29 March 2022

We Make IT Qualifications Easy

As a highereducationinstitution specialising in information technology, we often come across students who are reluctant to pursue a course in this field. Some of the common reasons they give are that it is too difficult or that they aren’t good at maths or didn’t take IT in high school. In this article, we show you why none of these is valid reasons and how, at BelgiumCampus iTversity, we make IT qualifications easy! No Prior Tech Knowledge Required A common misconception about studying information technology at a higher education level is that you need to have taken it in high school. Although prior information technology knowledge is an advantage, it is certainly not a requirement. At Belgium Campus iTversity, we level the playing field by starting with the basics. No Need to Be a Maths Genius Another misconception about studyinginformationtechnology is that you need to be a maths genius to do so. Now, as is the case with IT, a solid maths foundation is advantageous, but it is not the be-all and end-all. In fact, you do not need to meet any mathsrequirements to study our certificate qualifications or our Diploma in Information Technology. If you would like to studyone of our degrees, 50% or more for pure maths on the NSC is a requirement. However, if you did not take pure maths or achieved less than 50%, there is still an option for you to gain entry. We offer a free maths bridging course at the beginning of each year to give students who did not meet the necessary maths requirements to study one of our degrees a second opportunity to do so. It is also an incredible opportunity for all our students to sharpen their mathematics and problem-solving skills in preparation for their qualifications. One Module at a Time While other higher education institutions expect students to divide their attention between multiple modules, at Belgium Campus, we allow our students to focus on one module at a time. Permitting our students to give each module their undivided attention gives them a thorough understanding of each subject and makes grasping complex concepts easy. Exceptional Lecturers With the right lecturer, any subjectcan be engaging and easy to understand. Our academic staff goes through a rigorous selection process. We make sure that they are not just experts on the subjects they teach but also dedicated and passionate. Our lecturers go the extra mile to help our students succeed. This is made evident by the thorough planning that goes into each lesson, the passion with which they present their lectures, and the time they devote to helping each student realise their true potential. They are always on hand and dedicate their Friday afternoons to meet one-on-one with students who need additional help. Are You Interested?Are you interested in joining an institution that makes IT qualifications easy? Give us a call on 010 593 5368 or send us an email at info@belgiumcampus.ac.za.

We Make IT Qualifications Easy Read More »

IT Courses Requirements

You know you want to pursue an informationtechnology qualification, but you don’t know where or how to start applying. We are here to help. The first step to figuring out what you would like to study is to look at which courses you qualify for. When it comes to IT qualifications, this will depend on the endorsement on your national certificate, your maths and English marks, and whether you have completed any further studies. In this article, we take you through the different entry requirements to study for an IT certificate, diploma, or degree at BelgiumCampus iTversity. Certificate Courses At Belgium Campus iTversity, we offer two exceptional IT certificates, an NQF 5 National Certificate in Systems Development and an NQF 6 Certificate in Database Development. These purely vocational programmes provide an affordable option to quickly enter the working world. They can also serve as a stepping stone to further study opportunities. If you would like to study one of these certificates, you will require the following: A National Senior Certificateendorsed for a Higher Certificate Diploma Courses We recently revamped our Diploma in Information Technology in collaboration with our industry partners to include the following industry-relevant specialisations: Database, Data Analytics, Business, Security, Networking, Cloud, Programming, Web Development andMobile Development. So you can rest assured that this qualification will make you market-ready and sought-after! There is only one prerequisite for this programme:   • A National Senior Certificate endorsed for a Diploma Degree Courses If you want a career where you can work your way up, a degree is definitely the way to go. We offer two world-class degrees that will grant you professional entry into some of the top companies in IT, both locally and internationally. Our NQF 7 Bachelor of Information Technology will transform you into a software development wizard, and our NQF 8 Bachelor of Computing will allow you to specialise in Data ScienceorSoftware Engineering – two fast-growing and lucrative fields. You will need to meet the following requirements to studyone of these programmes: A National Senior Certificateendorsed for a Degree 50% or more for English on the NSC. Foreign students are required to produce their SAQA-converted qualification listing English as a subject or complete an English proficiency test. 50% or more for pure mathematics on the NSC. Foreign students are required to produce their SAQA-converted qualification listing mathematics as a subject. Application Process We’ve taken you through the requirements for each programme. All that’s left to do now is apply for one of the IT courses for which you meet the requirements. You can do this at the following link in a few easy steps: https://bit.ly/33vx5Ph Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further information or assistance with the application process. Our friendly admissions team is here to guide you every step of the way. You can send us an email at info@belgiumcampus.ac.za or give us a call on 010 593 5368.

