UWTSD Swansea: School of Applied Computing Brochure by University of Wales Trinity Saint David

discover. applied computing at UWTSD Swansea

www.uwtsd.ac.uk/computing

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Welcome and Courses British Computer Society (BCS) and CISCO 1980s IT Boom Bill Gates’ Story Women in Computing Smart Courses Business and IT Management Electronics Engineering Network Engineering Games Development Graphical Visualisation Web Development Software Engineering Computer Science and Your Interests Technology is Brilliant Job Roles in the Computing Industry Databases Driving the Future of Business A Starting Point for HTML Code Tech hub: Student Exhibitions Computing Facts Course Codes and Entry Requirements Living in Swansea

Welcome Computer skills empower people and will provide you with the tools to create anything you imagine. The School of Applied Computing at UWTSD Swansea invites you to explore and learn. The University’s Mission is to ‘Transform Education and Transform Lives’. Our School’s aim is to help and support students to discover and unleash their inner genius and realise their full potential. We develop the whole person and help students to enhance their creativity, collaboration, communication and technical skills.

The School of Applied Computing is located at UWTSD Swansea therefore all teaching will take place on our Swansea Campus. Technology has, and is, revolutionising the way we live and work – but believe it or not, it’s just getting started. The enormous growth and rate of change of the Computing sector including Web, e-Commerce, Social Media, Mobile, Games and Network Technology ensures a continuing demand for graduates with contemporary computing skills and qualifications. To meet this demand the School of Applied Computing at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David offers a wide range of full-time and

University of Wales Trinity Saint David School of Applied Computing Courses HARDWARE

SOFTWARE

BUSINESS

Computer Graphics and Visualisation Mobile Application Development

Cloud Computing

Web Development

Computer Networks

Robotics & Intelligent Systems

Applied Computing

Computer Systems & Electronics

Computing and Information Systems

Computer Networks Techonology

Business Computing

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Business Information Technology

GIS & Environmental Conservation

Software Engineering Computer Games Development

part-time Higher Education courses including a portfolio of HNC, HND, BSc, BEng and MSc programmes and also offers research degrees at MPhil and PhD level. All are offered on a part-time and full-time basis. The School also provides small Micro Computing Courses for Schools and Colleges.

Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT. This means our courses are recognised as being of a high standard and contribute to the requirements for our Graduates to register for the status of Chartered IT Professional (CITP).

The philosophy that underpins our courses is a focus on the ‘practical application’ of theory using up-to-date tools and techniques. This makes the programmes distinct and our students more employable.

The School offers a wide range of Higher Education Computing courses that focus on areas that are demanded by industry. These courses vary in the amount of hardware, software and business that is taught, the diagram above identifies where each course fits.

Our Computing Portfolio courses are Professionally Accredited by the British

Computing Portfolio

The British Computer Society (BCS) is the Chartered Institute for IT champions â&#x20AC;&#x153;Employers, recruiters and clients are actively seeking BCS Chartered Status as proof that you are one of the best in the business.â&#x20AC;?

QUALIFICATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCE, HIGH STANDARDS AND COMMITMENT TO THE IT AND COMPUTING INDUSTRIES Many of our degrees, HNDs and HNCs offered at our School of Applied Computing are BCS accredited this means they contribute to the requirements needed to register for “Chartered IT Professional” and/or partial “Chartered Engineer” status. Find out more at www.bcs.org The BCS have made a case for Computer Science as an option at school. In the 1980s young people had access to computers with programming guidance to look at how the world progressed. Tomorrow’s successful individuals need to understand ‘how computers work’ not just ‘how to use them’. Learning about computers can equip you with the skills that all businesses need for sustainable growth and international competitiveness. The next generation needs the right skills. There is a skills shortage in this field. The School of Applied Computing also design our courses to meet the

Government’s skills shortage agenda and industry requirements. With strong links to business and industry, our career-led courses have an excellent graduate employment record and one of the highest graduate start-up rates in Wales. WE ARE ALSO THE CISCO REGIONAL ACADEMY In 1991 the School of Applied Computing became a Cisco Regional Academy for training and the Regional Academy for support. Cisco is the multinational company that supplies the vast majority of the hardware that enables the internet to function. Our students can gain a high level experience in the design and implementation of very advanced computer networks. There is also an opportunity for Computer Networks students to study the internationally recognised Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification.

1980s IT

BOOM COMPUTER GAMES DEVELOPMENT: MORE THAN JUST A GAME Games development skills are embedded in all aspects of computing. Any student studying computer games development at UWTSD Swansea will gain an advanced toolkit of skills, essential for a long and prosperous career in the computing industry. Computer games have changed markedly since first appearing in 1958 and have both benefited from, and contributed to this evolution in computing. The first computer programs were written for a computer called EDSAC built in 1949, and in 1952 A.S.Douglas developed the world’s first computer game. It was a simple Tic-Tac-Toe game, a noughts and crosses game with the grid displayed on a 35×16 dot matrix cathode ray tube (CRT). However, perhaps the first widely distributed “video” game was SpaceWar on the DEC PDP-1 developed in 1962. At the time most computers received input and displayed their output on punch cards or paper tape, but the PDP-1 was remarkable because it had a CRT. The game consisted to two battleships that battled it out in computer generated space, with players using toggle switches to control the ships directions. It wasn’t until 1972 that Atari launched the first commercial arcade game “Pong”, described as a video skills game in which players moved paddles to deflect a bouncing ball in a game of tennis. The first home video game system was a version of Pong released by Atari in 1975 and sold for a $100.

