Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 5)

Overview

Technically, Digital Technologies is the application of complex decision making to the operation of technical systems. Digital Technologies are electronic tools, systems, devices and resources that generate, store or process data. Digital Technologists analyze their work with the principles of electronics and control systems to ensure that designs function safely, efficiently, and reliably, all at a competitive cost.

The NIT qualifications in Digital Technologies were designed to meet the industrial revolution 4.0. They are for the industry and are taught, assessed and verified by local and international industry experts. They are career specific and are aimed at ensuring that the NIT students graduate as Vibrant, Skilled, Competent, and Work-prepared Entrepreneurial Technicians, Technologists, and Professionals to handle and confront the changing and demanding job roles within the Technological industry.

Digital Technologies qualifications are for career goal minded individual who would appreciate the career specific and practical fascinating insight of the NIT programs. With a qualification in Digital Technologies, you’ll have many career options. What you choose depends on what most interests you.

The qualification level has broader coverage of knowledge and practical skills required for the vocational sector. The qualification has the potential to prepare learners for progression to the Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 6).

Who is this qualification for?

Digital Technologists are critical for the current generation and industry 4.0. Digital Technologies careers focus on creating technologies to meet the industry and human needs. Practically every product or service in modern life has probably been touched in some way by a Digital Technologists to help humankind. This includes solving today’s problems and creating future solutions in health care, energy, transportation, education, environment and climate change, water management, and many others. Your Digital Technologies studies will give you a strong technical knowledge in a variety of areas, which could include: maintaining robotics, industrial and electronics, etc. With about 30% of theoretical learning, there will typically be much more of action, hands-on, practical learning to ensure that you are adequately prepared for digital technologies work when you graduate.

You could consider working in industries such as Manufacturing, defense, Mining, Nuclear engineering, but particularly in newly formed fields involving bioengineering, nanotechnology and robotics etc. Whichever industry you choose to work in, you can earn a good salary as a Digital Technologists, more especially once you become a member of the Technological Council. The future of the world of work is increasingly becoming exciting for engineering professionals as the 21st Century is increasingly dependent on IT and Digital Technologies specialist to lead the automated industry.

The Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 5) is an ideal qualification for anyone who works in any of the below-listed fields and seeks to develop career-specific skills and gain a solid qualification in Digital Technologies to support his/her position and anyone who wants to enter into or has just started a career in any of the following career areas:

• 3D printing technician.
• App developer technician.
• Archivist technician.
• Business analyst technician.
• Cartographer technician.
• Computer games developer technician.
• Computer games tester technician.
• Cyber intelligence officer technician, etc.

What makes this course special?

Why you must study with NIT?

At the National Institute of Technology (NIT), we know how important it is for career ambitious people to get the right education to start and further develop their careers.

With today’s industry and employers demanding so much more than just a qualification to contain the effects of global competition and to attain a competitive edge, here are the main six (6) reasons why you must choose to study at NIT:

Work Readiness

NIT courses will give you real hands on experience in pursuing your education. It is what is called learning by doing it or action learning. Based on a 70% practical (action learning, action research, projects, reflective thinking, critical thinking, etc.) and 30% theory teaching and learning and assessments methodologies, all the NIT students become work ready (prepared) during their first year of study and graduate with strong work ethics, analytical, problem solving, communication and entrepreneurial skills which are the major factors that employers are looking for in their new recruits.

Employability

NIT’s higher vocational, technical and professional courses prepare students for employment and self-employment. The NIT courses develop a student’s employability skills as they offer the experience of real-life practical tasks and work placements. NIT’s qualifications are generally well-regarded by employers as the courses enable students to develop useful hands-on skills in respective fields of study and in critical areas such as problem solving, time management, entrepreneurial, communication, work behavior, visionary and focus minded, team work, and project planning, execution to evaluation. The knowledge and skills you get from NIT programs will make you be sought after by employers locally and globally. NIT helps students to gain strong knowledge and skills that are essential to start and successfully run their own businesses and/or to be appreciated competent and productive employees that every employer would like to hire.

Relevant

NIT courses are designed and developed with the help of the employers, industrial experts, professional bodies, higher education experts and lecturers. This keeps the NIT curriculum to be industry driven and relevant for today and the future’s job market and self-employment. NIT’s qualifications provide students with industry-specific knowledge, skills and competencies which make graduates’ work outputs to be relevant to their employers’ missions, visions and goals.

Practical Teaching and Assessments

The NIT’s teaching and learning is based on the seven (7) major principles teaching and learning through which theory knowledge is practically applied into various practical teaching and learning methods including action learning, projects supported by verifiable tangible evidences (outcomes), critical reflective thinking, case scenarios, job placements, industrial site visits, public lectures led by industrial experts, etc.

