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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 [email protected] or give us a call on 010 593 5368.

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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 [email protected] or give us a call on 010 593 5368, and we will happily answer all your questions.

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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.  

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Trending Information Technology Courses

Our fast-paced society is always searching for better and faster ways of doing things. Technology meets these demands at lightning speed by constantly adapting and advancing. As a highereducationinstitution specialising in IT, we too need to keep evolving to contend with the latest technologies and trends. In this article, we will take a look at some of the latest tech trends and explain how we make sure our information technology courses keep up with them. 2022 Tech Trends As with any other industry, the IT industry has trends that every company needs to be aware of and implement to stay relevant. The difference between the IT industry and other industries? Tech trends tend to change in the blink of an eye.  According to a recent survey conducted by IEEE (the world’s largest technical professional organisation) titled “The Impact of Technology in 2022 and Beyond,” artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloudcomputing will be amongst the most important technologies in 2022 – all of which are key focuses in our curriculum. Now, you may be wondering how we keep our curriculum relevant when tech trends change so rapidly. Read on to find out. Our Information Technology Courses Keeping our courses up to date with the latesttech trends is one of many initiatives that set our institution apart. We achieve this by partnering with over 120 local and international companies. These companies help us stay ahead oftechnological advances, societal shifts, and evolving industry standards and give us information on the changing needs, skills, and profiles required in the workplace. In addition to the above, we host regular recruitment events where we invite our industry partners to engage directly with our students. These events showcase the high standard at which our students perform and provide an opportunity for our industry partners to recruit qualified candidates. They also exponentially increase the opportunities available to our students by exposing them to a range of companies and their various work environments. Diploma in IT Revamp We are in the process of revamping our Diploma in ITcurriculum to meet the current needs of the industry. To make this possible, we invited our industry partners to highlight subject areas that we could incorporate to fill a gap within the industry or meet an immediate need within their organisation. Following their suggestions, we will be introducing new specialisation streams, including Database, Data Analytics, Business, Security, Networking, Cloud,Programming, Web Development, and Mobile Development as of 2023. These new specialisation streams will allow our diplomastudents to graduate market-ready and with a relevant set of skills. Need More Information? Are you interested in gaining an outstanding qualification in the fastest evolving industry on earth? Don’t settle for any institution. Choose one that will adapt for you and your future. Choose Belgium Campus iTversity. Give us a call on 010 593 5361 or send us an email at [email protected] to learn more about our industry-relevant courses.

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Web Programming vs. Website Design – A Crash Course

When it comes to web programming and website design, there seems to be a lot of confusion regarding what each field entails. While there are crossovers between the two, they each require a very different skill set. Are you considering pursuing a career in one of these fields? This article will help you differentiate between the two to help you make an informed decision. Definitions Web programming and website design are crucial for creating and maintaining quality websites. Experts in these fields work closely together to create websites that are not only visually appealing but functional too! Website designers are responsible for the aesthetic and user experience aspects of a website. This includes the website layout, images displayed, font choices, and colour schemes. Web programmers are concerned with the technical aspects of a website. They work with a variety of coding languages to implement the intended design and developmore complex functionality. Roles Explained A course in web programming will allow you to specialise in one of the following areas: Front-end development – using markup and codinglanguages, including CSS, HTML, and Java, to control how the information on a site appears to users via a browser or mobile device. Back-end development – using programming languages like SQL, Python, Java, and PHP to write and maintain the code that keeps the user-facing side of a site running from behind the scenes. This is achieved by maintaining a constant flow of information between a website’s front-end and database. Full-stack development– using front-end and back-end development to create fully functional websites. A course in website design will allow you to perform three main roles: UI Design – UIdesigners, or user interface designers, design all the interactive elements of a website, including forms and buttons. UX Design – UX designers, or user experience designers, analyse dataand run complex tests to design website layouts that optimise the user experience and keep website visitors engaged. Visual Design – Visual designers are versed in both UXand UI design and can create interfaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. Decision Time We hope you find this crash course helpful and feel better equipped to make an informed careerchoice. If you are still struggling to decide between these two fields, that’s okay too! Many ITqualificationswill allow you to become versed in both, which will work to your advantage considering how closely interlinked these two fields are. Belgium Campus iTversity offers two industry-relevant IT degrees, a Bachelor of Computing and a Bachelor of Information Technology, which will transform you into a world-class programmer capable of providing an exceptional user experience. Need more information on a specific course? Give us a call on 010 593 5361 or send us an email at [email protected].

