Handbook

Postgraduate Studies

Ritson Timetables

Information Sheet

IT Timetables

Staff

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Teaching and Learning Profile for Information Technology

With the advent of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR), society has become more connected than ever. This in turn has increased the need for Information and Communication (ICT) graduates with varied skills to drive technological innovations that address societal and industrial challenges.

To meet the demands of 5IR, the Department of Information Technology offers diploma and degree programmes in ICT at the undergraduate level. Furthermore, there are several articulation paths towards postgraduate studies in honours, masters, and PhD in ICT that are benchmarked against international standards. Should a student who graduated with a diploma in ICT wish to pursue any of our postgraduate studies starting with the honours degree, the department also offers the Advanced Diploma in ICT.

Our Honours degree focuses on critical skills such as Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing and Data Analytics. At the same time, our Masters’s and PhD programs guide postgraduate students through applied research, enabling them to leverage their expertise to solve real-world problems. By studying with us, you become part of a global network of digital innovators.

Our curriculum was derived from the international computing standards set by ACM and IEEE, thus ensuring a world-class education. This integration provides our graduates with cutting-edge knowledge in ICT fields and practical skills in their application.

The department consists of a diverse and dedicated team of academics. They bring a range of experiences, from new appointments to seasoned professionals with extensive industry experience. Our staff are committed to continuous development in stewardship, pedagogy, research, and community engagement. They continually evolve their teaching practices to keep pace with socio-technological advancements and bridge the digital divide. We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion in shaping the future of ICT.

Our high-tech computer laboratories have the latest hardware and software, enhancing the learning experience. We proudly house South Africa’s only Luban workshop, equipped with state-of-the-art Robotics, 3D printing, and IoT facilities. Additionally, we maintain partnerships with ICT industry leaders such as Microsoft, AWS, IBM, SAP, Huawei, and Cisco.

Our research achievements are a testament to our commitment to excellence and the potential of ICT to transform the world. Collaborations with researchers from countries like Korea and China have led to groundbreaking innovations in intelligent energy, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics. Some of our postgraduate students receive research awards, grants, and accolades, contributing to DUT’s recognition for high-quality research output. By joining our research community, you can be part of the next big breakthrough in ICT.

 

Research Profile

DUT is ranked among the top five Universities in South Africa and among the top 300 Universities Worldwide. This accolade is mainly the result of high-quality research and demonstrates our ability as a serious heavyweight contender. Computing research makes significant contributions to achieving such accolades each year.

Masters and PhD students (PG students) speak highly of their learning experience and time at DUT. These students hail from many local and international regions, forming a rich tapestry of culture and ethnicity, enriching the overall learning experience via interactions. Our students mingle with different cultures, languages, and socio-economic standings, which are vital in an industry that has long ago diminished regional boundaries and promoted global collaboration teams.

Our research is often fascinating and captivating. PG students ply their skills to perform exciting research in areas of big data, data analytics, data streaming, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, IoT, edge computing, cyber security, cloud computing, user experience, software engineering, image processing, and computer vision. Research is underpinned by a simple philosophy of innovative and clever computing solutions that improve society’s lives and livelihoods. Research is applied in nature, and research is designed by methodology.

Some of our recent PG student research topics are: Using ICT for disease intervention in resource-constrained environments: case study Narok county, Kenya; A Context-Aware word embedding model for morphologically rich languages using Sesotho saLeboa as a Case Study; Detecting identity theft in real-time using big data; Predicting depression on social media using machine learning; Integrating design thinking and DevOps for improved requirements engineering in agile software projects and Design model of IoT ready network architecture for Botswana Healthcare System; and practical course delivery as a service for higher and tertiary education in Zimbabwe: A robotic and artificially intelligent approach.

We boast state-of-the-art computing resources and a wide range of support units dedicated to enhancing the research experience and enabling the PG student to satisfy their research goals quickly. There are dedicated PG student computer laboratories with high-tech computers and equipment for AI, Big Data, Robotics, IoT and 3D printing. There are comfortable spaces for research outside the computer laboratories and lecture halls should the PG student need to work on their thesis. The Library provides access to top-ranked computing journals and other publications from anywhere globally. In addition, the Writing Centre provides one-on-one peer assistance to improve the quality of the thesis or publication.

PG students complete their studies well within their planned timeframes and embark on successful careers in academia or the IT industry, locally and abroad. They achieve publications and other research outputs along their journey, enhancing their profiles. Our PG Degrees are recognised worldwide, and some of our mentors have achieved international acclaim and regional awards and ratings for their advanced standing in a particular field of computing. This profile is increasing with each passing year.

 Being the largest department in this faculty, the popularity of this department is reflected in the large number (approximately 500) of first-year students it takes in annually. Students have the opportunity to choose from the following streams: Bachelor of ICT, Diploma ICT Applications Development and Postgraduate Programmes

• The Bachelor of ICT: This CHE-accredited Degree offering in BICT was offered for the first time in 2019. Subject to the availability of space, the department may accept a limited number of students into the second or third year of study whose BICT Programme aligns with the University.
• The Diploma in ICT in Applications Development: The CHE-accredited Diploma offering in ICT (Applications Development) commenced in 2016. An augmented four-year curriculum is devised to enhance student development and improve the student’s chances of successful completion. The department may accept a limited number of students into the second or third year of study whose ICT Programme aligns with the University, subject to space availability.
• The Diploma in ICT in Applications Development (4-year Foundation) is an augmented 4-year curriculum devised to enhance student development and improve the student’s chances of successful completion.
• The B Tech IT and B Tech FIS programmes are being phased out, and no new applications are being accepted for them.
• Update to application process for Higher Certificate in Information Technology: Although the details of the Higher Certificate are not included in the printed CAO Handbook, prospective students must still apply for it through the CAO.It is available as a programme offered at DUT. The CAO code for the Higher Certificate in IT is DU-D-HIT.

 

Postgraduate Graduates: The Department offers the following postgraduate qualifications, namely,

• Honours Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology
• Master of Information and Communications Technology (MICT)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology (PhD)

Both Masters and PhD programmes are full research programmes requiring submission of a full-thesis for examination. There is no coursework.

 

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ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
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Information and Communications Technology – BICT Durban

Information and Communications Technology – App Dev Durban

Information and Communications Technology – App Dev Bus An Pietermaritzburg

Postgraduate entrance requirements

 

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Contact Information