The assessment for NIT courses is largely based on regular coursework and work experience, which makes them an ideal option for those who crumble under the pressure of exams.

All the NIT programs are assessed through objective and rigor-based assignments and projects for which origination is examined through the Turnitin IT Application to ensure that each student submits his/her own true work. The outcome of these assignments must be in an implementable practical and quality standard.  

Career and Education Progression

Employers value NIT’s qualifications as the courses are industry-centered and directed. In other words, unlike academic programs, the NIT courses give students the industry-specific knowledge and skills which makes them readily employable. This, combined with the problem solving, time management, entrepreneurial, communication, work behavior, visionary and focus minded, team work, and project planning skills they gained throughout their learning process give the NIT graduates a strong competitive edge to progress in senior job positions and to further pursue their postgraduate professional degrees such as Masters to Professional Doctorate Degree programs at various reputable higher education institutions/universities.

Reputation and Prestige

• The industry relevance, practicality, career specific and quality of the NIT qualification will make you to standout and visibly be seen and noticed in a cloud of many academically qualified graduates.
• As more employers expect their new employees to have relevant practical skills and competencies than costly academic knowledge, NIT makes your CV and profile standout.
• NIT is known for stringent quality standards which govern the provision of its higher vocational, technical and professional courses. NIT is also known for its practical, relevance and Industry driven courses.
• The above values, compounded with the work ethics, entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills you will learn and practice while studying at NIT will grant you the respect, reputation and prestige within the industry sector you will work.

Qualification Purpose and Outcomes

Upon completion of Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 5), graduates will be able to:

• Apply knowledge and understanding to investigate, analyse and evaluate digital technology products and systems, and their impact on individuals, organisations and society.
• Plan, design, create, and review approaches to developing, digital products.
• Conduct Digital Technologies measurement and inspection methods to determine if components are fit for purpose by making use of statistical process control to inspect components and increase productivity.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of digital technology systems, including how they are used by, and impact on, individuals, organisations and society.
• Contribute positively to good practice in the Digital Technologies environment through effective use and combination of the knowledge and skills gained in different parts of the qualification.
• Progress to Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 6)

How will I learn?

The NIT tutors/lecturers are equipped with various traditional teaching methods which are all used to create and develop Vibrant, Skilled, Competent, and Work-prepared Entrepreneurial Technicians, Technologists, and Professionals. The teaching and learning practices involve 70% practical and 30% theory methodologies by applying a wide range of action learning techniques stipulated in the course specification.

What does the course involve?

You will study a combination of theory, applied theory, and practical subjects across a broad range of units. To succeed, your effective time management and focus are both very critical. For each unit, you will do a main test, assignment, and examination in addition to an integrated project. These assessments do not include the informal tests, homework, and assignments that your lecturers will require you to do in each learning outcome. To pass this applied qualification, it is critical that constantly monitor, formalize yourself with and operate alongside developments taking place within the Digital Technologies field by regularly visiting different Engineering related projects and/or organizations, reading news and articles, etc.

Assessment Methods

The NIT programs are assessed using a combination of:

1. Informal Assessments
2. Formal Assessments

Informal assessments are conducted by lecturers on each covered component of the unit outcome to weigh knowledge created into his/her students so that necessary teaching practices adjustments can be made as appropriate.

Formal Assessments are further classified into two parts:

• Formal Continuous Assessments which comprise of:

1. Major Test
2. An Integrated Action Project

• Formal Final Assessments which comprise of:

1. Major Examination
2. Unit Assignments

What are the Career Progression Opportunities?

Students who have achieved the Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 5) can progress on to Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 6). They can also competently serve in any of the below-listed job areas.

What are Articulation Opportunities?

The credit transfers from other programs offered by other institutions or other NIT programs will be dealt with according to NIT rules and regulations on Recognition of Prior Learning. Provided that an applicant has qualification accredited by NQA and verifiable through the NQF, the NIT rules provide for course by course credits as well as credit transfer by volume under certain conditions. Maximum credits that can be granted from none technical (hands-on) programs are 15% of the credits for a qualification. Maximum credits that can be granted from the technical (hands-on) programs of similar standards with those of NIT are 50% of the credits for a qualification.

What career opportunities can this lead to?

The Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 5) is an ideal qualification for anyone who works in any of the below-listed fields and seeks to develop career-specific skills and gain a solid qualification in Electronics and Electrical Engineering to support his/her position and anyone who wants to enter into or has just started a career in any of the following career areas:

• Trainee Aerospace and Automotive Engineering Technician
• Trainee Digital Technologies Designer/Engineering Technician
• Trainee Bio-Engineering Technician
• Trainee Nuclear Engineering Technician
• Trainee Robotics Engineering Technician
• Trainee Control and Instrumentation Technician
• Trainee Mining Engineering Technician
• Trainee Maintenance Engineering Technician etc.