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Why Study Machine Learning in 2022 

What Is Machine Learning? A subfield of artificial intelligence, machine learning (ML) allows computer systems to learn and improve without explicit programming. Achieved by giving computers access to large volumes of data on specific subjects, it uses algorithms to identify patterns and accurately predict outcomes. It is a growing field with an immense impact on society and business. Read on to discover some everyday applications and the many industries that use this powerful branch of artificial intelligence. Everyday Applications Many people falsely believe that machine learning (ML) applications are only applicable within the professional tech realm. ML has many everyday applications which improve our daily lives. It’s the reason that, despite the English language comprising of an estimated 171,146 words, your phone can predict what you would like to say next when you type a message. It’s also the magic behind Netflix suggesting shows that match your interests or Facebook identifying which friends need to be tagged in the images you upload. In short, it’s an integral part of modern living. Business Applications ML is transforming virtually every industry, including healthcare, finance, entertainment, retail, transportation, and manufacturing. It is a digital transformation enabler that, when implemented effectively, drastically improves business processes and operations. Below are some examples of how ML does this: It streamlines the recruitment process by automatically sifting through all applications to shortlist the best candidates for an available position.  It helps prevent fraud by using algorithms that can monitor large volumes of data and apply pattern recognition to identify irregularities indicative of fraudulent activities. It improves customer experience by drawing on historical data and past interactions to provide each customer with a personalised experience that meets their specific needs. Why Study Machine Learning With the above in mind, it is clear that ML is a crucial strategic tool for all businesses. As such, it should come as no surprise that experts in this field are in high demand and consequently well paid. But this is not the only reason to study within this field. Doing so will grant you entry into one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, which means plenty of opportunities for career growth. Where To Study If you are looking to enter this lucrative field, most roles will require you to hold a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline. Belgium Campus iTversity offers two industry-relevant IT degrees that will set you up for success. Our 3-year Bachelor of Information Technology degree covers an extensive range of topics from mobile and wireless networks to artificial intelligence and intelligent systems. Our 4-year Bachelor of Computing degree includes ML as a subject and data science as a specialisation. These two fields of study are intricately linked, and competency in both will take your career to unimaginable heights. Need more information? Give us a call on 010 593 5368 or send us an email at [email protected], and we will help you secure a successful future today.

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Prepare for Success With a Bachelor of Computing

When it comes to choosing a higher education qualification, you can’t go wrong with a Bachelor of Computing degree. Not only is a degree the entry standard for many professional careers, but the tech industry also remains one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. If you are looking for a higher educationinstitution that offers such a qualification, there are many reasons why Belgium Campus iTversity should be your first choice. Some of these reasons are outlined below. We surpass European standards All our qualifications are audited every five years and benchmarked against the accreditation protocol of the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization. The most recent audit, conducted by international universitiesKU Leuven (ranked 7th most innovative university in the world) and UAntwerpen, found our Bachelor of Computing programme to be more advanced than an equivalent programme of European standards. Our throughput rate is high Despite being our most challenging qualification at NQF Level 8, our Bachelor of Computing degree has an 87.5% throughput rate! What does this mean? Throughput rate is the percentage of students who complete their studies within the timeframe allocated for their qualification. This is rather impressive when you compare it to the national throughput rate which is only 33.3%. Our students work on real-world projects All the theoretical knowledge imparted during this degree is grounded in a real-world application. Our students work on real-world projects that affect industry and society from their very first year of study! These projects range from smart systems for BMW to smart farming solutions for local farmers. By taking part in multidisciplinary innovation projects which often involve international counterparts, our students are transformed into well-rounded IT professionals who possess much-needed global competence. Our specialisations are industry-relevant and exciting Our entire curriculum, including our specialisations, is tailored to meet the specific needs of the industry. Our Bachelor of Computing students can choose to specialise in one of two in-demand fields, being Data Science and Software Engineering. It’s no secret that software engineering is one of the highest-paid professions globally, and according to Analytics Insight, a leading media authority that covers the latest industry trends, data scientists will be the most in-demand profession in the next five years! With this in mind, our students can rest assured that they will have a successful career regardless of the specialisation they choose.  We provide internship opportunities at top companies Part of our offering at Belgium Campus iTversity is to help our students secure workplace training at top companies. We have partnered with over 120 local and international companies to give our students as many opportunities as possible. Many of these companies hire our students after their internships once they see how well they perform and how easily they transition into the working environment. Are you interested in securing your future with us? Give us a call on 010 593 5368 or send us an email at [email protected] and we will guide you through the application process.

