Business Information Technology (day time learning) Tornio autumn 2015: T42D15S

Descriptions

DegreeDegree Programme in Business Information Technology (BIT)The international Degree Programme in Business Information Technology (BIT) gives students theoretical and practical skills required for working in the field of information and communication technology. The objective of the programme is to educate specialists in cloud computing, Web and mobile services and applications. After completing this Degree Program graduates are able to design, develop and test software systems, Web and mobile applications. To support these competencies, the curriculum includes courses on programming, content-management systems, system analysis and design, human-computer interaction, information security, service-oriented architecture, and Web services. Additionally, students understand the business idea of cloud computing and software service delivery models, and they can define their business value for customers. To support this objective, the curriculum includes courses on service management, strategic management, marketing, and software project management.
Education in English provides an excellent opportunity to the students to make a better career in the future. Most of IT companies nowadays require specialists with fluent English since the degree of internationalisation in this area is enormous. This is increasing opportunities for our graduates on the labour market. Being an international degree programme, BIT provides a great opportunity to study in an international environment thus supporting learning different cultures and acquiring multicultural team working experience. This might be an invaluable addition to the competence profile of our graduates.
BIT Degree Programme is based on the most efficient learning and teaching methods in this area. Project-based learning and courses where the students are getting practical skills are included in this programme. The Department has an IT laboratory where students can be in contact with the business life of the region, working with real tasks from companies. Half-a-year practical training period included in BIT curriculum can be carried out in Finland or abroad. This degree programme encourages personal growth, critical thinking, research skills, and cooperation with team mates.
The strategy of Lapland University of Applied SciensesThe strategy of Lapland University of Applied Scienses is focused on Arctic Co-operation and cross-border expertice, managing distances, smart use of natural resources and safety&security knowledge. Furthermore, the emphasis is put on service business and entrepreneurship. These topics are discussed in the classroom activities in various manners.
The future of ICT fieldThe ICT field is nowadays under conceptual transformation from product to service oriented industry. Users don’t want just IT or software products but they require solutions including products themselves and services associated with delivering and using these products. The software development field is experiencing certain changes as well. These include appearance of new software development methods (e.g., agile methodology) as well as new software service delivery models following the recent trend of software service industry transformation.
Moreover, cloud computing solutions are getting more widespread and popular. Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. Cloud computing is modifying the business model of software development and its delivery by introducing new approaches. These include Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Serice (PaaS), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). SaaS, for example, has become a common delivery model for many business applications, including accounting, collaboration, customer relationship management, management information systems, enterprise resource planning, invoicing, human resource management, content management and service desk management. SaaS has been incorporated into the strategy of all leading enterprise software companies. One of the biggest selling points for these companies is the potential to reduce IT support costs by outsourcing hardware and software maintenance and support to the SaaS provider.
Many large software companies are now concentrating largely their research and development efforts in the area of cloud computing which means this is the future priority. In general, cloud computing is rapidly growing and step-by-step replacing traditional desktop software products. Service-oriented approach to software development and delivery also means a change in the business models of these processes. Software users nowadays require more customization taking into account their specific needs, flexibility of the software solutions, service support and updates. All of these are now an important part of software design, development and delivery. In overall, we believe that in the next decade the ICT and software development fields will largely be based on the Web, cloud computing and mobile applications and services.

Assessment of competence
Assessment of competence is based on learning objectives defined in the curriculum. Learning objectives depict what type of competence is required from a student to receive a degree. The assessment criteria derived from the learning objectives are used to identify learning outcome. Assessment of competence depicts how well set learning objectives have been achieved.
Competence is assessed from many perspectives by examining development in practical, academic, social and evaluative competence. Practical competence is manifested as a systematic, smooth command of tasks. Academic competence indicates a command of theoretical knowledge, an understanding of the connections between facts and processes and the ability to grasp entities. Social competence is related to interactive competence; the ability to work as a member and a leader of a group. Evaluative competence describes learning, evaluation and development skills related to one’s own work and the ability to develop and influence joint activity and activity that takes place in the surroundings. Assessment methods are selected so that they truly measure achievement and the level of competence.
Assessment of competence and rectification of assessment comply with Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences’ degree regulations. Assessment is on a scale of 0–5. Assessment criteria are defined for each study unit. A detailed assessment plan for each study unit is presented in the study unit’s implementation plan.
Recognition of prior learning (AHOT)
Competence acquired earlier or elsewhere during current studies may be recognised as a part of the student’s degree programme. Recognition of prior learning follows the AHOT procedure.
Quality management
A university of applied sciences is responsible for the quality and continuous development of the education it provides and other operations, and it regularly participates in external quality assessments.
Lapin AMK’s Quality System is described in Lapin AMK’s Quality Manual. Degree programme quality management is carried out according to the procedures described in Lapin AMK’s Quality Manual.