What are the Fees?

Our fees include:

• Application/Registration Fees
• Tuition Fees
• Other Fees include Laboratory Fees, Study Manuals, industrial site tours, action research, etc. (where and if applicable).

For more information about our fees, please contact any of our Call Centre at any of our Campuses or the Marketing and Public Relationships Department.

Funding Opportunities

There are many funding options for the NIT’s accredited programs. Most of our students have over the past years been funded by their employers while others finance their studies on their own. Students can also apply for study loans with Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund. NIT also provides scholarships and bursaries to students who meet requirements as stipulated in our annual prospectus.

Withdrawal/Cancellation

Any cancellations/withdraw or refunds are executed as per the NIT policies. For more details, refer to the Students Registration Agreement and the Withdraw Policy.

The Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 5) is made up of fourteen units. It is structured to be studied for one year through Distance Learning, Online, Virtual Campus, Part-Time, Full-Time, Or Blended Learning.

Total Unit/Modules Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 5)

The following is a compressive list of course units/modules you will cover in this program:

• 1DT201 Current and Emerging Technologies
• 1DT202 Big Data & Visualization
• 1DT203 Security Protection and Risk Management
• 1DT204 Internet of Things
• 1DT205 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems
• 1DT206 Digital Marketing
• 1DT207 Applied Machine Learning
• 1DT208 Digital Finance
• 1DT209 Cyber Security
• 1STU201 Entrepreneurship and Business Development
• 1STU203 Project Management
• 1STU204 Professional Work Etiquettes and Employability
• 1STU205 Specialized Industrial related Project

Work placement/experience requirements

Although there are no specific mandatory elements of work placement/experience required for the Diploma in Digital Technologies (Level 5), students are expected to apply theories learned through various methods and carry out the practical learning activities as provided in the qualification specification.

Completion of Study Enrolment Form

Download and complete the Student’s Enrolment Agreement (SEA) form or obtain one from our Call Centre at any of our Campuses, print and complete it and submit it with proof of payment for the stipulated registration fees together to any of our Campuses before the stipulated application deadlines to avoid paying late application/registration fees. To be considered for approval, the completed enrolment agreement form must be accompanied by certified copies of documents as stipulated on the Student’s Enrolment Agreement (SEA) form.

Applicant must ensure that:

• The enrolment agreement form is properly and fully completed and that each page is initialed and signed;
• He/she provides all the required documentation such as certified copies of qualifications, Identity Card/Passport photos, Supporting letters from employers,
• He/she deposit registration fees into the respective Campus’ Bank Account provided on the enrolment agreement form and submits the original copy of the deposit as proof before being issued with an official receipt
• He/she is issued with an official Institutional Receipt, stamped with Official Company Stamp, and Signed by the Head of Call Centre for every payment made to the NIT.
• Please note that NIT does not receive cash payments,
• He/she obtains a written acknowledge letter confirming that his/her completed enrolment agreement form has been received
• He/she obtains the status of his/her application for studies within 30 working days.
• If admitted, an Admission letter issued by the Admissions section in the Office of the Registrar is obtained through the respective campus together with the timetable, program specifications, syllabuses, student’s details of student’s portal, student’s handbook, and rules and regulations, student card, and any other information.

When can I apply?

NIT has a whole year circle of accepting new applications from students from all over the world. However, please take note that applications for the First Semester which starts in January/February each year are only considered up to March of each year. This period includes late registration. Unsuccessful applications for First Semester and applications that are received late are considered for the Second Semester which starts in July each year.

The following are two (2) annual teaching and learning intakes for students to register to study on this program at NIT:

• January/February – June
• June/July – November

Applications must be made in-time to avoid late registration fees and to be disappointed if spaces are allocated to earlier applicants.

What must I have to qualify?

The entry to this qualification shall be based on:

The applicant must meet the NIT’s minimum the General Admission Requirements of NIT. Specifically, applicants must have passed 80% or all the courses (Units) work for Certificate in Digital Technologies  (Level 4).

Qualifications obtained from other higher education institutions will be considered for entry to this program on subject to subject similarity and comparability basis and in terms of the NIT regulations.

Resources for Prospecting Students

• Qualifications Brochure
• Prospectus
• Online Application
• Application Form

Resources for Registered Students

• Students Handbook
• Institutional Calendar
• Learning and Assessments Policies
• Qualifications Specifications
• Assessments Schedules
• Recorded Lessons’ Presentations
• Virtual Classrooms
• Virtual Library
• Virtual Laboratories
• Study Manuals and Books