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The Best Platform for Online IT Courses

Distance learning courses saw a global spike due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many education institutions scrambling to move online to remain operational. While some thought this was a temporary change born out of necessity, research suggests that distance education is here to stay. This is not only due to the convenience this mode of learning provides, but also its impact on learning retention. According to the Research Institute of America, remote learning increases retention rates by 25 to 60%. This is largely due to the increased control remote learning students have over their education. When it comes toe-learningplatforms, not all platforms are equal. While some institutions moved online simply to remain operational, others saw it as an opportunity to create a truly unique educational experience that prioritises student needs. One such institution is Belgium Campus iTversity. In the remainder of this article, we will take a look at Belgium Campus’ e-learning platform and how it addresses the challenges that traditional e-learning platforms present. Remote Learning at Belgium Campus Powered by HybeFlex, a system specifically designed to fill the gap in distance education, Belgium Campus has combined the convenience of online learning with all the benefits of a face-to-face environment. We have created a truly immersive remote learning experience that gives our students full control of their educational journey. This is made possible through the use of an intelligent multi-camera setup. Our intelligent multi-camera setup allows our students to choose their focus throughout a lesson. They can switch between instructor feed, whiteboard feed, computer feed, and classroom feeds, or even further enrich their remote learning experience by adding a supplementary feed to the corner of their screen (e.g., a sign language interpreter feed). The Isolation Challenge Unlike traditional e-learning platforms where there is little to no face-to-face interaction, our platform will give you that in-classroom feeling regardless of where you choose to learn. Thanks to our innovative video wall technology, remotestudents are no longer mere icons who can only passively observe but are active participants who can directly engage with their lecturer and in-room peers. The Load-shedding Challenge In a country like South Africa, load-shedding is one of the biggest challenges that e-learning students face. It is impossible to study online and keep up with your courses when experiencing regular power cuts. Our platform addresses this issue with the use of a cloud server. All our coursework and class recordings are saved to the cloud where they can be reviewed at any time. This gives our IT students the freedom to catch up on classes they’ve missed at their own convenience. The Technical Issues Challenge Distance learning can be daunting due to the complicated setup and technical difficulties some platforms pose. This is a non-issue at Belgium Campus iTversity. Our platform’s user-friendly design and minimal setup requirements allow our students to focus on their IT courses rather than wasting valuable time trying to understand complex technology. All you need to study IT courses online with us is:  A device that connects to the Internet. A webcam and microphone. 1Mb Internet speed. Are you interested in studying IT courses through distance learning? Choose the IT institution that will continue to adapt to provide you with the best distance education. Choose Belgium Campus iTversity. Apply now: https://www.belgiumcampus.ac.za/Apply-Now.html

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IT Degree Students Develop Life-Saving Software