The first real home games console was the Atari Video Computer System (VCS) released in 1977 and feature a MOS technologies 6507 processor, a graphics chip to produce far more colours than previous consoles and audio hardware so the processor didn’t have to create the audio. It had the usual knobs for controlling Pong or Tank games but also featured the first joystick. Games were supplied on 2K cartridges. One of the primary objectives in developing this console was to keep cost low. In computers, the graphics are drawn in pixels which are represented in video memory that is scanned at high speed to drive the display. To change a pixel, the pixels memory is altered and if the computer doesn’t make any changes to this memory the display remains static. Eight bits (or one byte) are required to provide 256 colours, so a display of 640x480 pixels requires 307,200 bytes. The cost of this amount of memory was prohibitive in 1970s. To reduce the memory required; other consoles used larger pixels and 4 bits per pixel. Atari simply reduced the memory to 128 bytes, enough for just two lines of video, and relied on the games being quick enough to create these lines before they needed to be displayed. Even in the 1970s the demand for highly optimised code was key. In 1978, Space Invaders, perhaps the most important video game, hit the arcades, heralding decades of Japanese domination in the market. It was actually black and white, so to create the colours a coloured overlay covered the display. Even a decade later, Nintendo’s Game Boy featured graphics in just four shades of grey.

“Electronic gaming, a curiosity twenty years ago, is now one of the most popular forms of entertainment and a pervasive component of global culture. The ubiquity and growth of games requires that we understand them not just as commercial products, but that we appreciate them from many points of view. Games are aesthetic objects, learning contexts, technical constructs and cultural phenomena—among many other things.” The International Game Developers Association (IGDA)

What is possible with the right skills for the right times? “One of the most influential people

in the 20th Century” Times Magazine

BILL GATES Born on October 28, 1955 @ Age 13

he wrote his first program TIC-TAC-TOE on the school’s Teletype Terminal using BASIC computer language.

@ Age 14

he discovered software glitches on the school system that enabled free computer time. He later debugged the system and developed a payroll program for the computer company and a scheduling program for the school.

@ Age 15

he created a Traf-O-Data program to monitor traffic, making £20,000.

@ Age 20

he founded his company Microsoft, the name was created from the words Microcomputer and Software.

@ Age 21

he fought against pirating software stating that it would discourage developers from investing their time and interest in creating quality software.

@ Age 23 @ Age 25 @ Age 26 @ Age 28

Microsoft is worth $2.5m. he worked with IBM to create software that could operate on a PC called MS DOS which enabled text and keyboard driven formatting to be viewed on screen as code. Microsoft is worth $4m. Microsoft is worth $16m. 30% of the world’s computers are running Microsoft.

@ Age 30

The launch of WINDOWS, a graphic imagery system using a mouse to drive graphic interface displaying text and images on screen.

@ Age 31

Microsoft became a Public Company with 45% of shares owned by Bill Gates at $21 each. He therefore owned $234m of the $520m shares.

@ Age 32

Shares value rose to $90.75 each, giving Bill Gates a place on the Forbes Wealthiest list stating he was worth $101bn.

@ Age 34 @ Age 35- 45 @ Age 40 @ Age 42 @ Age 45 @ Age 59

The productivity software OFFICE sold 100,000 copies in the first two weeks. Microsoft is perceived to be the monopoly of operating systems for PCs and Bill Gates faced investigations by the Federal Trade and Commission and Justice Department. Bill claimed that ‘restrictions were a threat to innovation.’ he travelled the world. he moved into a $54m house in Washington. he stepped down from day-to-day operations to focus on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and to continue to write new software. he stepped down as Chairman to become a technology advisor.

WOMEN IN COMPUTING Ada Lovelace has been described as the founder of scientific computing. Born in 1815, Ada was a countess with an interest in mathematics, logic, and all other subjects. Ada made friends with scientist Charles Babbage who invented the first analytical engine and in 1842 Ada was the first person to write a published algorithm accompanied by a vision for the potential of computers to do more than make calculations. Find out more at www.sdsc.edu

According to ‘e-Skills’ women only make up 17% of the computing industry and the number of women enrolled in IT courses has stayed the same for 30 years. This is surprising when you consider that girls have been known to excel in the subject and unfortunately this means female students are missing out on learning important transferable skills that could lead to a rewarding and profitable career.

Marissa Mayer Executive Title: President and CEO Company: Yahoo Worth: £21.8m Previous employment: Google Product Developer

Placing: #1 Fortune Magazine 40 under 40 - young people rocking the business world.

Meg Whitman Executive Title: CEO Company: eBay Worth: £1.2bn Previous employment: Hasbro, Disney, and Procter & Gamble Placing: #18 Forbes Most Powerful Women list

Sheryl Sandberg Executive Title: CEO Company: Facebook Worth: £578.9m (12 million shares in the social networking firm)

Previous employment: Google executive Placing: #10 Forbes Most Powerful Women list

10 Mobile Application Developer Casual Games Developer

Web Web Design Web Development Development

Mobile Computing & Application Development

Robotics & Intelligent Systems

Robotics Systems Engineer Electronic Engineer Electrical & Electronic Engineering

@ Business Computing

Business Application Developer IT Manager

Software Engineering

Nov

Software Developer Real Time Software Developer Computer Programmer

Games Developer Computer Programmer Artificial Intelligence

Computer Games Development

“The world will divide into those who understand technology and those who don’t. Those who can program will create the world we live in, so I would say get yourself into that field.” Karen Moloney, a futurologist and business psychologist, telegraph.co.uk

