5MG001 – The Professional Leader & Manager

By Dr Kenneth Grech

The Professional Leader and Manager are delivered by STC on behalf of the Wolverhampton Business School, University of Wolverhampton.  It is a Level 5 course with 30 credits aimed at students who wish to further develop and enhance their knowledge, skills and understanding of the leadership process and various management approaches in the business world.  Several topics of interest are covered, including human resource management, motivation, change management, dealing with stress as a manager, managing teams, the influence of power and culture, managing in a multiethnic and multicultural environment and the role of a leader and manager at the strategic and operational level.  The module takes an interpretative, formative and reflexive approach, with practical examples and case studies used to augment and enrich the students’ experience.  Assessment is both case-based and also students give an oral presentation to assess their communication skills.

Skills For Computing

By Jeremy Darmenia

Skills for Computing is an introductory module, that set’s one up, for said diploma and degree pathway. Students are guided on learning strategies to be able to make the best use of their learning experience. Special emphasis is also directed towards academic writing and the correct way of referencing researched material. The honing of professional presentation skills and how to keep any particular target audience engaged, are exercised to give students the cutting edge both in the academic and professional world.  Skills for Computing continues by questioning the degree of one’s thinking and problem-solving abilities. Scholars are exposed to various strategies and conventions about creative and critical thinking in a bid to breach any formed psychological boundaries. The next phase of the module is concerned with data acquisition and analysis, to allow decision-makers to make informed and sound decisions. Arithmetic and Statistical modelling are explored and demonstrated, with the end objective being that of converting data into information.

Office Software Development

By Jeremy Darmenia

Office software Development as a module focuses on features and functions, of every day productive applications. A normal user will for instance use spreadsheet software, to compile lists of entries and maybe compute a few arithmetic functions. What we strive for in this module is to develop your average user into an advanced user, by tutoring students to use spreadsheet software to its full potential. We take a deep dive into end-user development, and how this allows one to execute business processes more efficiently and with fewer chances of error. The end-user developer must be able to understand business practices and their shortfall, understand the current IT systems within the organisation and then build a bridge between the two. It is a common practice nowadays, that we look for specialised software for each business problem, and happily spend finite resources on them.  However, rarely do we fully comprehend the capabilities of that office software that has always been lurking within our hard drives. Capabilities that are powerful enough to solve the majority of organisational tasks for small to medium enterprises.

Networking and Security

By Keith Sacco

The networking and security course provides students with insights on the different types of networks existent today, the various ways data and information is transferred from one device to another, and wired and wireless types of networks. The course also investigates aspects of security, and why security should be put in place when a network is set up. Students taking up this course ask (1) is networking only about wired and wireless networking, and why is this important in the business and workplace today? and (2) when career path would I follow if I study networking? Networking and Security are the fundamentals of connectivity in business today. Using wired or wireless technologies, devices from smartphones to laptops, or any other connected devices – connect to the wider networked world and the internet. All businesses use some sort of wired or wireless devices in their organisations. Everyone today makes use of a smartphone or connected devices to the internet. Therefore, be it gaming, medical, financial, public sector, social media or any other area in the working world; all are connected to the wider internet, all need to have security in place to protect their operation, and all make use of devices that are connected. This means that there is the need for experienced and knowledgeable people to manage such networks, wired/wireless devices, or specialists in security / cyber-security so as to ensure that; such network is running efficiently, security and ensure the only authenticated devices allow access, networked devices are set up to ensure full throughput and speed, and the network and business domain has the necessary cyber security systems in place to protect against malicious activity. These are all areas covered in the course. The networking/security student should not only see networks and security from a curricular perspective but from a job and career path perspective networking and security open ones opportunities to work as Network Engineers, Network Architects, and Cyber Security Specialists to mention a few.

