Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
The major objective of the Gippsland School of Computing and Information Technology is to generate, evaluate and transmit knowledge through teaching, research and professional activity within its fields of expertise, for the benefit of both the region served by the Gippsland campus, and the wider national and international community.
+ equip its graduates with the knowledge, competence, aptitudes and skills required to operate effectively in their chosen profession;
+ foster in its students an intellectual curiosity as a preparation for lifelong learning;
+ promote a commitment in students and staff to serving their society, with an adherence to the highest ethical standards;
+ provide a high quality, challenging and supportive learning environment appropriate to the needs of on-campus, distance education and offshore students;
+ make available its intellectual resources to the region which it serves, and beyond, through applied research and consultancy which maintains the highest ethical standards;
+ contribute to the development of computing and information technology through research and professional service.
The school carries out teaching and research with a primary focus on the use and application of information technology in commerce and industry. It offers two undergraduate courses, namely a degree (including an honours year) and a diploma, as well as a graduate certificate and two graduate diploma courses. Two research degrees, the PhD and Master of Computing, are also offered.
The school makes extensive use of off-campus teaching modes. Apart from the research degrees and the honours year of the Bachelor of Computing, all its courses are available by distance education, and it also offers a number of subjects through the Open Learning Agency. In addition, the school delivers courses and subjects by distance education offshore in South-East Asia. A number of staff have particular interests in the use of information technology to support teaching and learning, with a focus on techniques appropriate to the distance learning modes.
Academic staff: Mr P Anderson
Academic staff: Mr M Hassan, Mr D Thomson, Mr J Hewson, Ms K Styles
Academic staff: Mr M Hassan
Academic staff: Dr S Rahman
Academic staff: Associate Professor R Bignall, Dr H Selvaraj
Academic staff: Dr A Gunasekaran
Academic staff: Associate Professor R Bignall, Dr B Nath
Academic staff: Dr B Nath
For further information contact Associate Professor R Bignall, telephone (03) 9902 6464 or Dr B Nath, (03) 9902 6468.
In their final year students have the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, for example by undertaking a significant project. They also choose from a range of more advanced studies and develop to a greater depth relevant knowledge and skills in selected areas such as data communications and networks, systems programming, artificial intelligence, information systems management, computer graphics or human computer interface design and development.
On completion of the major in systems development, students will be able to:
+ communicate effectively with users, clients and with other computing professionals;
+ understand in general terms how businesses are organised and operate;
+ think logically, and develop, analyse and communicate alternative solutions to problems;
+ understand information technology, including the organisation and operating principles of computer hardware, systems software, data communications and database technology;
+ use the basic research skills they have developed to locate and retrieve information in the technical literature from a range of sources, including on-line sources;
+ understand and be able to use techniques for planning and managing the development of systems
+ identify and document user requirements;
+ understand the processes involved in system design and development;
+ understand the principles and processes of software design;
+ develop correct, well structured and well documented computer programs;
+ cooperate with others and work effectively in a team environment;
+ take initiative and work independently;
+ exercise judgement to satisfy conflicting interests.
They will have developed the following attitudes:
+ enthusiasm for the field of study;
+ a concern for accuracy and a willingness to objectively assess their performance;
+ an awareness of social values, and a commitment to strive to enhance the quality of life of those affected by their work;
+ an appreciation of the importance of considering the needs of others within the community.
The teaching and research aspects of the school's mission complement each other. To teach courses that are both pedagogically sound and relevant to current theory and practice invites avenues of research. The research, in turn, energises the teaching with a freshness and breadth of ideas.
The aim of the school is to provide students with a quality learning environment, which includes not only good teaching from a committed and competent staff, but also, the necessary physical resources and a pastoral and administrative infrastructure that guides and serves its students. The school seeks to develop its students to prepare them for entrance into the computing profession.
The school aims to provide an environment for its staff that will both support and challenge them: support them with the facilities and environment conducive to productive achievement and challenge them with the opportunities to develop themselves professionally.
Graduates in a non-computing discipline can enter the computing profession by completing the graduate diploma offered by the school. Flexibility is available in the school's courses with provision for the inclusion of non-computing majors and minors, the availability of double degrees conducted jointly with other faculties, and the acceleration of degrees through summer semesters.
The School Advisory Board, composed of staff and senior computing industry representatives, ensures the relevance of subject offerings to current industry practice. The Education Forum provides a venue for academics to discuss pedagogical ideas and concerns.
Academic staff: Dr D Casey, Mrs A Ellis, Mr P McKenzie
Academic staff: Dr Y Zheng
Academic staff: Professor P Steele, Ms D Ceddia, Ms C Clemence, Ms J Dospisil
Academic staff: Ms J Dospisil, Dr J Han, Mr K O'Yang
Academic staff: Mr K O'Yang
Academic staff: Ms J Dospisil, Mrs A Ellis, Mr E McPherson
Academic staff: Professor P Steele, Dr J Han, Ms D Ceddia, Mr R Dorling, Ms N Lindner, Mr P McKenzie, Ms R Polan, Mr P Torokfalvy
For further information, contact Dr J Han (postgraduate coordinator for Peninsula SCIT), telephone (03) 904 4604.
The major aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes to enable them to analyse a wide variety of business problems, and to design, construct and implement computerised information systems that can be used to solve these problems. It provides a conceptual framework for understanding computing and the development of computerised information systems. This framework enables students to understand, integrate and use new and emerging methods, tools and technologies.
Students completing this major will have knowledge of:
+ the nature of business problems, and techniques for analysis and modelling of user requirements which would lead to a computer-based information system;
+ tools and techniques for the design, construction, testing and implementation of a computer-based information system that meets user requirements;
+ principles and procedures for the design, construction and testing of computer software using a variety of commercially relevant programming languages and techniques;
+ the maintenance of software systems;
+ information technology, including the organisation and operating principles of computer hardware, systems software, data communications and database technology.
They will have an understanding of:
+ the nature and role of information systems;
+ procedures and principles of software development;
+ business organisations and their operation;
+ the techniques for planning and managing the development of systems.
They will be able to:
+ analyse and model user requirements to design computer-based solutions to business problems;
+ effectively use computer hardware and software technologies such as CASE technologies, database management systems, and computer networks in the development of computerised information systems;
+ communicate effectively with users, clients and other computing professionals;
+ identify and document user requirements;
+ develop correct, well-structured and well-documented computer programs;
They will have developed the following attitudes:
+ self-motivation in their professional activity - to think critically, take responsibility for their own learning, and to be resourceful when solving problems;
+ group cooperation which will enable them to work productively in group development of computerised information systems;
+ respect for ethical considerations, and an awareness of the personal responsibilities associated with the computing profession, as expressed in the Code of Ethics of the Australian Computer Society;
+ a high regard for effective oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.