Discover more

www.uwtsd.ac.uk/computing

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

11 Computer Graphics & Visualisation

Visual Effects Developer Film Visual Effects Developer

Computer Systems & Electronics Business Information Technology

Electrical Engineer Technician

Social Media Manager IT Manager IT Teacher/Trainer GIS & Environmental Conservation

Data Analyst GIS Application Developer

YOU

Tube

Data Centre Engineer Cloud Computing

Computer Networks

Network Manager Network Infrastructure Manager Network Administrator

Computing & Information Systems

Database Developer Database Application Developer Database Admnistrator

SMART COURSES

BUSINESS & IT MANAGEMENT Do you enjoy using up-to-date technology and socialising with people? Do you want to learn how to use the latest technologies to enhance business

activities? Do you want to start your own Tech Company? Would you enjoy planning and organising business activities, and building effective teams?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Job postings directly related to social media have soared 600% in the last five years.â&#x20AC;?

MSc Applied Computing

SocialMediaInfluence.com

Chartered IT Professional (CITP)

BSc Business Information Technology

HND Business Information Technology

HNC Business Information Technology

IT Managers are responsible for the computer systems used by organisations. Modern day roles include Online Managers, Social Media Managers, Website Managers, Online Marketing Managers or managing organisational change due to technological breakthroughs. Traditionally

they can also create the ICT budget, schedule upgrades, install new systems, provide security, provide staff training and keep up to date with the latest technologies. They evaluate business and user needs - plan, install, develop, implement and maintain technology.

Industry Skills

Other Job Titles

Computer Architecture Business & Management Information Engineering Data Visualisation Web Design e-Commerce Project Management Marketing IT Finance Interactive Data-Driven Development Database Management Systems Enterprise & Innovation Managing People and Change Geographical Information Systems Cloud Computing

Social Media Manager Online Manager Website Manager e-Marketing Manager IT Teacher / IT Trainer Information officer IT consultant Operational researcher Production manager Quality manager Systems analyst Systems developer Database administrator IT sales professional

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Experienced project managers £30,000 to £55,000+ Starting salary £24,000 to£28,000 a year.

UWTSD Courses These courses are unique in that students learn to understand and manage both technology and human resources gaining valuable transferable skills in both disciplines. As a result graduates from these programmes can use their expertise to manage and support the development of both people and technology. HNC/HND/BSc Business Computing Business Information Technology Applied Computing MSc Applied Computing e-Commerce

97%

Course Satisfaction National Student Survey

Programme Director: james.williams@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk

Aisha Iftikhar, BSc (Hons) Business Information Technology My three years at UWTSD were life changing. The skills that I developed while studying have had a positive influence on my role, community engagement and personal and professional development. Improving commitment, self-motivation and confidence, all of which are highly valued skills. The course taught me how to gain specific knowledge related to a particular subject, for example historical or scientific data and it improved my cognitive skills, such as thinking, problem-solving, analysis and research which have been vital for my roles. I am a multiple business owner: my role is to lead businesses as a Managing Director at Costcutters supermarket and as a Principal at Swansea Sixth Form College. This involves many different areas including leadership, teacher evaluation, student discipline, staff discipline, accounting and several others. I aimed high and continue to move the goal posts so that I continue to progress. Your whole life is a learning curve, set high goals and the sky is the limit.

ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING Do you love gadgets? Do you find yourself taking things apart to see how they work? Do you have a flair for maths, science, technology and IT? Would you enjoy working on exciting new

breakthroughs developing machines and equipment? Are you a problem solver, an inventor of developments?

“Employers state that there is a 41% gap in the sector due to skills shortages.” nationalcareersservice. direct.gov.uk

MSc Applied Computing

Chartered Engineering status from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

BEng Computer Systems and Electronics

HND Electronics Engineering

HNC Electronics Engineering

An Electronics Engineer’s job could take the form of project work where you could write the initial brief for a concept, design, develop, test, manufacture and implement new products or systems that use electricity as part of their source of power. They

could also find themselves writing specifications and technical reports, checking safety regulations, preparing budgets, and researching up to date developments in technologies and regulations.

Industry Skills

Industries

Industrial standard software packages such as: Matlab Xilinx Mentor Graphics and Microsoft’s Visual Development Studio

Systems that use electricity can be found in : Aerospace industry Automotive industry Construction industry Defence industry Electronics industry Fast moving consumer goods industry Marine industry Oil and gas industry Pharmaceuticals industry Power generation industry Rail industry Telecoms Utilities industry

Circuit Design and Analysis Digital Signal Processing and Communications Electrical Machines Electrical Principles Theory Electronics Systems Design Engineering Management PLCs and Control Power Electronics and Drives

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Chartered electronics engineers (CEng) £65,000+ Senior electronics engineers (IEng) £40,000 to £55,000 Experienced electronics engineers £40,000 Starting Salary £25,000

UWTSD Courses Foundation Entry Computer Systems and Electronics

Foundation Entry Year

£4,500

The aim of the Foundation Year is to emphasise science and mathematics along with other subjects which give the students a well-rounded introduction to engineering. HNC/HND Electronics Engineering Robotics and Intelligence Systems BSc Robotics and Intelligence Systems BEng BEng Computer Systems and Electronics BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering MSc Applied Computing Computer Networks e-Commerce Programme Director: gareth.jones@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk

Michael Uy BEng Computer Systems and Electronics, 2012 I graduated in BEng Computer Systems and Electronics in 2012 and found employment with RPS Group PLC, one of the World’s leading multi-disciplinary consultancies advising on all aspects of the built and natural environment where I work as a technician. The degree prepared me for industry by teaching communication, analytic and team-working skills. Modules in circuit analysis, electronics and maths have also helped with my job role. My roles include: calibrating, maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing electrical surveying instruments and testing equipment; measuring and adjusting voltages to specified values to determine operational accuracy of instruments; and using devices (such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, and oscilloscopes) to ensure compatibility and integrity of equipment.

