Bachelor of Information and Communication Technologies - Networking and Infrastructure Pathway

at Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus New Zealand

This diploma is designed to enable you to apply your leadership and management skills to contribute to the achievements of a business or organisation. It covers business basics including accounting, sales and marketing, human resources and risk management, then focuses on leadership and management aspects of business. This focus will give you the knowledge and skills to be able to plan and manage projects, manage workflow and productivity, improve performance and processes, address sustainability issues, solve problems, take responsibility for key decision making, encourage innovation and recruit, lead and manage staff.

IT industry partners have significant input into the structure and content of this programme to ensure that what is being taught continually meets industry needs. The first year covers a broad range of ICT topics that will provide you with a solid base of knowledge in software engineering (programming), hardware and networking, website development, IT tools and concepts and mathematics skills relevant to IT. In years two and three you'll choose one of three specialist pathways: Information Systems, Networking and Infrastructure or Software Development. During this time you'll develop in-depth knowledge of your chosen area through a range of compulsory and elective courses.

You'll also develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, team work, project management, time management, self-reliance and communication skills. There is a strong emphasis on practical skills and work-readiness, so wherever possible, theory is integrated and applied to practical tasks. Many courses include group activities or group projects, as the ability to work as part of a team is strongly valued by employers.

Develop the specialist skills and organisational strengths you need to support a career creating greater efficiency and increased productivity within diverse commercial settings.

In your first year of study we broaden your knowledge with core business strategies and operational subjects including accounting, business communication, commercial law, business heritage, culture and sustainability, marketing, computing, management and applied research. In the following two years, our degree programme examines all aspects of the Operations and Production Management major with studies in:

• Intermediate Management Accounting - Covers the processes and information required for effective planning, control and decision making.
• Operations Management - Develops the concepts and analytical methods for transforming inputs into completed goods and services via the management of people and resources.
• Project Management - Appraises project plans using MS Project and explores the basic principles and terminology of project management.
• Resource Integration Management - Examines aspects of supply chain management, business facility layout/modification and engineering economics, and their relation to effective business operation, technical management, project management and production of goods and services.
• Product Development - Evaluates appropriate tools and methods for achieving best outcomes and effective management across all facets of new product and service developments.

One of the most important resources in an organisation is its people. This specialisation will develop your management skills and knowledge in people and culture. During your studies you’ll analyse organisational staff behaviour and its impact on business, and learn about wellbeing leadership, health and safety and the latest employment legislation. In your final year you’ll explore advanced HR strategy and contemporary issues in human resource management.

You will develop the attributes for professional social work practice in New Zealand as you engage in study integrating practice and community within the classroom. This programme is underpinned by a philosophy of bi-culturalism and anti-oppressive practice.

Our four year programme will take you from the fundamentals of professionalism, research skills, critical thinking and informed decision making, in your first year through to your second, third and fourth years when you will take these skills to an advanced level.

Each year has an integrated practice course where learning is linked to the practice environment. In the second, third and fourth years integrated practice includes significant time in social work agencies.

In our graduate diploma you will learn methods for profiling key information on the internet and consider the value of social media for internal and external communications. Other areas of study include applied computing, advanced business analysis essentials, and the latest techniques for management of information and communication technologies. We also connect you with our industry partners to put this knowledge to use in the real world on a relevant project.

IT industry partners have significant input into the structure and content of this programme to ensure that what is being taught continually meets industry needs. The first year covers a broad range of ICT topics that will provide you with a solid base of knowledge in software engineering (programming), hardware and networking, website development, IT tools and concepts and mathematics skills relevant to IT.

In years two and three you'll choose one of three specialist pathways: Information Systems, Networking and Infrastructure or Software Development. During this time you'll develop in-depth knowledge of your chosen area through a range of compulsory and elective courses.

You'll also develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, team work, project management, time management, self-reliance and communication skills. There is a strong emphasis on practical skills and work-readiness, so wherever possible, theory is integrated and applied to practical tasks.

Human resource management requires a combination of knowledge and people skills. This programme will give you an understanding of both as you cover everything from employment relations and human resource management to communication and organisational behaviour management.

It covers business basics such as communication, human resources, business law, organisational culture, economics, risk management and problem solving, then focuses on human resource aspects of business.

This unique programme is designed for individuals who are seeking an in-depth professional development opportunity that will enable them to become an agent for change in sustainable practice.

It will enable you to explore sustainable practice through a focus on relationships between policy and practice, research, and multi-disciplinary project work. You'll also develop and apply advanced understandings of the theories, driving forces and worldviews (including Te Ao M?ori) that relate to sustainable practice within the context of your discipline-specific knowledge.

The programme facilitates collaboration and innovation and applies an interdisciplinary framework to address complex sustainability problems. Upon completion of the programme you will be able to: engage in rigorous intellectual analysis, criticism and problem solving; utilise research; and advocate for, and contribute to, more sustainable practices in a range of context

The program covers a broad range of topics and skills related to web development and design. These include determining client requirements; using frameworks and libraries; user experience design; programming concepts, applications and implementation; configuration; publishing and testing of web solutions. In addition, it covers skills in IT technical support for managing hardware and software resources. You'll also enhance your knowledge of professional, ethical and legal principles and practices, and develop your communication and interpersonal skills.