IT Courses Requirements Read More »

Bachelor of Information Technology Specialist Electives

Our Bachelor of Information Technology will transform you into a coveted ITprofessional with a multitude of careeropportunities. By opting for various specialist electives, you can broaden your skills and explore the many avenues available to software developers. In the remainder of this article, we take a look at the different electives you can choose between and what each entails. First-Year Electives First-year Bachelor of Information Technology students can choose between the following business-oriented modules: Business Management If you are interested in starting your own business or taking the lead in helping businesses achieve their strategic goals, this module is for you! It will provide you with an in-depth understanding of business management principles and the business value chain. On completion of this module, you will have a sound understanding of what it takes to become an entrepreneur and the managerial skills and roles required in a successful business. Entrepreneurship This module will help you develop the skills and creative business mind to become a successful social entrepreneur. By combining various teaching approaches, including discussions, role play, and real-world examples, we will teach you the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, and its practical applications in the business environment, in a fun and engaging way. Second-Year Electives In the second year of our Bachelor of Information Technology qualification, students have a choice between: Internet of Things This module will teach you to develop exciting IoT solutions using cloud–based platforms like Bluemix and IBM Watson and popular embeddedsystemslike Raspberry Pi. This entails using programming to capturedata from trusted devices and sending this data to a cloudplatform where it can be accessed for various functions. Software Testing As the name suggests, this modulewill teach you to effectively test software for bugs and errors – arguably the most critical step in the softwaredevelopment lifecycle. You will learn the different types of tests carried out during each stage of this lifecycle and the challenges that come with them. On completion of this module, you will be able to apply the appropriate testing procedures to ensure that a software product meets the specified requirements and produces the desired results. Third-Year Electives Our final-year Bachelor of Information Technology electives include: Innovation Management Simply put, this module will teach you to transform great ideas into feasible solutions. You will learn to manage innovation projects and/or the development of new techsolutions from the initial ideation phase to the final implementation phase. User Experience Design Thismodule will give you the knowledge and skills to create digitalproducts and services that provide relevant and meaningful experiences to users. You will learn todesign the user experience within various contexts, including for mobile and websites and interactive environments like immersive experiences and augmented reality. Are you interested in learning more about this exceptional qualification? Send us an email at info@belgiumcampus.ac.za or give us a call on 010 593 5368, and we will happily answer all your questions.

Bachelor of Information Technology Specialist Electives Read More »

Addressing Urbanisation Challenges through IT Innovation

Belgium Campus iTversity has partnered with Penn State University to construct a small-scale hydroponic system and automated farming robot. The project aims to ensure food security in urban areas while promoting cultural competence and effective leadership amongst participating students. It forms part of Belgium Campus iTversity’s larger effort to address urbanisation challenges through the ongoing development of smart city solutions. The IT institution is in the process of building an Urbanisation Learning Factory, which will house this solution and serve as an incubation hub for future ones. Why is urbanisation an issue? Urbanisation is the increasing migration of the world’s population from rural to urban areas. There are many reasons people choose to make this move, the majority of which centre on achieving a higher standard of living. After all, urban areas offer increased job opportunities, higher wages, improved amenities, and better healthcare and housing. But while increased urbanisation has its benefits, it is also the cause of serious environmental issues and their resultant health conditions. These issues include land degradation, increased pollution, water shortages, waste mismanagement, overcrowding, and energy over-consumption. The resulting health conditions for which include poor nutrition, the contraction and transmission of diseases, and a general deterioration of health. With the world’s urban population predicted to increase from 4.46 billion as of 2021 to 6.68 billion by 2050, the need for smart city solutions that optimise the use of natural resources and reduce the effect increased urbanisation has on the environment is more urgent than ever! How this project addresses urbanisation challenges   Hydroponic farming is an ancient technique that involves growing plants without the need for soil, using a flow of nutrient-enriched water. The technique itself addresses a number of urbanisation challenges in the following ways: 1) Hydroponic greenhouses allow a constant food supply, regardless of the soil quality, weather conditions, or time of the year. 2) It saves space – an important component in overcrowded areas. Because plants within the system receive nutrients and water directly, they do not need to branch their roots out in search of these things, meaning they can be planted quite close together. 3) It conserves water – a scarce resource in overpopulated areas. Hydroponics conserves up to 90% more water than traditional farming by recirculating the water that is not absorbed by the plants within the system. 4) Because hydroponics allows food to be grown locally, it removes the need for transportation, which reduces carbon emissions and wastage caused by food going off in transit. So, where do our participating students come in? Using their IT and engineering expertise to design the optimal hydroponic system and build a farming robot to automate the agricultural cycle, our students will produce a smart cities solution capable of producing enough food to ensure food security within an urban area. Project Components Working in three teams through virtual collaboration, 15 software engineering students from Belgium Campus and 8 mechanical engineering students from Penn State are working together to design and build the following: Team 1: A single-level hydroponic system. Team 2: An automated farming robot capable of navigating the hydroponic system to allow planting and harvesting. Team 3: A robot arm with the reach, rotate, and clasping capabilities needed to plant and harvest crops. Together, these three innovations will serve as proof of concept for the effective automation of a hydroponic farm within an urban area. “IT makes things more efficient and enhances what already exists, which is the goal of every field – to improve. I got into IT because I want to create things that make people’s lives better, and I feel that this project is a good start.” – 3rd-year software engineering student at Belgium Campus, Sonwabile Balite. The students have completed the ideation and design phase of the project and are in the process of building the prototype. We are eager to see the finished project. Keep an eye on our social media to see what they are able to engineer! By Louise Fuller   Sources: Kuddus, M.A., Tynan, E. & McBryde, E. Urbanization: a problem for the rich and the poor?. Public Health Rev 41, 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-019-0116-0 UN (World Urbanization Prospects 2018). https://population.un.org/wup/Download/ Schnitzler, W.. (2012). Urban Hydroponics for Green and Clean Cities and for Food Security. Acta horticulturae. 1004. 13-26. 10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1004.1.  

Addressing Urbanisation Challenges through IT Innovation Read More »

Translate »