NETWORK ENGINEERING Is communication important to you? Do you have an interest in wireless networks and network security? Are you a problem solver who would like to learn

how to manage projects? All businesses need to communicate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; could you learn the skills required to keep businesses connected?

An estimated 150,000 new IT professionals will be required each year to meet demand; this is especially the case for Cisco Jobs

Cisco CCENT CCNA

nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

MSc Computer Networks and Security BSc Computer Networks

HND Computer Networks

HNC Computer Networks

Network Engineers could be responsible for implementing, maintaining, supporting and developing network solutions.

They could also find themselves establishing networking environments, scheduling upgrades and securing network systems.

Industry Skills

Other Job Titles

Computer Architecture Computer Programming Computer Engineering & Microprocessors Mathematics Network Principles IP Internetworking Wireless Communications Network Operating Systems & Security Network Simulation Digital Signal Processing & Communications Wide Area Networks Wireless LAN & Security Advanced Wireless Communications

Network support Support engineer IT support engineer Helpdesk support Network administrator First-line support Second-line support Security engineer Network architect VoIP engineer Cisco engineer Systems engineer Systems support engineer

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CISCO Architects £60,000 to £80,000 Experienced Network Engineer £40,000+ Starting salary £18,000 to £28,000.

UWTSD Courses Foundation Entry Computer Networks Technology HNC/HND Cloud Computing Computer Networks Computer Networks Technology Computing and Information Systems BSc Computer Networks Cloud Computing BEng Computer Networks Technology Computer Systems and Electronics MSc Computer Networks and Security

A Degree in CLOUD COMPUTING

“By 2016 over a quarter of all applications (around 48 million) will be available on the cloud.” Global Technology Outlook

Programme Director:

kapilan.radhakrishnan@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk

Michael R Owen BSc(Hons) Computer Networks, 2012 I am a Telecommunications Engineer at Swansea IT Group providing support for many clients, ranging from network troubleshooting/advice, configuring Linux servers, training clients to use the PBX system and general support. The course helped me develop my troubleshooting skills by understanding the fundamentals of computer networks, such as the OSI model. I can quickly judge what can be causing an issue by narrowing down the problem to a specific layer. With this way of thinking you can easily resolve problems which are not networking related. Using the Cisco equipment to build networks for assignments quickly helps you build up your troubleshooting abilities as you can make mistakes that you would not normally make or see when using a network simulator. The CCNA is also a valuable certification to gain as it will help you stand out from those who do not have the certification when applying for networking/IT support- related jobs.

GAMES DEVELOPMENT Do you love computer games? Are you both creative and logical, with a great imagination? Could you work well in a team of other programmers, designers, animators and artists to create

characters and atmospheres that bring games to life? Could you learn the programming skills that are demanded for the 21st Century?

“Reality Is Broken. Game Designers Must Fix It!” Jane McGonigal, TED 2010

BCS Chartered Engineering (CEng) status MSc Games Development

BSc Computer Games Development

HND Computer Games Development HNC Computer Games Development

Games Developers work in a fast-moving, multi-billion pound industry. The stages involved could mean creating and designing a game’s look and how it plays, animating characters and objects,

creating audio, programming, localising and producing. They could also find themselves testing games.

Skills Learned

Other Job Titles

Industrial standard software packages such as: 3ds Max Maya Photoshop DirectX OpenGL (for artists and animators) C++ C# Java Action Script (for programmers)

Junior Programmer Lead Programmer Engine/Tools Programmer Graphics/Special Effects/Rendering Programmer Audio Programmer/ Engineer Artificial Intelligence Programmer Networking/Multiplayer, Networking Programmer Mobile Games Programmer Physics Programmer Software Engineer Software Developer

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Head programmers and producers £50,000+ Experienced and skilled designers £30,000 Starting salary £25,000

UWTSD Courses HNC/HND/BSc Computer Games Development Software Engineering Mobile Computing and Application Development MSc Applied Computing Computer Networks e-Commerce Games Development Software Engineering Q. Will I get a job if I graduate from a Computer Games Development Course? A. As a student you can be proactive which will increase your chances of getting a job. Consider, extra-curricular games projects, creating a good portfolio of work, joining organisations, attending conferences and networking within the games industry. Having said that, the skills you learn will be high-end programming skills. Such knowledge is already sought after across every industry.

Programme Director: gordon.dickers@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk

James Simonson BSc Computer Games Development I am the Assistant Technical Manager at Mailman (Shanghai). Mailman is a leading social media innovation and technology company. Our vision is the ‘socialisation’ of the world’s best brands. We take brands and talent from the West in order to create social buzz for them inside China and Asia by utilising social media, web technologies and offline media. Finding employment after the degree was made easier as the course can equip you with the desired skills sought after for across most industries. The course taught programming and software engineering principles, networking and applied mathematics and equipped me with the right skills for building and developing websites and web apps (front and back end), dealing with server side programming, data visualisation and data mining.

VISUAL EFFECTS DEVELOPER Do you love computer animation? Do you have the creative flair and technical skills needed to develop amazing film visual effects? Could you work well in a team of directors, producers, programmers, artists

and animators to create state-of-the-art visual effects that bring film to life? Do you want to learn how to be the best?

