, using the appropriate academic, disciplinary professional, or occupational register and discourse.
- Manage and adapt complex ICT processes and procedures in unfamiliar and variable contexts, and demonstrate an understanding that problem-solving is context and system bound, and does not occur in isolation.
- Identify, evaluate and address his or her learning needs in a self-directed manner and reflect on the success of their approach in a manner that facilitates lifelong learning.
- Work effectively and efficiently in a team as a member and as a leader in a manner that facilitates collaborative learning with other fellow learners. Take full responsibility for own work and, where applicable, that of fellow learners, as well as accountability for own actions and where necessary, those of fellow learners.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Identify and apply key terms, concepts, principles, insights, methods, and ICT technologies to solve ICT-related problems.
- Analyse and evaluate a range of current methods used in ICT technologies in all written and oral presentations.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Explore and debate the pace of change and development in ICT, and the implications thereof in all written and oral presentations.
- Identify and evaluate different types of knowledge and explanations, including policies and practice within the various ICT fields.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Critically analyse a range of methods, including statistical methods, and techniques used in familiar and unfamiliar project scenarios and the research project.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Select and apply a range of methods of enquiry in ICT and their suitability to specific investigations to resolve problems in industry and society.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Assess and debate the ethical issues in the information technology design to address the ICT challenges.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Access information from a range of sources.
- Evaluate information and validate sources.
- Manage information efficiently and effectively using appropriate databases.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Prepare and present written reports and oral presentations using the appropriate technology and language for the audience.
- Use the correct format for referencing to eliminate plagiarism.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Selected based on the context a range of advanced knowledge and appropriate skills, methods, and technologies to address problems in familiar and unfamiliar scenarios, and real industry and community settings.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Identify, evaluate, and address learning needs and reflect on the success of the self-directed and autonomous approach to ICT projects to facilitate lifelong learning.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
- Successfully plan, execute, complete, and submit on time individual and group assignments.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 360
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.