Databases

by Keith Sacco

Students taking up the databases get to learn various aspects of how data is stored in the computer systems, how to sort this data, manage it and retrieve it. The course also investigates aspects of data, and how this can be stored in a way that does not take up a lot of space, stores the essential info, allows retrieval in an efficient and fast manner. It is very common that students ask (1) why are databases so important in the business and workplace today? and (2) what would I benefit as a student from studying and getting to know databases? The answer two these two fundamental questions is very simple. Databases today are the basis of storage for information of businesses. All businesses use some sort of database daily to store information to be retrieved for later use. Be it gaming, manufacturing, social media, or any other sector; all have a database in some form or other in the back end. This also means that with a database in the back-end of the whole operation – there is the need for experienced and knowledgeable people to manage these databases and data stored within, ensure databases systems are running efficiently and available at all times; and if necessary database-skilled persons also get involved in writing the necessary queries to extract data efficiently.   The database student should not only see databases as a curricular or academic subject but rather as the basis for roles highly in demand in the working world. Nowadays a database skilled person can take up jobs such as Database Administrators, Database Programmers, Database Architects/Engineer, Database Designer or Modeler, or even Data Scientists.

Why a career in game development is an excellent, future-proof choice

Video games are one of the most popular forms of entertainment that many enjoy, and over the last decades, have developed into a global multi-billion euro industry. Apart from recreational use, video games are also used as mediums in different sectors such as the educational sector in which video games are used for game-based learning and gamified learning where students learn through fun and play, and the marketing sector where mini-games, as well as gaming mechanics, are used for marketing campaigns. The popularity of video games is reflected in the market value of the video gaming industry – the video game market is estimated to be worth USD 159.3 Billion in 2020 and forecasts estimate the video gaming industry to be worth USD 200 Billion by 2023 and USD 256.97 Billion by 2025.

At the national level, creative industries and game research define one of Malta’s core strategic areas of financial growth and development. Malta’s creative economy is driven by 3,600 enterprises, employs 7,500 people, grows at an average 9% per annum, and contributes to 4% of the country’s GDP. The video game industry is now larger than the movie and music industry combined and attracts more than two billion gamers across the world, that is 26% of the world’s population. Thanks to the rise of e-Sports, video game competitive events are now held in large stadiums with mass audiences and live broadcasts. Professional players, now considered as athletes, are watched by millions of fans through broadcasts on media platforms such as YouTube or Twitch. 

The growth in the video game market has fueled demand for video game designers and game developers,. According to recruiter, a global corporation, demand for game-design related positions are expected to grow by 11.59 percent over the next few years. With all this growth, now it is an opportune time to commence a career in video game development. The computer science games development degree at STC Higher Education, delivered in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton, provides the technical foundations to kick off a career in the field of video game development. It investigates and provides the technical knowledge required behind video game development including programming, game engines, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Curious about a career in game design or development? Click the ‘request info’ button on our website and send us your details, a member of our team will get back to you.

Cybersecurity Professionals in the Industry

Security threats are a challenge to everyone, not just organisations. Systems need to be resilient to cyberattacks by implementing best industry practices in systems development and configuration. It is just a matter of time until your system is targeted by an attacker or falls victim to some botnet attack. When this happens, you need to be prepared and have the right plan of action in place.

In the past, the security management role was either non-existent or assigned to an IT administrator as an additional task over and above the normal IT operations. Due to the ever-evolving cyber-attacks, security management nowadays requires a dedicated role or even a team within organisations.

This has created a demand in the industry for cybersecurity specialists that varies from Network security to Application security, to Cloud security, and the list goes on depending on the area of expertise required. Having a company that offers online services such as an online store would require security specialisations in web and online services. The same organization might require a security administrator tasked to manage the security of the on-premise and cloud servers including the end users, which would require a different skill set.

Security is no longer a feature that is added to a system after it has been designed and developed, it needs to be taken into consideration throughout the entire development life cycle as this forms an essential part of the formula for a secure system.

The dynamic nature of the security industry requires specialists to be constantly updated with regards to newly emerging threats, to ensure that the best countermeasures and security practices are deployed on the managed systems in a timely manner. The Cybersecurity degree at STC training in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton, provides you with a strong foundation that tackles the crucial aspects of Cybersecurity to kick off a career in the field.

YouTube – Ranking high in 2020

Since YouTube opened its YPP (Youtube Partnership Programme) doors to the Maltese market in March 2019, local artists and content creators have been busy planning, producing and editing their digital works of art. Ranking as high as possible within relevant video searches is now more important than ever before and one of the most important digital marketing goals.

YouTube enjoyed over 2 billion active monthly users across the globe with an amazing 79% of internet users stating that they have an active YouTube account, making YouTube the second most popular social media network. Each and every single day people watch over 1 billion hours of video content from the platform.