Videos increase understanding of products or services by 74%

BCS Chartered Professional

digitalsherpa.com MSc Games Development

BSc Computer Graphics and Visualisation HND Computer Graphics and Visualisation HNC Computer Graphics and Visualisation

Film VFX is a rapidly expanding multi-billion pound industry. Working within the VFX industry requires a unique blend of creative and technical skills.

Individuals working within the sector will be required to develop creative solutions to tackle highly technical visual problems.

Skills Learned

GV Software

Agent AI Animation Principles & Practice Computer Architecture Enterprise & Innovation Games Physics & Maths Games Programming and Graphics Information Engineering Maths for Software Development Modelling, Lighting & Rendering Shader Development Software Engineering Principles Visual Simulation

SaNDVis: Social Networking IBM Interactive Maps Technology: Location PETALS: People Essential Traits Analysis and Learning System – Psychology Big Picture: Science Many Bills: A Visual Bill Explorer – Communication n.Mind: Recipe-driven Visual Analytics – Decision Making Medical Informatics Visualization: Health

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Senior Technical Artists £50,000+ Experienced and skilled technical artists £30,000+ Starting salary £25,000+

UWTSD Courses HNC/HND/BSc Computer Graphics and Visualisation MSc Applied Computing Games Development Software Engineering This new degree aims to produce graduates with the skills necessary for successful employment in a growing number of graphics industries requiring in house software tool development and visualisation applications to aid both the creative and production processes. Many of the traditional computing and software engineering skills are still required but are supplemented with additional development skills for the creation of graphical tool sets.

Mark Sutcliffe BSc Software Engineering, 2010 Graphics, advanced graphics, algorithms and data structures and software engineering principle (SEP) modules proved a great influence on the work I am undertaking. SEP provides a framework to develop software and the other modules assist in providing a deeper understanding of how complex algorithms work and can be optimised. I work for TWI which is one of the world’s foremost independent research and technology organisations. With headquarters in Cambridge, UK, since 1946, and with several facilities around the world, they have a long history of invention, innovation and knowledge transfer. They work across all industry sectors and are experts in all aspects of manufacturing, fabrication and whole-life integrity management technologies. The job is mentally challenging, but at the end of each day I find that I have learned something new.

Programme Director: andrew.baker@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk

WEB DEVELOPMENT Do you have an interest in websites and enjoy the internet? Are you creative and able to design and develop new websites and mobile applications?

Do you want to learn skills in building, testing and maintaining the software that improves how we socialise, shop, learn and do business?

The UK Web economy is estimated to reach £221bn by 2016.

MSc Applied Computing

BBC News, 2012

BSc Web Development

British Computer Society (BCS) of Chartered IT Professional (CITP) full status.

HND Web Development

HNC Web Development

Web developers work with the client to identify needs, plan the site ‘architecture’, add the command buttons, payment systems, video, sound or

animation. They could also find themselves creating or managing web systems, implementing security, and testing for ‘bugs’ – before it goes live.

Industry Skills

Other Job Titles

Software Development Computer Architecture Scripting Information Engineering Interaction Design Data Visualisation Web Design Mobile Application & Development

Web Developer Web Designer Front End Web Developer Website Manager Web Programmer Web Application Developer

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Lead Web Developers £45,000 Experienced Web Developer £25,000 to £35,000 Starting salary £19,000 to £22,000

UWTSD Courses HNC/HND/BSc Computer Games Development Software Engineering Mobile Computing and Application Development Web Development MSc Applied Computing Computer Networks e-Commerce Games Development Software Engineering The UK carries out far more retail online than any other major economy, with 23% of all purchases projected to be done over the internet by 2016.

A Degree in Mobile Application Development:

“With companies scrambling to build mobile apps, there’s a gold rush on for developers.” computerworld.com

Programme Director: michael.dacey@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk

Deborah Roberts BSc Web Development I completed the BSc(Hons) Web Development course at University of Wales Trinity Saint David. The degree enabled me to secure employment as a web developer/ technical author at the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC). The skills that I learnt at University, such as web design and development skills, report writing, researching topics and meeting deadlines, have prepared me for designing and developing small SME websites, Mobile Apps, technical auditing, accessibility testing and reporting on larger websites. My clients include Channel 4, Money Advice Service, HMRC, Lloyds, Santander and many more. I do enjoy getting out of the office and visiting companies all over the UK and seeing how they work, but the part that I like the best is the analysing of code, identifying errors within the code and finding a way to fix problems.

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING Are you self-motivated, creative, analytical, and logical? Do you have good investigative and problem solving abilities and able to communicate ideas effectively? Would you like to learn software

skills that could take you places in the business world? Or, would you like to learn the skills that could enable you to work successfully for yourself?

91%

Staff are great at explaining things National Student Survey

MSc Applied Computing

British Computer Society (BCS) of Chartered IT Professional (CITP) full status.

BSc Software Engineering

HND Software Engineering

HNC Software Engineering

The Software Engineering role is technical in nature, applying computer science and mathematics to environments that are constantly evolving. They may find that they analyse user requirements,

research, design and write new software programs, test, evaluate, modify and maintain. They could also find themselves consulting and investigating new technologies.

Industry Skills

Other Job Titles

Algorithms and Data Structures Database Management Computational Thinking Computer Architecture Critical & Real-Time Application Programming Distributed and Cluster Computing Interactive Graphics Programming Information Engineering Problem Solving for Software Development Maths for Software Development Systems Software and Multi-User Applications Engineering Web Development

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Senior Software Engineer £45,000 to £70,000+ Average annual salary £36,500 to £50,000 Graduate Software Engineer £22,000 to £27,500

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UWTSD Courses HNC/HND/BSc Computer Games Development Software Engineering Mobile Computing and Application Development MSc Applied Computing e-Commerce Games Development Software Engineering

Andrew Thomas, BSc Software Engineering I am now Technical Director at Brightseed Ltd, and my role is to manage the development team, to design and build scalable and secure web applications, with focus on delivering high performance digital products ranging from bespoke applications to eCommerce and CMS applications.

