Educational aims
This diploma aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to underpin a career in network engineering. It will develop your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental technologies and techniques, and the issues involved in their application. In addition, it will:
- prepare you to keep ahead in a rapidly changing subject area by helping you to develop as an independent learner
- develop relevant skills in communication, numeracy, and collaborative working
- enable you to apply your learning in your private, social and professional life.
The diploma is mapped to the Network Engineer HTQ occupational map, delivering its specified KSBs (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours).
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this qualification, you’ll have knowledge and understanding of:
- a broad critical understanding of the fundamental principles, concepts and techniques underlying computing and IT
- a range of models and languages to support the analysis and design of computing and IT systems
- the range of situations in which computing and IT systems are used, how people interact with them, and the possibilities and limitations of such systems
- the ethical, social and legal issues that can be associated with the development and deployment of computing and IT systems
- major trends in computing and IT and the implications of these trends.
Cognitive skills
On completion of this qualification, you’ll be able to:
- apply and critically evaluate key computing and IT concepts in a range of contexts
- compare, contrast, critically analyse and refine specifications and implementations of software systems or simple hardware systems.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of this qualification, you’ll be able to:
- analyse, design, evaluate and test computing and IT systems, using appropriate simulation and modelling tools where appropriate
- plan and organise yourself and your work appropriately, including keeping systematic records of work in progress and outcomes
- demonstrate the ability to undertake ongoing learning to keep up to date with computing and IT
- identify and address the ethical, social and legal issues that may arise during the development and use of computing and IT systems
- use appropriate professional tools to support your work.
Key skills
On completion of this qualification, you’ll be able to:
- communicate information, arguments, ideas and issues clearly and appropriately, bearing in mind the audience for and the purpose of your communication
- work in a group, communicating effectively in a distance setting where the communication is computer-mediated
- work independently, planning, monitoring, reflecting on and improving your learning
- find, assess and apply information from a variety of sources, using information technology where necessary
- select and use accurately, appropriate numerical and analytical techniques to solve problems
- recognise and understand a range of technological problems, and select suitable techniques for solving them.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
You’ll learn independently, using the following types of material provided by us:
- printed and online teaching texts
- multimedia online packages
- directed readings from textbooks and papers
- specialised software tools.
We’ll support your learning with:
- self-assessment questions and exercises included in the teaching texts
- programming tasks, computer-based investigations and open-ended project work
- feedback and guidance from a tutor, tutorials and revision
- email and online moderated forums
- study guides.
We’ll assess your learning with:
- tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
- multiple-choice computer-marked assignments (CMAs)
- interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs)
- formal examinations
- progress reports.