Gippsland School of Computing and Information Technology
Undergraduate courses in computing have been offered at the Gippsland
campus since 1984 by an academic subgroup within the School of Applied Science.
In 1992 a separate Division of Computing was created, operating as an academic
department of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology and offering
a range of undergraduate and graduate courses. It became a school in its own
right at the start of 1995.
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.
The Gippsland School of Computing and Information Technology seeks to:
- 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, two graduate diploma courses and a masters degree course.
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.
The school established a research centre to foster research in early
1996. Research interests of staff in the school include the areas of
human-computer interaction, databases, data communications, image processing,
multimedia information systems, multimedia communication, multiple-valued
logic, artificial intelligence, operations management, operations research and
optimisation techniques.
Human-computer interaction
User interface design, direct manipulation interfaces, dialogue
modelling; design and implementation of distortion oriented displays.
- Academic staff: Dr P Anderson.
Computer-mediated communication and
computer-aided learning
Application to the delivery of courses by distance education.
- Academic staff: Mr M Hassan, Mr D Thomson, Mr J Hewson, Ms K
Styles.
Data communications
Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, performance analysis.
- Academic staff: Mr M Hassan.
Image processing
Image processing, video coding and computer graphics.
- Academic staff: Dr S Suthaharan.
Multimedia information systems
and communication
Distributed systems: design and synchronisation issues, system
development over broadband ISDN (ATM), applications of distributed multimedia
to education, multimedia communication.
- Academic staff: Dr Guojun Lu, Dr S Rahman.
Multiple-valued
logic
Applications to concurrent systems and to logic synthesis.
- Academic staff: Associate Professor R Bignall, Dr H
Selvaraj.
Operations management
Management of quality, just-in-time, flexible manufacturing systems,
technology management, forecasting and applications of neural networks.
- Academic staff: Dr B Nath.
Optimisation techniques
Application of genetic algorithms and related heuristics to
combinatorial optimisation problems and to scheduling.
- Academic staff: Associate Professor R Bignall, Dr B
Nath.
Reliability modelling
Reliability modelling of power station plant life. Business systems
reliability analysis.
- Academic staff: Dr B Nath.
For further information contact Associate
Professor R Bignall, telephone (03) 9902 6464 or Dr B Nath, (03) 9902 6468.
System development is the synthesis of computer-based information
systems and software systems, and encompasses the processes involved in the
system development lifecycle, including the determination of user requirements,
systems analysis, systems design, software design and development, software
testing and verification and software maintenance. Besides arriving at an
understanding of these processes, students taking the system development major
will acquire practical knowledge and skills appropriate to computing
professionals working in systems development and related areas including: a
sound understanding of computer hardware and software technology, a knowledge
of computer architecture, systems software and database technology, and skills
in software design and computer programming.
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 objectives of the Bachelor of Computing with a major in Business
Systems are to provide students with and understanding of:
- how businesses are organised and operate;
- information technology, including hardware, software, databases and data
communications;
- techniques for planning and managing the implementation of solutions, as
well as the ability to use them;
- the processes involved in solution design and software development;
- the principles and processes of software design;
as well as the
ability to
- think creatively and to develop, analyse and communicate alternative
solutions to problems;
- communicate effectively with other computing professionals, managers
users, clients and the wider community;
- use the basic research skills they develop to locate and retrieve
information pertinent to the problems being investigated, using a range of
sources including the technical literature and on-line sources;
- identify and document management's problems and needs;
- develop correct, well structured and well documented computer programs
that solve users needs;
- cooperate with others and work effectively in a team environment;
- take initiative and work independently;
- exercise judgement to satisfy conflicting interests.
The course will
encourage the following attitudes in students:
- enthusiasm for the field of study;
- a concern for accuracy and a willingness to assess their performance
objectively;
- 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.
Handbook Contents
| Faculty Handbooks
| Monash University
| Published by Monash University, Clayton, Victoria
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Copyright © Monash University 1996 - All Rights Reserved -
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Authorised by the Academic Registrar December 1996
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