Software Engineering is one of the fastest growing career paths 22% increase in jobs from 2012 - 2022 www.itcareerfinder.com

Programme Director: gordon.dickers@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk

The degree enabled me to cover the core fundamentals of programming and project management. I took these values to earn my first position as a junior developer at a local agency and continued to learn while moving into a large national corporation. It was important that I gained valuable and relevant industry experience over several years before starting my business Brightseed Ltd.

“ALL TECHNOLOGY STARTS AS A SPARK IN SOMEONE’S BRAIN.” Nathan Myhrvold, CEO, Intellectual Ventures

Applying computer skills to solve real-world problems requires both logical and creative thinking. Our Applied Computing courses such as Web Development, Games Development and Business Information Technology allow students to be imaginative and innovative when designing and developing original software ideas.

UWTSD

CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES ARE INFINITE! Here are some examples of final year projects that engage in a variety of up-to-date and exciting areas:

Create a Music, Video or Social Media Application for your Phone or Tablet. Build a Game to play on your Phone or Tablet with friends and family. Launch it on Google Play or iTunes. Design a new Smartphone or tablet device Create a new operating system or interface for your device. Create Fun & Social Entertainment Applications such as Coffee-table entertainment Apps. Create a Fashion App or Food ordering Shopping App. Create a HUD heads-up display for a Vehicle front-window / windscreen or Helmet-HUD for a motorbike user. Create Wearable Computing electronics to display texts, e-mails or Social Media updates or even music visual effects on clothing for your T-shirt, wrist-band, hat or hoodie sleeve. Create an App. for Google Glass to enhance the Augmented Reality experience. Create a Virtual or Augmented reality environment and or game to enhance your daily life. Build a Robot to play with, to help around the house or a personal assistant to help you organise your life.

TECHNOLOGY is Brilliant! Technology has, and is, revolutionising the way we live and work – but believe it or not, it’s just getting started. Technology is getting better and better and in the future the possibilities are endless. Technology is a very exciting area. As new technology emerges and evolves it continues to enrich and enhance our lives, such as: »» Helping us to communicate with family friends or work colleagues;

»» »»

Empowering us to create and share our ideas in an infinite number of ways; Entertaining ourselves with games music and movies, or organising our lives.

Computers operated by the mind motion and emotion, wearable technology, environmental technology and advanced medical treatments are among the emerging technologies that will enhance our lives and reshape the future. Here are a few examples:

Google Glass: This can allow us to live in an Augmented Reality, being able to view social media feeds, text, play games, navigate with Google Maps, take photos and so on. Other technical companies are bound to innovate and create different versions with increasing features and possibilities soon.

The internet: How the physical objects around us are connected to the web will make our environment more interactive, including such things as Smart Homes, Cars, Offices, Cafes, Public and Community Spaces.

3D printing technology: This allows us to print our design ideas into a solid real-life product.

“Technology has become perhaps the greatest agent of change in the modern world.”

WEF’s Global Agenda Council

Robotics will see intelligent machines or robots expand beyond manufacturing and enter our lives to assist our working and personal lives. Maybe someday soon, your new robot friend will help you to complete tasks, will help around the house and help you make a delicious meal.

10%

Wearable Computing: Recent developments include gadgets with flexible displays, making it possible to wrap a handset around your wrist, turning it into a bracelet that plays your favourite music or displays Social Media updates. Many forecast that flexible electronics will give rise to smart fabrics, making clothing items with built-in music-players, changeable colours and patterns, or heaters (for the colder months) a reality.

300 James wants to talk to you.

A A

Subway Services Suspended

“These breakthroughs show the boundless potential for technology to have a positive impact on society.”

Noubar Afeyan, Chair of the Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies and CEO of Flagship Ventures

Virtual Reality gaming: The Oculus Rift, this 3D headset lets you feel that you are actually inside a video game. This is the beginning of the revolution for next-generation gaming.

A B

According to The World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies, “brain-computer interfaces” would build on the already available technology which allows people to type by monitoring the electrical activity in their brain. The technology could make it possible for people with disabilities to operate wheelchairs and other equipment using their thoughts.

Advances in electronics and nanotechnology will continue to make computers ever smaller, slimmer and multi-functional. Increasing philanthropic initiatives coupled with low-cost Smartphones tablets and communication methods will continue to reach developing parts of the world, providing hard-to-reach communities with access to the Global Connected Community.

JOB ROLES IN THE COMPUTING INDUSTRY A System Analyst analyses a company’s business model and IT infrastructure to uncover the changes that are required to meet customer needs or the new business challenges. They would produce outline designs and costings of new systems, specifying the functionality the system will perform and the way data will be presented to the end-user. Computer systems require a mixture of network and server hardware to deliver services for an organisation. Computer Network Engineers and Network Administrators are responsible for installing, maintaining and monitoring this hardware. Database Developers develop the structures that contain the data produced from business operations performed in an organisation. This data is created and accessed by users through internal (intranet) web applications but also through their customers using external (Internet) web applications, such as, e-Commerce websites. Websites are created by Web Designers and Web Developers. Smart phones, however, have led to a dramatic increase in mobile applications that may also consume this data through web services.

