HND in Digital Technologies (Digital Communications Management Pathway) HTQ
You will study sixteen units in total:
Year 1
- Professional Practice in the Digital Economy will provide you with a foundation for good practice in a variety of contexts and an opportunity for you to examine the evolution and impact of digital technologies on work environments.
- Innovation & Digital Transformation will look at a number of tools and techniques that organisations use to transform and become more innovative in their approach. These include frameworks and related elements such as operational agility, culture, leadership, customer experience, and integration of digital technology.
- Cyber Security designed to develop your knowledge and understanding in relation to cyberthreats and vulnerabilities, cyber defence techniques and incident response. You will explore fundamental principles as well as leading-edge concepts, terminologies, models and hardening methods. You will assess the types of malicious activity and potential targets, and the role everyone has in maintaining cyber resilience.
- Programming introduces you to the core concepts of programming, along with an introduction to algorithms and the characteristics of programming paradigm.
- Big Data & Visualisation introduces you to the concepts of big data and visualisation and how this is used for decision making. Students will explore the industry software solutions available for investigating and presenting data, before assessing the role and responsibility of data specialists in the current environment.
- Cloud Fundamentals designed to develop an understanding of the fundamental concepts of cloud computing and cloud deployment models, and the need for cloud computing. You will develop an appreciation of the issues associated with managing cloud service architecture and develop critical awareness of the ramifications of cloud computing-based projects.
- Website Design & Development encompasses the underpinning services required to host, manage and access a secure website. You will then be introduced to and explore the methods used by designers and developers to blend back-end technologies (server side) with front-end technologies (client-side).
- Management in the Digital Economy will introduce you to the concept of organisational behaviour and encourage you to apply this to the digital sector, developing an awareness of how organisations in the digital economy are organised and formed. You will explore topics including structures, culture, and the impact and influence that stakeholders can have on digital organisations. You will also consider the use of communication and media channels to understand different stakeholders and discover a range of digital-led management styles and leadership skills to assess those most appropriate, before applying theories of motivation to digital teams.
Year 2
- Business Intelligence you will be introduced to a range of tools, techniques and technologies for acquiring data and processing this into meaningful information that can be used to support business functions and processes. You will also examine the concept of business processing in terms of data capture, conversion and information output. You will be required to define the tools and technologies associated with business intelligence functionality.
- Internet of Things will introduce you to the role, basic concepts and benefits of IoT in the design and development process of computer applications. The key aim of the unit is to enhance understanding of the methodology, terminology and benefits of IoT in the design and development of software applications.
- Emerging Technologies you will be introduced to the role, benefits, disadvantages and potential outcomes that emerging technologies have in the development of software applications and business practices. The aim of the unit is to enhance your understanding of the current types, terminology, advantages, disadvantages, potential impact and benefits of emerging technologies.
- Planning Social Media- Campaigns you will explore this new cultural ecosystem, where we use new practices of communication and social interaction through social media. This will enable you to analyse a market to plan and develop strategic communication campaigns through social media
- Digital Marketing will introduce you to digital marketing and its importance in the successful marketing of organisations. The unit will enable you to develop an understanding of how organisations use various digital tools and techniques to engage their customers and maintain a competitive advantage.
- Customer Value Management designed to enhance your knowledge and understanding of why it is important for marketers to enhance and manage the value of customer interactions. You will learn underpinning theories and frameworks, and will be expected to relate them to real-world examples, including their own experiences.
- Work-based Learning in the Digital Economy – will provide you with a framework and the opportunity to reflect on and contextualise the learning you gain from working in the industry. In coordination with tutors and an employer, you will define the scope, duration, and content of your expected work-based learning experience. Throughout the period of you work based learning experience, you will be expected to record their experience and reflect on your learning.
- Digital Sustainability you will gain a wide range of knowledge and understanding of the issues and topics associated with sustainability and low impact digital technology solutions. You will also explore the interdisciplinary context of sustainability and how the development of a low carbon economy is essential in the digital technology sector.
The HND will also help you develop your academic writing and research skills providing you with the opportunity develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving.
This course is delivered online and will consist of ‘live’ (synchronous) workshops and seminars along with learning materials which you will be guided through and able to complete at a time convenient to you. You will learn through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. By participating invocational activities, you will develop key behaviour and transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, research, and analysis. Plus, you’ll be supported by a friendly, committed, and qualified team of lecturers who have both professional and teaching experience.
You will be assessed through a mixture of written assignments, group assessment, peer assessment, portfolio assessment and practice-related coursework. You will also be supported with a wide range of learning resources made available via Activate Learning’s Online Learning Environment (ALO), including access to textbooks, articles, and multimedia content.
Support
You will have a range of support made available to you, including academic and pastoral support, learning support and access to additional support funds (if eligible). Please see our Support Pages for further information.
Additional study support
Whether you have a recognised disability, specific learning difficulty, or not, you will be eligible to access additional learning support in all the following areas:
- assistive software training
- IT upskilling
- essay planning and structure
- proofreading and editing written work
- bibliographies and referencing
- time management and personal organisation
- revision and exam tips
- presentation techniques
Applicants will be expected to possess one of the following:
- A minimum of 64 UCAS points, or
- Relevant Access to Higher Education Diploma, or
- Level 3 in Computing or Business or other related subject, or
- T Level at Pass in a related subject
Along with a GCSE grade 4 or above in maths and also in English. Other L2 qualifications in English and maths may be accepted. Those who do not have a GCSE in maths and/or English will be required to undertake a pre-entry assessment to ensure suitability for the programme.
We are committed to creating educational opportunities for people from a variety of backgrounds and situations. If you have been out of formal education for some time, and/or you do not have the qualifications stated, we might still be able to consider your application and offer you a range of support. We are here to help. Please get in touch to find out more.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate that their level of English is acceptable by achieving a score in a recognised test such as
- Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2
- PTE Academic 51, or
- IELTS 5.5 (reading and writing must be at 5.5)
On successful completion of this course, you can progress on to a ‘Top Up’ BSc (Hons) degree (subject to meeting entry requirements).
Career opportunities could include becoming a Digital Communications Manager.
Fees for September 2024 entry are £6,500 per year for UK students.
Please note: Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years for new students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
There are a variety of funding options available to help finance your studies. If you are a UK (Home) student, you don’t have to pay your tuition fees up front; the government provides loans to cover your full tuition fee. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan to help cover living costs. Alternatively, your fees may be paid by your employer, or we could arrange a payment schedule if you are paying your own fees.
Additional costs
Students are advised that they will need access to a laptop or PC. We recommend that you budget £100 a year additional costs such as for stationary to undertake your studies. You can borrow textbooks and access journals from the recommended reading lists from our Learning Resource Centres either physically on campus or in the majority of cases online. If you choose to purchase textbooks, they may cost up to £60 each.
