Hazel Hall's paper presented at Scottish Information Network meeting, Edinburgh, 20 April 2004.

1. Skills for the modern
information industry
The view from Higher Education
Hazel Hall
School of Computing, Napier University
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2. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Presentation content
• Napier University
• School of Computing
• Undergraduate provision
– Focus on BSc Information Technology Management
• Postgraduate provision
– Focus on two new programmes: MSc Information Services
Integration and MSc Information Systems Project Management
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3. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Napier University
• “New” university - tradition of teaching and “relevance”
• 13,000 students
• Programmes designed with specific careers in mind
• 80% programmes offer placements
• Professional accreditation
• 97% Napier graduates in employment/further study within six
months of graduation
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4. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
School of Computing, Napier University
• Largest School of Computing in Scotland
• 1500 students (full time equivalent) - HND, undergraduate,
postgraduate
• 70 academic staff
• Merchiston campus
• Recent high ratings
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5. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
(QAA) report 2002
Well-chosen range of
teaching techniques.
A strongly supportive and Well-managed
collegiate atmosphere in work experience
the School. placement.
Imaginative use of the
impressive information
technology. The quality of
The quality of teaching learning resources
and learning is is commendable.
commendable. Project and dissertation
guidelines are excellent. Staff are dedicated,
skilled and
approachable.
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6. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Research assessment
• Computer Science - 3a
• Library and Information Management - 4
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7. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Research assessment
• Computer Science - 3a
• Library and Information Management - 4
Top Scottish Equal 6th position
University rating nationally
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8. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Teaching provision
• Choice - route, placement, full-time/part-time
• Breadth of curricula
• Practical skills/theory balance (“innovation” - QAA)
• Skills for employment - graduates who can
– solve problems in the “real” world
– adapt to change
– have ethical awareness and interest in professional issues
– learn independently
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9. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Undergraduate provision - suites
• Information Systems
– 3(4) programmes
• Computing
– 6(7) programmes
• Direct Entry (DEBS)
– 4 programmes
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10. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Undergraduate provision - suites
• Information Systems
– 3(4) programmes including BSc Information Technology
Management
• Computing Programme Leader
– 6(7) programmes Brian Davison
• Direct Entry (DEBS)
– 4 programmes
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11. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
BSc Information Technology Management
Year 1 Ordinary degree after 3 years.
Honours degree after 4 years.
Optional 12 month placement.
Year 2
Placement Year 3
Year 3 Year 4
Year 4 Complete studies June
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Complete studies January

12. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Specialist subject skills BSc ITM - examples of
modules
• Business information sources
• Business intelligence
• Business systems analysis
• Information strategy
• Information systems management
• Knowledge management
• Security of information systems
• Strategic management
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13. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Specialist subject skills BSc ITM - examples of
modules
• Business information sources
• Business intelligence
• Business systems analysis
• Information strategy
• Information systems management
• Knowledge management
• Security of information systems
• Strategic management
• Plus final year project (dissertation) 13

14. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Postgraduate provision - established programmes
• Networking
• Information systems
• Software technology MSc
• Interactive technology for e-commerce
• Multimedia and interactive systems
• Software engineering
• Plus PhD
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15. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Postgraduate provision - new programmes
• MSc Information Services Integration - led by Colin Smith
• MSc Information Systems Project Management - led by Pritam
Chita
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16. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Postgraduate provision - new programmes
• MSc Information Services Integration - led by Colin Smith
• MSc Information Systems Project Management - led by Pritam
Chita
Requisite knowledge for PRINCE 2 Foundation exam
Subject to validation, first intake September 2004 16

17. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
New programme innovation is responsive to
organisational and student demands
• content tied to “real” world
• staff input based on research with industry and consultancy
• students encouraged to use own organisation in assessment
work
• delivery meets organisational and student constraints
• part-time delivery - 1 weekend per semester (Friday evening,
all day Saturday), fortnightly 4 hour classes on Thursday
evenings
• 100% course work assessed
• CPD opportunities
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18. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
New programme structure
Module 1 Module 2
Year 1
Module 3 Module 4
Eligible for postgraduate certificate
Module 5 Module 6
Year 2
Module 7 Module 8
Eligible for postgraduate diploma
Year 3
DISSERTATION 18
Eligible for MSc

19. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
MSc Information Services Integration
Knowledge architecture Strategic thinking for IS
Year 1
People in organisations Content integration
Eligible for postgraduate certificate
Technology challenges Managing service partnerships
Year 2
Security compliance Action oriented research
Eligible for postgraduate diploma
Year 3
DISSERTATION 19
Eligible for MSc

20. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
MSc Information Systems Project Management
Knowledge architecture Strategic thinking for IS
Year 1
People in organisations Project management
Eligible for postgraduate certificate
Technology challenges Project environments
Year 2
Commercial risk management Action oriented research
Eligible for postgraduate diploma
Year 3
DISSERTATION 20
Eligible for MSc

21. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Skills for the modern information industry
• Skills in understanding - of concepts and principles (i.e. theory);
analysis, implementation and management of information
services solutions (i.e. practice).
• Skills in application of concepts and principles.
• Skills in evaluation of information services management and its
deployment to solve problems.
• Skills in independent judgement and critical awareness - to
enquire, analyse, think creatively, reflect, reason, communicate.
• Skills in achieving individual potential - basis for future personal
development, continuing professional development.
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22. Skills for the modern information industry - Hazel Hall
Contacts
• www.soc.napier.ac.uk
• Hazel - h.hall@napier.ac.uk
• Brian - b.davison@napier.ac.uk (BSc Information Technology
Management)
• Colin - cf.smith@napier.ac.uk (MSc Information Services
Integration)
• Pritam - p.chita@napier.ac.uk (MSc Information Systems
Project Management)
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