Information Technology COURSES

Certificate in Advanced Project Management for the ICT Professional

Overview

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Awarding Body:
Higher Education & Training Awards Council
Duration:
1  Academic Year (September-May), 2 Evenings Per Week
Course commencing:
September 2012
Award Level:
Level 8 Minor Award
ECTS Credits:
24

Introduction

DBS is offering participants of Springboard the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Advanced Project Management for the ICT Professional. This programme is designed with the ICT professional in mind, who already has a foundation in basic project management skills and wishes to refresh or up-skill in this area to improve their employability. This programme provides the participant with an advanced understanding of the project management function within organisations and assists them in adopting an appropriate project management perspective with regard to the management of projects within organisations. This programme will be delivered in the context of the ICT sector.

Programme Aims and Objectives

On completion of the programme participants should have acquired the skills to:
  • Analyse methods, tools and techniques for planning, monitoring and controlling projects and for managing risk
  • Analyse the skills and competencies required of the project manager and project team
  • Display and use transferable personal skills in a variety of business and ICT contexts
  • Display a methodical and rational approach to business problem solving and decision making, as well as the capability to apply acquired knowledge and skills to practical business situations
  • Organise information, arguments and conclusions and present them in a clear and coherent fashion.

Programme Content

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  • Project Planning Techniques  
  • Project Management and Evaluation  

Teaching & Assessment

The proposed teaching, learning and assessment methodologies are intended to facilitate springboard participants to take ownership of, and responsibility for, their own learning in partnership with the academic faculty. 

  • Specific methods adopted will include:
  • Conventional lectures
  • Lab practical sessions
  • E-Learning
  • Workshops
  • Tutorials 
  • Projects
  • Seminars
  • Assignments
  • Analysis of case studies
  • Group research and project work
  • Guest lectures
Students will be actively encouraged and assisted to manage their own studies outside of lectures. This is facilitated by the teaching styles and methods adopted and by placing greater emphasis on practically focused assessment. A particular focus of this programme will be for students to work in collaborative teams with their tutors on a variety of projects. Through this process they will learn key life skills of good teamwork towards achieving a common goal. In addition, the E-learning platform, Moodle, will also provide lecturers and students with a virtual learning environment to complement and enrich the more traditional learning environment. 

Assessment Methods

The programme assessment strategies have been developed in order to provide learners to demonstrate the opportunity to apply transferrable skills relevant to the workplace. These include working as part of a team, report writing, presentation skills etc.  These assessment methods will include:
  • Problem solving exercises 
  • Practical projects incorporating a variety of competencies and skills
  • Case studies
  • Research based projects
  • Individual assignments 
  • Management reports (e.g. Finance, Strategy)
  • Group projects
  • Group and individual presentations
  • Exams and other time constrained assessments (open and closed book)

Dedicated Programme Leader 

From the outset, students will be provided with an array of academic and IT supports to ensure that the varied academic and learning needs of participants are being attended to. All students will be informed of the support mechanisms available throughout their induction and will be provided with the relevant contact details of their dedicated programme leader and level manager.

Structure

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The course duration is one Academic Year (September – May). Typically students will attend classes on two evenings per week from 6pm. Course timetables will be available in due course.

Eligibility

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To be eligible for a place on a Springboard 2012 programme a person must be: 

  • Unemployed with a previous history of employment AND satisfy one of the following three criteria: 

1. Be in receipt of one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection: 
  • Jobseeker’s Benefit
  • Jobseekers Allowance
  • Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
  • One Parent Family
  • Disability Allowance
  • Qualified Adults of Working Age
  • Carers Allowance
  • Farm Assist/Fish Assist
  • Widow(er)s Contributory or Non-contributory Pension
  • Blind Pension
  • Deserted Wives Allowance
There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme. Participants in receipt of an eligible payment at the time the Springboard course commences are eligible to apply for a place on that course. However, providers will be required to give priority to applications from people who are long term unemployed. 

OR 

2. Be signing for social insurance contribution credits 

OR 

3. Be previously self-employed AND be actively seeking employment 

Entry Requirements

  • Holders of a level 5 or level 6 NFQ award or equivalent, or
  • Mature entry for students who are over 23 years of age at time of application and are assessed on the basis of age, work experience, general education standard, motivation and commitment to the programme for which they are applying.
  • Minimum 1 year Project management experience is also required. 

Next Steps

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Apply online via the Springboard portal on www.springboardcourses.ie

Career Opportunites

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This programme will provide the ICT professional with a very robust grounding in project management tools and techniques and an understanding of the broader business context, meaning they are well placed to fill the skills shortage for ICT Project Management.

DBS also engaged and met with IBEC, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Dun Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce, Hirelan, Small Firms Association and the Irish Institute of Training & Development who are all interested in working with DBS through their partners in the coming months to support us in providing internships for all our Springboard participants.


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Contact us

Contact us

The Admissions Office
Dublin Business School
13/14 Aungier Street
Dublin 2, Ireland
T: + 353 (0) 1 4177500
F: + 353 (0) 1 4177543
E: admissions@dbs.ie 

MEET OUR STUDENTS

“Having not being able to obtain more than part-time work for any period over the last four years I realised I was stuck in a professional rut and would need to upskill to have any chance of securing a full-time job. I seen a leaflet at the Social Welfare office about the Springboard “Database and Cloud Technology” course at DBS. Since the early 1980’s, I had been interested in computing, so I applied and was delighted to be accepted. My proudest achievements on the course have been creating my own website and passing the Microsoft Technology Associate exam. Taking part in the course has given me a new sense of purpose. I am now applying for jobs that I would not have applied for a year ago. I now have the confidence and belief that I deserve, and will find, a better job.”

Damien McDonald

Certificate in Fundamentals of Database and Cloud Technologies, Dublin Business School (DBS)