Griffith College Dublin

Currently there is a shortage of skilled computing/IT sector graduates in the Irish economy. It has been said that there is no recession in the IT sector and employment opportunities continue to be greater than the number of graduates.

The ICT Skills programme has been designed to address this shortage and to give opportunities to skilled graduates of non-computing disciplines. The ICT Skills programme 2013 has just been announced and the Griffith College Higher Diploma in Science in Computing programme has again been selected as one of the programmes to be offered.

The Griffith College Higher Diploma in Science in Computing is a one year programme designed for existing Level 8 graduates from non-computing disciplines who wish to change career. The Higher Diploma in the first semester focuses on core computing skills and allows the student to specialise in the second semester on Network Security. The programme will run from September 2013, pending HETAC approval of the Network Security specialisation.

This qualification, combined with an existing qualification, will make graduates attractive to potential employers. Graduates from the Higher Diploma can progress to an MSc in Computing if they wish to continue their studies.

In preparing the programme Griffith College has engaged extensively with potential employers who have committed to providing internships for suitable graduates of the programme on completion. This unique aspect of the ICT Skills programme is a very exciting development. The programme seeks to provide graduates with the skills necessary to gain employment in the I.T. sector or to proceed to obtaining higher qualifications in computing.

The learning outcomes for this programme have been aligned with the knowledge, skills and competencies indicated as appropriate for level 8 in these subjects by the National Qualification Framework.

There are ten modules on the Higher Diploma in Science in Computing. Semester one focuses on the core computing skills.

The modules in semester one are:

• Object Oriented Programming

• Relational Databases

• Architecture, Operating Systems & Networks 

• Computer Networks

• Web Development and UI Design

In semester two, learners on the programme study an area of specialisation - Network Security

The modules in semester two are:

• Managing Information Security

• Understanding Cryptography

• Network Security

• Professional Network Certification

• Project