How you are taught

2.1 Teaching and Learning Strategy for the Course

The teaching and learning strategy adopted on this course derives from that of the School of Electronics and Computer Science undergraduate programme, which provides the aims, structure, philosophy and rationale behind the BSc(Hons) in Business Information Systems.

Wide ranges of teaching strategies are being used to best achieve the particular module learning outcomes.

Students arriving on the course from other institutions in Uzbekistan may be used to a style of education that is more teacher-led and where there is limited opportunity to get hands-on experience with modern computing equipment. By adopting a very practical, student-centred approach, which is characteristic of courses at the University of Westminster, WIUT hopes to offer a different, more attractive and effective learning experience for students.

The teaching and learning strategy employed by the course Team aims to enable you to maximise your own individual learning style as well as developing your ability to work in teams.

• Businesses increasingly operate with teams of specialists. They require people who can communicate and interact effectively within a team, recognising and supporting leadership, being proactive in leadership, negotiating and managing conflict. It is a fundamental belief at WIUT that students learn by doing, rather than by being told. As a BSc BIS student you will be required to participate in group work in a variety of situations.

By putting students into teams and giving the teams a task to perform or product to produce it is hoped that you will gain experience upon which you can reflect and from which you can learn. There are many places in the course where this will happen, for instance, in Systems Analysis and Design students are required to work in teams on a requirements gathering exercise. They then have to communicate their findings to another group. Communication skills are enhanced as well as team-working skills.

• Increasingly, businesses will rely on people who can work independently and remotely, using technology to overcome the traditional constraints of location, time and national boundaries. The course is designed to provide in its delivery experiences that reflect not only the current world of work but also anticipate how it will develop. An example of the way in which the team illustrate this is the use of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment. For instance, module leaders may provide students with web-based learning material and provide feedback to their tutorial groups through email and web-based notices. In Introduction to Web-Publishing students learn to use the technologies that help to facilitate this new way of working and doing business. Again the assessment has a very practical edge: students design and build their own web-sites.

The experience of doing this allows for real evaluation, which in turn develops your reflective skills.

• As the content of the Level 4 modules is primarily knowledge based, the mixture of traditional and active learning approaches allows students to assimilate gradually the demands of UK higher education. Key readings covering major theories and models will be provided in lectures and you will be expected to participate in seminar exercises to develop discursive and analytic skills.

• Delivery of most modules is supported by learning materials, which will be paper and/or electronic-based. These provide key input to the module and could include: a teaching schedule; an outline of the key concepts expanded in the lecture; key readings (from original authors where possible); exhibits and mini-case studies with solutions to demonstrate the theory in practice; activities for completion during seminars to reinforce key concepts. It will also act as a mechanism to enable you to monitor your progress and achievement of the learning outcomes.

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• Technological learning support will be provided wherever possible. In the core module Data Analysis and Information Systems in Business, support for the development of key concepts is provided using interactive spreadsheets. A variety of other methods will also be used to facilitate learning e.g. computer workshops, simulations and role-play, case-study analysis, student-led seminars and group work. Lectures might include both oral and slide presentations, which in some subject areas will include software demonstrations and video clips or accessing a range of web sites. In particular, in Fundamentals to Programming, Database Systems Development and Web Applications Development modules software will be used to develop and run aspects of applications.

• Learning experience in information systems management profession is required at the current IT market for the maintenance of IT services in contemporary business organisations. Information Systems Management module will provide an understanding of business organisations in terms of their types and structures, and the information systems needed to enable those business organisations to operate successfully within their environment.

• In summary, the teaching and learning strategy used will develop your intellectual abilities; your knowledge; your powers of creativity, powers of analysis and your transferable skills. On any individual module, a combination of teaching approaches will be used depending on the nature of the subject being taught, and the specified learning outcomes.

2.2 The course skills strategy

In addition to specific business skills you will learn during your programme, you will have the opportunity to develop a range of skills, which are transferable to other contexts.

Project management skills are covered in a number of modules whilst coursework exercises often involve submission of a written report, providing you with extensive experience of report writing and in some cases oral presentations, which help develop your verbal communication skills.

Transferable skills enable you to perform a range of business related skills with awareness of the necessary techniques, their potential uses and hazards.

You will develop a degree of self-reflection and begin to recognise your own strengths and weaknesses. Transferable skills also enable you to work within a relevant ethos and assist you to access and use a range of learning resources.

Currently the University’s policy is set out in the QAA Handbook as follows:

Students need to develop key transferable skills as an integral part of their study in Higher Education, to enhance their flexibility, adaptability and autonomy in learning. The acquisition of generic skills and abilities helps students to learn effectively (promoting lifelong learning) to meet the demands of the graduate labour market. The Association of Graduate Recruiters has highlighted the five most recognised skill shortages amongst graduates as:

• Communication skills;

• Business awareness;

• Ability to work as part of a team;

• Leadership;

• Problem solving.

While the development of generic skills and abilities must be an integral aspect of Higher Education courses it must remain highly visible to the students and it must be assessed.

