Computer Network Management Foundation Degree with Open University Validation Services (OUVS)

Computer Network Management Foundation Degree with Open University Validation Services (OUVS)

What's the course about?

This course has been developed by The Manchester College in partnership with businesses, Cisco and Microsoft to equip students with the skills and knowledge employers need for a range of professional IT careers related to networking. It is also designed to promote and develop a broad range of skills, personal qualities and approaches that will provide a platform for further study, successful career advancement and lifelong learning.

The combination of academic and vocational skills will enable students to make an immediate contribution in employment.

Students will have the opportunity to gain vendor qualifications in industry standard products e.g. Microsoft (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator on windows 2003) and CISCO (CISCO Certified Network Associate). They will develop practical skills in network administration within the infrastructure, implementation of Active directory and troubleshooting, and in the use of Windows 2003 Enterprise edition operating system. Students will also gain knowledge and understanding of a broad range of subjects, methods and products relevant to work in the computer industry.

The college is a member of the Microsoft IT Academy Programme. Membership allows the department to use the latest Microsoft Academic Curriculum materials within the programme. This is a new development by Microsoft to deliver their successful commercial training in an academic environment. We have available the very latest Microsoft software used by many commercial organisations and furthermore students are allowed a license to use time-limited Microsoft evaluation software for personal use. A number of modules have been customised to map on to the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator qualification on 2003 to provide coverage of the key skills needed by Microsoft Networking Technicians. The college also has Cisco Regional Academy status which allows the department to use the latest Cisco Academic Curriculum materials within the programme.

This innovative programme, delivered by The Manchester College, has been validated by Open University Validation Services as being of an appropriate standard and quality to lead to the Open University validated award of Foundation Degree in Computer Network Management (OUVA).

Where students have the necessary proof that they have already completed the relevant training then they will get exemptions from those units already studied and be able to fast track the course in a shorter timescale.

Areas studied:

• Network Fundamentals
• Network Software
• Information Systems for Organisations
• Internet Technology
• Network Environment Management
• Network Design and Implementation
• Wide Area Network Design and Implementation
• Network Security
• Project Management

There are also units which develop personal effectiveness and employment skills. In addition, a key feature of the course is work-based learning.

Assessment on the programme will make use of a range of student activities including reports, oral presentations, group work, practical assignments, MCQ tests and time-constrained tests. Use will also be made of peer assessment. All course units have a lecture component and all lectures are supported by tutorials, seminars and practical classes as appropriate to the subject.

Achievement is evidenced by the student producing a portfolio of evidence indicating how the skills and key skills learned during their time on the foundation degree are relevant to their job role.

How long is the course and when will it be taught?

This course can be studied for 18 hours per week during the day (full-time) over two years, 12 hours per week during the day (part time) over two and a half years or eight hours per week during the day or evening (part-time) over three years. The course aims to be as flexible as possible to fit in with the needs of employed students and modular accreditation is available.

What will I be able to do after I've completed this course?

One of the key features of this course is that it has been designed with employers, to prepare students for a variety of professional IT careers such as network administrator, network designer; network professional, network technician or specialised network help desk administrator.

For those students wishing to progress further on an academic basis, the course may allow progression onto Salford University's BSc (Hons) in Information Technology. In addition the Open University also allows progression onto the BSc (Hons) in Information and Communication Technologies programme that can be studied distance learning.