Mobile Application Developers must work within the limitations of small screens to produce usable applications for customers. Software can be found in almost every electronic device, including most electrical household items, from robot vacuum cleaners to the washing machine, software is incorporated to manage and control them all. Software Engineers are responsible for developing software that is used not only in these devices but in much more complex and sophisticated systems that control airplanes and nuclear reactors. They must carefully design this software to meet the requirements produced by Systems Analysts. But it is not all work. Games are very popular applications found on the internet, mobile phones, games consoles and computers. Computer Games Developers are software developers who focus on computer graphics and artificial intelligence to produce virtual environments that players can move and interact with. Alternatively, Graphic Visualisers use computer graphics techniques in combination with animation tools to produce computer graphics and visual effects for films and TV.

JOB ROLES IN THE COMPUTING INDUSTRY

UWTSD APPLIED COMPUTING COURSES

JOB ROLES

JOB CATEGORY

APPLICATION AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT Developer

IT PROFESSIONALS Data Analyst

QA/Software Tester Project Manager Applications Development/ Infrastructure Computer Operator Database AS/400 Administrator Computer Architect Business Analyst/System Analysis Developer Java J2EE IT Security and Governance Specialist Computer Games Business Computing Development Computer Graphics Business and Visualisation Information Technology Mobile Computing Computing and and Application Information Development Systems Software Engineering Web Development

Computing and Information Systems

NETWORKING

IT SUPPORT AND SALES

Network Administrator WAN Network Administrator Windows

Desk-‐side Support

Wintel Systems Administrator Architect WAN

Helpdesk Support Microsoft Application Support

Unix System Administrator AIX

A+ Certified

Cloud Computing

Applied Computing

Desktop Support Windows

Computer Networks Computing and Information Systems Computer Networks Technology Computer Systems and Electronics Electrical and Electronic Engineering Wireless Communications Systems Robotics and Intelligent Systems © Randstad Technologies, July 2012

DATABASE ADMINISTRATORS: DRIVING THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS In this information-rich world, databases are used to facilitate the human need to retrieve information at the click of a button. We are surrounded by big numbers, so how do we organise and use information that is in millions, billions and trillions? This is where databases show their real value to store, retrieve, modify and delete data. Even small businesses store huge amounts of data so anyone

with the skills to plan, build and test database systems, then retrieve and manage big data would become a major contributor to business decisions and influence the direction businesses take. Data management has moved beyond selling products to understanding customer habits and routines while linking information geographically and psychographically to help improve customer relations.

Amazon 59 million active customers

YouTube

Google 91 million searches per day

Facebook

EBAY Over 100 million active users 300 million items for sale at any one time

Ticketmaster

DBA Wages Sybase platform £73,000 Senior DBAs £50,000+ Oracle DBAs jobs start at around £29,000

100 million videos watched per day 65 000 videos added each day

More than 650 million active users 750 million photos were uploaded to Facebook over New Year’s weekend

100 million credit cards

BSc COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

LEARN A NEW TRANSFERABLE SKILL How valuable is learning HTML code? It all looks very complicated but it doesn’t take long to get to grips with it, and once you have mastered HTML you are able to improve the appearance of webpages and emails. When you consider that websites are the shop windows of any

business and emails facilitate customer engagement – HTML coding could be considered as a transferable skill that employers utilise. Here are some HTML basics to get you started!

HTML 5 document markup <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head>

Common Tags Headings: <h1> to <h6> <h1> defines most important heading and <h6> the least important Paragraphs: <p><!—- insert paragraph text here --></p> Links: <a href=”url”>link descriptive text</a> Opens in same window/tab <a href=”url” target=”_blank”>link descriptive text</a> Opens in new window/tab Images: <img src=”filename” alt=”alternative description of image” width=”100” height=”100” /> Specify: the size of the image to avoid the image flickering when the page loads the alt attribute to provide an alternative description of the image Divs: <div></div> Spans: <span></span>

Forms <form>  <input type=”text” name=”firstname” />  <input type=”password” name=”password” />  <input type=”email” name=”email” />  <textarea rows=”4” cols=”50”></textarea>  <input type=”radio” name=”sex” value=”male” />  <input type=”radio” name=”sex” value=”female” />  <input type=”checkbox” name=”terms” value=”Agree terms” />I agree  <select name=”location”>  <option value=”Wales”>Wales</option>  <option value=”England”>England</option> <option value=” Scotland”>Scotland</option> <option value=”Northern Ireland”>Northern Ireland</option> </select> <input type=”submit” value=”submit” />   </form>

Less than Greater than Ampersand Pound Euro Copyright Registered Trademark Non-breaking space

TECH HUB: BRINGING EXCITEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT INTO SOUTH WALES Look out for our Tech Hub Exhibition in June where Applied Computing students get the chance to present their final year projects to industry. The event is open to the public and we will be advertising the exhibition on our website closer to the time. DISCOVER more uwtsd.ac.uk – Forthcoming events. Tech Hub is a co-working space, an incubation environment. Any business owner or entrepreneur who wants to start, or has a small team and wants to work with other tech start-ups, can hire a desk or have a flexi membership. You can join Tech Hub for as little as £4,000 per year. With partners such as Google, BlackBerry and the BlueVia initiative from Telefonica, Tech Hub brings access to the global tech industry, plus learning opportunities, workspace, contacts and expertise to help new businesses get the support they need to grow and succeed. The space is great and it’s a really friendly environment. There is a lot of cross-cohabitating work going on where businesses work together, not compete against each other, so it’s a really great place to start your business. Many businesses and entrepreneurs can come to the space and make some good connections.

