Software Engineering (Top-up)BEng (Hons)

Advanced Software Engineering

This module is one of backbone modules of the BEng Software Engineering (top-up) course that is designed for those students who have already obtained a two-year Higher National Diploma (HND), the Association of Computer Professionals (ACP) Advanced Diploma or an International Advanced Diploma (IAD) in Software Engineering, Computing, Computer Studies or other software development-related courses and would like to gain an internationally-recognised degree qualification specialising in building software for various software-based systems. The module runs during 30 weeks. Assessment includes two pieces of coursework, an in-class tests and an exam.

To achieve the aim, this module combines:

1) Understanding and application of software project management process, its products and people roles in the process
2) Learning software development, support and maintenance processes, their products and people roles in the processes
3) Application of software development activities, methods, and documents to carry out every-day tasks of software developers
4) Studying testing activities, methods, and documents to carry out every-day tasks of software testers
5) Full coverage of the “ISTQB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing” syllabus
6) Enhance employability skills

Application Development

CS6004 Application Development 30 weeks: This module will equip students with essential knowledge and skills to become efficient software developers. The module will consolidate and integrate programming concepts and techniques which students have learned earlier in the degree for the purpose of application development for the real world. The module will also extend students’ knowledge and skills for them to be able to tackle issues pertinent to realistic application development projects.

The module delivery will be conducted in a practical fashion through exposing the student to one exemplar of modern development platform/technologies in depth and then requiring them to develop a significant software artefact using the exemplary toolset/development platform, and to reflect on the process and the solution. (Exam, course work and practical exam). It will cover risk assessment to identify and implement appropriate security.

The module aims are:

● To provide students with a disciplined understanding of the state of the art of application development in terms of development technologies, development platforms and toolsets, risk assessment and security in the broader context of the IT industry business.
● To consolidate the techniques and concepts introduced in earlier programming modules in order for students to be able to employ them in an integrated fashion in realistic application development projects.
● To introduce students to a major contemporary software development platform, including its programming languages and toolsets for application development.
● To train and equip students with necessary hands-on skills in using a major development platform and environment to design and implement a significant software application.

Project

The module enables students to demonstrate their acquired knowledge and skills through a systematic and creative investigation of a project work in accordance with their course requirements. The topic of investigation will cover a broad spectrum of various analysis and techniques and will lead to a comprehensive and concise academic/industry-related report. Students will be assisted in exploring areas that may be unfamiliar to them and encouraged to develop innovative ideas and techniques. Students will be able to choose a project that may require the solution to a specific problem, creation of an artefact in a real-world environment or an investigation of innovative ideas and techniques related to an area within their field of study. Collaboration with outside agencies and projects with industrial, business or research partners/ sponsors will be encouraged.

Assessment: Project Report Interim Submission(25%) + Project process (25%) + Project Report Final Submission(40% -Pass on component) + Viva (10% -Pass on component).

The module aims to develop a wide range of subject specific cognitive abilities and skills relating to intellectual tasks, including practical skills and additional transferable skills of a more general nature and applicable in many other contexts.

Particularly, the module aims to:

•Provide an opportunity to learn, through supervised experience, how to plan and carry out a project through a systematic and creative approach;

•Encourage innovation and originality in approach to investigating a problem in an area that may be unfamiliar to the student;

•Provide opportunity for in depth study of some specialised area of suitable scale and complexity relevant to their course of study;

•Raise awareness in potential business development opportunities in connection to the project work undertaken and of any ethical, legal and professional issues;

•Develop reporting skills as well as the ability to communicate results, conclusions, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialists and non-specialist’s audiences, clearly and unambiguously;

•Encourages reflection upon the relationship of design decisions to the appropriateness of the finished task;

•Enhance professional and personal development.

Career Development Learning

The module enables students to undertake an appropriate, short professional activity related to their course at level 6 with a business or community organisation and to gain credit for their achievements. The activity can be professional training or certification, a volunteering activity, employment through internal or external work-based placements, research-related activities, business start-up projects, entrepreneurship programs and more. Please see the complete list of accepted activities on WebLearn.

Students are expected to engage in any one or combination of career development learning activities for a total of ~70 hours which should be recorded clearly in a tri-weekly learning log – part of the portfolio. The ~70 hours can be completed in ~30 working days in FT mode or spread over a semester in PT mode.

Students are expected to complete a total of ~150 hours, 70 hours of which is direct engagement in any one or combination of career development learning activities. Progress should be recorded clearly in tri-weekly learning logs which are part of the portfolio. The ~150 hours can be completed in ~35 working days in FT mode or spread over a semester in PT mode.

Students should register for the module to be briefed, undergo induction and module planning and have their career development learning activity approved before they take up the opportunity. Students must be made aware that both the "Learning Agreement" (LA) and relevant "Health and Safety (H&S) checklist", where applicable, must be approved before starting the learning activity. Activities started without prior explicit supervisor approval will not be accepted.

The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to:
• Gain a valuable experience of the working environment and the career opportunities available upon graduation.
• Sharpen critical thinking, creative problem-solving and the ability to articulate solutions correctly to decision-makers and budget-holders alike.
• Undertake a career development learning activity appropriate to their academic level to gain exposure and access to professional networks.
• Extend learning experience by applying and building on their academic skills and abilities by tackling real-life problems through enrichment and extracurricular programs related to student subject areas.
• Enhance existing skills and master new ones through a structured personal and Professional Development Plan (PDP).

Data and Web Development

This module builds upon the student's general understanding of database design and implementation from prior learning. It discusses some key issues underpinning database management systems and their development, provides a strong coverage to advanced SQL, which helps preparing for professional certification. Introduces some current topics in database technology such as NoSQL. In addition, the module contains a substantial practical element utilising advanced SQL and full- stack web development framework application enabling students to gain transferable skills in designing and developing relatively complex ‘real life’ database applications using web database technologies.

The module will enable students to:
•Gain in-depth understanding of some key issues pertinent to the management and development of modern database applications.
•Acquire skills in advanced SQL which provides an opportunity for gaining professional certification.
•Introduced to current developments in database technology thereby raising students’ awareness and understanding of the future trend in SQL and NoSQL systems development.
•Design and develop relatively complex business web database application using industry-standard database products (e.g. Oracle Server/SQL Server/ MongoDB with .NET Core and MVC Framework).

Mobile Applications

This module introduces a range of specialist programming techniques as applied to mobile platforms. Specific areas of study will include: programming strategies for resource-limited portable devices – including reviewing key components through the development of exemplar applications using an appropriate mobile-based programming platform such as Java ME and Google Android.

The key skills and knowledge to be gained are:

•Understanding theoretical concepts related to the work of software in wireless networks and the use of different protocols, frameworks and tools for building mobile applications

•Learning techniques for programming mobile applications using standard technological frameworks, development tools, mobile device emulators and handsets

•Acquiring practical skills in developing mobile applications which utilize wireless services and mobile Internet

•Applying analytical knowledge and practical skills for building typical mobile applications

•Developing ability to compare protocols, models and paradigms for mobile applications and estimate trade-offs during design using different design patterns, development frameworks and programming techniques

•Building professional competence and increasing the employability through the use of industrial standard technologies and tools for software development

Project Analysis and Practice

The aim of the module is to explore how projects are analysed, developed and managed in a business setting and the types of project methodologies that are used. Students will engage in using a methodology such as Agile in a team setting to understand the different roles within the Agile methodology. The module will examine the role and value of UML and other project management tools. The module will use case studies to gain a deeper knowledge of how projects are analysed, developed and managed. The module will be assessed by means of a 3000 word report based on a chosen case study.