Key transferable skills and abilities encompass the general intellectual development of the individual. Use of a wide range of assessment formats enhances the visibility of these characteristics. Typically students are expected to demonstrate through coursework, tests, portfolio generation and examinations their ability to

• Gather and assess information;

• Organise and manipulate data;

• Think critically and evaluate their own performance;

• Work collaboratively;

• Self-manage;

• Use numbers accurately and effectively;

• Communicate effectively orally and in writing;

• Use of IT as tool and resource;

• Conceptualise and problem solve.

Students' employability should be enhanced by their increased awareness of their transferable skills and abilities.

It is part of the Course Team’s assessment strategy that the assessments of the course should encourage the development of students’ transferable skills.

The table below shows how the transferable skills map onto the assessments of Level 4,5 and 6 of the course:

Knowledge and Understanding

On completion of the BSc Business Information Systems course, students should have detailed knowledge and understanding of:

Module(s) in, which assessed

1. The application of information systems and their impact on the business operations and on an organisation as a whole.

Data Analysis and Information Management Managing information systems

2. The information systems life cycle including the major development processes/models, phases, activities, and issues relating to the development, management and maintenance of information systems

System Analysis and Design

Data Analysis and Information Management

3. The principles, methodologies, criteria and tools that can be employed in analysis, specification, development, evaluation, and management of information systems Information and Data Modelling:

System Analysis and Design Information Systems Management

4.The wider issues of quality, security, ethical principles, legislative compliance and the social and economic implication in relation to the computer industry

Information Systems Management

The issues and implications surrounding the management of information systems projects

Information Systems Management

The history and theoretical foundations of information systems and trends in application of information systems

Data Analysis and Information Management

The components of ICT e.g. hardware, software, Fundamentals of Programming

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Security and risks relating to computer systems and the implications of security breaches

Web Application Development

Specific / Practical Skills

On completion of the BSc Business Information

Systems course, students should be able to: Module(s) in which assessed Conduct critical analysis of a business

problem/situation, formulate criteria to identify and employ an appropriate strategy to solve it.

Business Information Systems Project

Information Systems Management

Identify, analyse and specify user requirements to develop or to select an appropriate information system solution

System Analysis and Design

Specify, design, develop and test information systems to address business problems.

System Analysis and design Web Application Development Database Systems Development Evaluate the quality of an information systems

solution and the effects of possible trade-offs in a particular business context.

Critically evaluate, select and apply appropriate principles, methodologies, techniques, tools and packages in the analysis, specification, development and evaluation of information systems.

Business Information Systems Project System Analysis and Design

Produce models of business processes, business data, and information systems using a industry standard modeling language

Information Systems and Data Management in Business

Select and use appropriate methods and tools to plan and manage the development of an information system.

Business Information Systems Project

Information Systems Management System Analysis and Design

Key Transferable skills

On completion of the BSc Business Information Systems course, students should be able to:

Core module(s) in, which assessed

Competently use a range of ICT applications for communication, presentation, research and learning purposes.

All core modules.

Confidently use and present data/information All core modules.

Carry out a comprehensive literature research of a given topic using a wide range of resources and justify the inclusion of ideas and techniques to benefit new custom made solution

Business Information Systems Project

Work independently and manage own time and workload. Take responsibility for own learning and become independent learners.

All core modules.

Work effectively as a member of team towards achieving a common goal

Data Analysis & Information Management in Business, System Analysis and Design

Effectively and fluently communicate critically acquired knowledge by written, oral and visual means in a clear and concise manner

Business Communications

2.3 WIUT On-line Learning Management System

The university has developed its own version of a student on line support system to reflect the conditions in Uzbekistan and to provide a resource for students and staff, to interact and provide additional support for independent learning. The WIUT Intranet has been developed to enable students to access learning resources independently and remotely. Each module has an on line box that provides the facility for independent student exchange via a ‘Module Blog’, for the tutor to provide additional learning materials, lecture material, seminar and assessment material. You will find that module teams use the module box in different ways, but in most cases you will be able to get your assignments, receive feedback on assessments, review lecture materials and obtain additional reference material that you would find useful in you studies. In addition the Library provides an on-line catalogue and e-journals that you can access.

In addition the WIUT Student Record System is also available via the WIUT Intranet, both within the university and remotely. This stores all your assessment marks and you can review your profile. There are developments that are planned to further help you in your studies. The university has a multi-media studio and there are plans for interactive learning materials to be used for your learning.

The University of Westminster has a similar on-line support system, that provides similar learning support to students based in London

2.4 Study abroad and Exchange opportunities

The University may have both outgoing students; those students who are initially enrolled on a University of Westminster course and who then seek an exchange with an overseas partner and incoming students; those students from a higher education institution outside of the University who have agreed their exchange through the Dean’s office and studying normally on reciprocal basis implemented according to a bi-lateral partnership agreement or within Erasmus Mundus framework. The student exchanges are normally done with an approved University of Westminster Overseas Partner Institutions. Student exchange arrangements are governed by academic regulations stated in the Section 19 of Handbook of Academic Regulations 2009.