If you want to increase your viewership you need to follow some recommendations that will help your channel and videos rank as high as possible. We are going to share a few tips to improve your organic reach on the platform:

Video description text – A small detail that often gets overlooked. It is recommended to use natural language rather than trying to stuff keywords

Average video duration – YouTube checks for how long people are engaged with your video. The trick is to keep your audience interested throughout the entire duration of the clip by presenting them with relevant content throughout and never dragging on.

Number of videos – never skimp on quality but if you can add quantity to the mix then go for it. YouTube is looking for commitment and if you can convert an idea into a series, then go for it.

Convert into subscribers – if your content is pressing the right buttons you will soon find that your subscribers count is going up, and that is gold according to YouTube as its algorithm will be more likely to show them your videos over something else.

What is PRINCE2?

PRINCE2 (PR0jects IN Controlled Environments) is one of the most widely used methods for managing projects in the world. It is a structured project management method based on experience drawn from thousands of projects and from the contributions of countless project sponsors, project managers, project teams, academics, trainers and consultants.

What are the benefits of getting PRINCE2 Qualifications?

PRINCE2 can be applied to any type of project within any industry or sector.

The method is widely recognized and understood and so provides a common vocabulary for all those involved in a project, which helps effective communication. The method also provides for the explicit recognition of project responsibilities so that participants understand each other’s roles and needs. There is a defined structure for accountability, delegation, authority and communication.

 

  1. Enhance your career prospects

Perhaps the strongest reason for getting a PRINCE2 qualification is to give yourself the best possible chance of getting the sort of enjoyable, long term career that you dream of. It is definitely worth the effort of going for a five-day course or now even more convenient to follow a part-time evening course at STC Malta in order to take control of the direction in your career.

 

  1. Get an increase in your salary

Of course, getting a satisfying career is only part of the reason for going on a PRINCE2 training course. There is also the important fact that this a valuable qualification that could be the key to receiving a much high salary in the future as well, or apply for an internal vacancy with your new qualification.

The cost of going on a PRINCE2 course will soon pale into insignificance once you see how much extra money this could mean for you in the long run. The best part of it is that you can get up to 70% tax rebate through the Get Qualified scheme. By paying a relatively small amount just now you make a huge investment in your future career and earning potential.

 

  1. Feel confident in your ability

The chance to feel completely confident in your ability to run any type of project is another crucial factor to take into account when considering whether to aim for a project management qualification. Quite simply, there is nothing like the feeling of being in control and knowing exactly what you are doing.

No matter how big or potentially difficult a new project appears to be, you will feel ready to take it on. This is because you will learn techniques and tactics that work well in any type of project and in any kind of company. By going on a professional PRINCE2 course you can ensure that you feel fantastic about the projects that you run.

 

  1. The need of a project management method

Project management is the planning, delegating, monitoring and control of all aspects of the project, and the motivation of those involved, to achieve the project objectives within the expected performance targets for time, cost, quality, scope, benefits and risk.

Given that projects are the means by which we introduce a change, and that project work entails a higher degree of risk than many other business activities, it follows that implementing a secure, consistent, well-proven approach to project management is a valuable business investment.

 

  1. Do a fantastic job every time

Finally, wouldn’t it be a brilliant feeling to know that you do a wonderful job on every single project that you handle? There is no doubt that it is a great sensation when you know that you are capable of working to an extremely high standard. This can help you to feel less stress and pressure at work, as you will always feel that you have your projects under control. There is no doubt that this can help you to enjoy work and life in general a lot more.

In this context, you will be pleased to see that getting your PRINCE2 certification is a huge step in the right direction. By learning about the project management industry’s standards and processes you can make sure that every project reaches a successful conclusion.

For more information and pricing log on https://stcmalta.edu.mt/course/prince2-project-management/

Why Study at STC?

Why Study at STC?

 

 

“You should study at STC, because you’ll get great staff to support you and it’s one of the best centres we have across the world”

Mr. Andrew Rennie
NCC International Regional Development Director

Last Call for Applications! Enroll at STC this October on a full time or part time basis and begin your diploma in It or business. Your first step to a degree pathway starts here! Check out all information and book your place for a diploma in Business or Computing.