Four Belgium Campus IT students are developing life-saving software to prevent hot car deaths. A hot car death, also known as Paediatric Vehicular Heatstroke, is when a baby or toddler dies of heatstroke after accidentally being left in a locked vehicle during a hot day. It is horrifying to think about it, but, unfortunately, happens more often than you might think. According to the National Safety Council, in America alone, an average of 38 children under 15 fall victim to hot car deaths each year. That’s 38 children too many! Recognising the gravity of this issue, our students decided to use their IT knowledge and skills to come up with a solution.  The Solution Working with a BMW X3, our students have been developing software that will notify vehicle owners via their cell phone when they have left a child, or even a pet, in their vehicle. So, how exactly does this work? All living organisms produce CO². As such, the car’s CO² and motion sensors, along with its built-in camera, will be used to detect life within the vehicle. If life is detected, a notification will be sent to the vehicle owner to inform them. At the same time, the car’s internal thermometer will monitor the temperature within the vehicle to provide the owner with regular temperature updates. If the vehicle owner does not return to their car or respond to any of the notifications received, the software will crack the car’s windows to try to reduce the temperature. If the driver still does not return and the temperature does not reduce or continues to rise, the software will start the car and switch the air conditioner on. Of course, this is just a surface-level explanation. In order to successfully develop this, our students will have to bring their idea to life through design, coding, and finally testing and debugging – an easy task for our students! Degree Options at Belgium Campus iTversity As you may have gathered, Belgium Campus iTversity is unlike other institutions that merely focus on theoretical understanding. At Belgium Campus, we equip our students with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and thoughtfulness needed to uplift communities and drive real social change. Are you ready to be the next great IT professional who changes the world and impacts people’s lives? Our revolutionary degree programmes will help you do just that. Choose between our 4-year Bachelor of Computing degree or our 3-year Bachelor of IT degree and watch yourself transform. The world is in desperate need of thoughtful leaders, don’t keep it waiting! Need more information or assistance with the application process? Give us a call on 010 593 5368 or send us an email at [email protected]. We look forward to helping you realise your true potential.

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IT University Launches Educational Platform

Belgium Campus iTversity, a private university in South Africa specialising in information technology qualifications, has launched an online educational platform. The platform, titled BCTV, aims to educate and excite the public’s curiosity on the importance and pervasiveness of information technology. The Platform’s Significance According to Stats SA, South Africa’s unemployment rate has hit an all-time high at 34.4%. This is in stark contrast to the World Economic Forum’s most recent skills report on the increasing skills gap that not only our country will soon face, but the world. Out of 20 job skills that will increase in demand, 70% are in information technology or related fields. With this in mind, it is clear that IT education is the most effective way to eradicate poverty and invest in the economy of our country. Powered by Belgium Campus iTversity, a private university that aims to alleviate South Africa’s educational and unemployment challenges by bridging the information technology skills gap, BCTV aims to further these efforts by encouraging more individuals to pursue a career in information technology. What the Platform Features The platform features video interviews with IT professionals from successful organisations that use technology in innovative ways. In addition to covering some of the innovative projects these companies work on, the videos also explain complex technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Many of the companies featured on the platform have students from the IT university completing their internships with them. These students’ experiences are also featured on the platform to give viewers insight into what it’s like to enter the professional IT world. Read on to find out which companies have been interviewed thus far and which disruptive technologies/ innovation projects they’ve provided insight on: Retro Rabbit Retro Rabbit is Africa’s leading software development, user experience, data science, and design thinking company. They provided insight on their Smart Safe Project – a drop safe that accepts, validates, and counts all notes fed through it and links each deposit to the user who made it. Liberty Liberty is a leading financial services company. They were interviewed regarding their use of the world’s number one customer relationship management platform, Salesforce, their use of AI, big data, and robotics, and their recently erected vaccination centre. CIRT CIRT is a tech company that provides cutting-edge IoT solutions. BCTV interviewed the company on two of these solitons. The first, Q-HOP – a solution that allows customers to scan the barcodes of items they purchase using a mobile application and then pay for these items using digital payment platforms. The second, VACCLOC – a solution that measures location and temperature to ensure optimal COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Interested in Collaborating? Would you like your company to be featured on BCTV, or are you interested in recruiting some of our industry-ready graduates? Contact our university on 010 593 5368 or send us an email at [email protected]. We welcome new collaborations and would love to hear from you.

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