Digital & Technology Solutions Professional Apprenticeship - Data Analyst

The Digital & Technology Solutions Professional degree programme is to be delivered over 4 years on a day release (full day and evening) basis.

Through the Degree Apprenticeship delivery model, we are seeking to work directly with employers to ensure work based projects are embedded into the apprentice learning whilst ensuring those projects are relevant to the workplace and are of benefit to the business.

Level 4

• Business and professional issues
  As a new entrant to the university, this module prepares you for developing an understanding of - and skills for - academic study and the world of work, and the professional and personal skills you 'll need. You'll be introduced to all aspects of university study and being an IT professional, allowing your ideas to be explored and developed throughout your time at LSBU and beyond. The topics studied will be used to develop the skills that both a graduate and an IT professional will require, and will give you ample opportunities to develop your intellectual skills as well as your practical ones. In addition to these topics on professionalism, the module will introduce you to a range of topics relating to computer-based information systems, e-business and how business organisations work. The module is largely based on some existing model syllabi as devised by professional bodies such as the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS), but this has been adapted for the particular needs of LSBU’s new entrants. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Mathematical analysis for informatics
  Programmes within the informatics domain will have an emphasis on the business and managerial functions of organisations. This module will introduce you to the logical and discrete mathematical structures and models, which are commonly used in the broad field of Informatics and which underpin any study of a branch of this discipline. The module will emphasise the formulation of problems into mathematical forms, the interpretation of solutions and the identification of problem characteristics to help suggest modelling approaches. Provisions will be made (typically one hour per week) to allow us to bring you, if necessary, to a level of confidence and expertise in those areas of essential basic mathematics that should have been covered at earlier levels. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Media, computers and networks
  This module will introduce the overall structure and operation of the computer systems and networks found in all areas of business and daily life. Emphasis will be given to the different types of information that must be stored and processed, and how this information is distributed over different types of network. You'll gain an appreciation of the difference between high-level and low-level programming languages and how program instructions are executed at the machine level. The role of operating systems, peripherals, and networking hardware and software will be introduced. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Socio-technical analysis of requirements
  The module will provide you with a first course in systems theory and the analysis of requirements from a socio-technical perspective. The module will explore the modelling of both hard and soft requirements from human, data and process centred perspectives. You'll study requirements analysis as the expression of the business rules of an organisation. Elements of organisational theory and organisational behaviour, with particular reference to technology and culture, will be introduced alongside systems architectures, the systems development life cycle and aspects of change management. Unified Modeling Language will be used throughout. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Software development 1
  This module will introduce you to developing small business systems using PC based applications. In this module you'll learn how to build integrated systems that meet business users’ requirements. The bottom-up approach adopted by the module will enable you to explore and learn how to use the various tools that these applications provide for building and integrating systems. You'll consider the need for and use of programming languages, and the requirement to adhere to a professional approach when developing software systems. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Software development 2
  This module will help you to develop a vocabulary and acquire some simple programming skills using a programming language. It does this by having you develop your own system over the course of the module, supported by the exercises and examples provided in parallel. This experience will include developing familiarity with Objects and Classes, gaining experience in simple Graphical User Interfaces, and looking at good development principles and the kind of support an Integrated Development Environment will provide: all important aspects of the application development process in whatever environment or programming language you may use in the future. Assessment method: 100% coursework.

Level 5

• Database systems
  The database is now the underlying framework of the information system, and it has fundamentally changed the way companies, organisations and individuals work. This module will cover the fundamentals of the database field. The subject of the database field is concerned with how to use computers to store and manage data, usually large quantities of data. This is, first and foremost, an introductory module to database management systems. Assessment methods: 60% coursework, 40% exam.
• User-centred design
  This module provides the practical tools and techniques required to design, develop and evaluate effective interactive systems in an ever-changing digital age. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• System design techniques
  This module explores the techniques for systems analysis and design, divided mainly into four areas: traditional methodologies, agile methodologies, systems thinking methodologies and professionally recognised project management techniques. Assessment methods: 60% coursework, 40% exam.
• Professional review and future planning
• Introduction to data science
  This module is the first specialty module for the Business Intelligence pathway. The module provides a comprehensive overview of business intelligence and introduces the concepts, framework, architecture, main components, tools and platforms of business intelligence. The focus of the practical aspect of this module is business intelligence reporting. You'll gain hands-on experience of implementing a desktop-based dashboard system for business intelligence reporting using Tableau® Desktop and SAS® Enterprise Guide. Assessment methods: 60% coursework, 40% exam.
• Digital business applications
  This module address the range of topics required to plan, implement and manage computer networks of the type used in a wide range of business environments. Emphasis is given to those methods and skills required to deal with systems containing clients, servers and networking devices as effectively and efficiently as possible. This module will give due prominence to current techniques such as multimedia networking and virtualisation, together with foundation topics such as TCP/IP and file/print serving. Assessment methods: 60% coursework, 40% exam.