“Tech Hub - franchised the name from London, Swansea is the third location in the UK and we’re bringing that excitement and that entrepreneurial spirit into South Wales. We have great links with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, they have helped us from the very beginning. They are a key sponsor and they have helped us put on Start-Up Weekend where we had 80 people come for a whole weekend and start businesses. Five of the nine businesses that were started are still going today.” Andrew Curtis Director of Tech Hub and own software company Hoola “Swansea is a great example of how different elements of the tech start-up ecosystem are coming together to tap into the emerging talent that exists in Wales. With its proximity to South West UK and that region’s long-standing history of technology innovation, plus great local support from universities and government and a kickass founding team, we’re really excited to see what TechHub Swansea can do” Elizabeth Varley, Tech Hub Cofounder and CEO

SWANSEA THE UK’S THIRD HERE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE EXHIBITED LAST YEAR:

tech hub

SIMON ANTHONY

BEng(Hons) Computer Systems and Electronics Sensory Based Quadcopter Flight Control System

STUART BIBB

BSc(Hons) Software Engineering Development and Verification of an Energy Saving Automation Framework

MELANY HOWELLS

BSc(Hons) Business IT Can Technology assist the Learning and Development of Individuals with Autism?

ISAAC OSINAIKE

BSc(Hons) Computer Networks Raspberry Pi Wireless Tether

SIMON GIBBON

HNC Web Development Implementation Project: UWTSD Creative Bureau Website

FACTS

The European Commission (2014) also recently warned that 50% of the population have “insufficient digital skills for today’s work environment”.

Employers Need Technology Skills Technical, Practical or job specific skills

53%

Planning and organisation skills

46%

Problem-solving skills

38%

Advanced IT or software skills

36%

Team working skills

34%

Strategic management skills

33%

Customer handling skills

32%

Basic computer literacy/ using IT

Planning and Organising Problem-Solving Skills “Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer, because it teaches how to think.” Bill Gates

“750,000 digitally skilled workers will be needed by 2017 - these are skills that didn’t exist five years ago, like with social media, for example.” Ann Pickering at O2

“Learning stops at an answer - thinking happens during questioning. “Why?” is always a great question.” Gary Strickland

“Why? Why? Why?”

“IT plays an increasingly pro-active role in developing long-term business strategy.”

NCC (National Computing Centre)

“Coding is demanded not only by the high-tech sector, but by fast-growing sectors like media, publishing and finance.”

Hugh Milward, Microsoft

Entry Requirements Students wishing to study courses delivered by the School of Applied Computing will need UCAS tariff points, typically from technical subjects such as ICT, computing, maths, electronics, physics or similar, to include two C grades at A-Level/AVCE. GCSE Maths grade C or above is essential.

Our offer is not solely based on academic results, and the standard offer should be seen only as a guide. We will take your skills, achievements and life experience into consideration and may make offers based on different points to applicants who provide evidence of capacity to pursue the course successfully.

S96 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UWTSD Swansea

BSc UCAS Entry Code Requirement

HND UCAS Code

Entry Requirement

Applied Computing

3AL6

160

2O8C

Business Computing

4YCQ

160

6YW2

Business Information Technology (Swansea)

G510

160

265G

Cloud Computing

0P4H H674

160 200

4ZR2 7Y32

80 100

Computer Graphics and Visualisation

3CWK

200

7HTS

100

Computer Networks

H611 G500

160 160

O16H 54GG

80 80

160

116H II13

100 80

160

13G7

G600 G422

200 160

006G 024G

100 80

S96 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UWTSD Swansea

BEng UCAS Code

Entry Requirement

Foundation Year

Entry Requirement

BEng Computer Networks Technology

G420

200

G421

BEng Computer Systems and Electronics

H610

200

H608

BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

3TY8

200

Computer Games Development

Computing and Information Systems Electronics Engineering Mobile Computing and Application Development

II12

Robotics and Intelligent Systems Software Engineering Web Development

All applications to study for a full-time undergraduate degree programme or Higher National Diploma at the University are made through UCAS using Apply - an online application system available at www.ucas.com/apply DISCOVER HNC You can complete your application form electronically or you may request an application pack from Registry. For more information please email: computing@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk

About Swansea University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Swansea Metropolitan have merged, creating a university with campuses in Swansea, Carmarthen, Lampeter, Cardiff and London. The transformed university is called University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). Swansea is Wales’ premier waterfront City. Our students are quick to praise the beautiful surroundings and vibrant City life. The Applied Computing courses offered by the Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Engineering are delivered at the Swansea Campus, five minutes from the City Centre. In the heart of the city is historic Wind Street’s famous Café Quarter, providing a variety of popular pubs and clubs, restaurants and entertainment venues to satisfy student social lives. Wind Street is also the home of Techhub a tech start-up ecosystem tapping into the emerging talent that exists in Wales (see page 34).

Sweeping across the city is the promenade and cycle track which is home to the beachside Café 360o. Just five miles along the coast you can find Mumbles, appreciated by students for its seaside village atmosphere. Beyond the Mumbles Mile, lies the Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first officially designated “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”. We are just three hours from London and two-and-a-half hours from Birmingham. We have excellent motorway (M4) and mainline railway links. Our Halls of Residence cost between £63 and £79.50 per week and private housing in Swansea is on average £55 per week. DISCOVER more at www.uwtsd.ac.uk/accommodation

University of Wales Trinity Saint David UWTSD Swansea, Mount Pleasant Swansea, SA1 6ED Tel: 01792 481000 Email: computing@sm.uwtsd.ac.uk @AppliedComputin AppliedComputin