Level 6

• IS project management
  As you come towards the end of your honours degree, this module takes a broad and reflective view of the profession in a holistic and critical manner. It considers matters of professional and ethical relevance, and particularly considers issues that are of contemporary significance to the subject area. Assessment methods: 60% coursework, 40% exam.
• e-Portfolio
• Synoptic project
• Designing BI systems
  This module covers the knowledge, tools and techniques necessary for the design of Business Intelligence (BI) Systems. Also the techniques and practices for building typical environments for use in a range of BI–based analytics purposes.
• Principles of data mining
  This module provides a broad introduction to the basic theory, concepts, and techniques of data mining, and its role in business intelligence. It will cover the main topics in the area. The focus of the practical aspect of this module is business analytics. SAS® Enterprise Miner and SAS® Enterprise Guide will be taught and used throughout in order for you to develop practical skills in solving real world data mining problems. Assessment methods: 60% coursework, 40% exam.

Collecting, organising and studying data, data analysts are responsible for providing data analysis for the organisation. They document and report the finding to deliver recommendations to improve business performance.

Employability Service

By completing the apprenticeship route, you’ll have the advantage of having real-world work experience, working in a role related to your area of study. This will give you a competitive edge among other graduates when you complete your apprenticeship standard.

During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, who can help you develop your skills through the Careers Gym workshops and presentations. Our JobShop advisers support students and graduates with finding the right job for them.

We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018.

The apprentice will take all the assessments of the embedded degree programme, as well as creating  and maintaining an e-Portfolio.

The synoptic project occurs toward the end of the apprenticeship: you can choose from three projects. An independent assessor takes a holistic view of the learner’s competencies and judges whether they meet the outcomes of the standard.

The End Point Assessment will be carried out by the University, and be based on the e-Portfolio and Final Year Project, as well as an interview.

Duration

it typically takes 4 to 5 years for the Apprenticeship Standards to be achieved. This incorporates a 4-year day-release Bachelor of Science Degree plus time to complete the End Point Assessment.

• A Level BCC or; * BTEC National Diploma DMM or;
• Access to HE qualifications with 9 Distinctions and 36 Merits or;
• Equivalent level 3 qualifications worth 112 UCAS points
• Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English or equivalent (reformed GCSEs grade 4 or above).

Funding

The cost of the apprenticeship is paid fully by the employer (sometimes part funded by the government) through apprenticeship levy. The apprenticeship levy is a pot of money some companies pay into, which all businesses have access to spend on the training costs of apprenticeships. Companies fall into two categories: levy-payers (who pay into the pot) and non-levy payers (who do not). You can find out more in our Levy and Funding section, specifically for employers

The apprentice does not contribute toward the cost of study.

Bands

Apprenticeship standards are all assigned a funding band by the Government – these funding bands are the maximum amount the Government will fund via the levy towards a given apprenticeship standard. There are currently 30 funding bands ranging from £1,000 to £27,000.

Incentives

Employers with less than 50 staff sending an apprentice aged 16-18 will have 100% of the training costs paid by the government. All employers who employ an apprentice aged 16-18 on the first day of teaching will receive a £1,000 incentive from the government. You can find out more in our Levy and Funding section, specifically for employers.

Cost

You can find out the funding band for an Apprenticeship Standard on the Government website. To find out how much we are charging, please get in touch with us at apprenticeships@lsbu.ac.uk

Field trips

Some modules include field with and site visits, which may be residential or outside the United Kingdom, ranging from three to five days. These are organised by the Division and students   are required to contribute towards the cost.  If there are any field trips or any course visits as part of your course, we will let you know in good time.