Short Courses in Computing

How short is short, begs the first question. Often, it is as defined by the pursuer of computer training programmes, for there is usually some time frame in which the seeker of the course(s) wants to maximise the skills learned.

There are half-day to five-day workshops (sometimes referred to as seminars) or programmes of training. These are 'release periods' that employers are fairly comfortable with for their staff to go and pursue computer training, bearing in mind that IT specialists are always needed around the organisation in their respective departments, on a daily basis. There are also evening and weekend mode computer courses that are popular with most people, simply because they have no pressure on their working hours, and can attend such programmes whether the person is sponsored or not.

Then, there is the question of which computer course. In a fast-moving and innovative technological domain, one has to focus on which emphasis is to be the predominant one - hardware, software, telecommunication and networking, analysis and design, or project management areas. Within these, there will be a finer focus on perhaps the computer architecture or peripheral devices, a programming or scripting language such as C or Javascript, network cards and the network operating system, data and information flows with a suitable database to support such activity, or managing resources for computer-based projects.

When choosing the computer course, a candidate would want to have a lot of 'hands-on' exposure, with a view to roll up their sleeves and apply themselves straight after the course. This is where a balancing act has to be performed, as there are also one to six month courses that operate on one day or a couple of evenings per week, where a large amount of theory is also covered. These latter offerings usually lead to the award of a Certificate or Diploma. Two popular guides to short courses in London's adult and further education colleges, private colleges and universities are: Floodlight and On Course, both available at newsagents. Many students from overseas take advantage of such short courses in computing, whilst pursuing their undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral or even specialist Diploma studies in London. However, student visas for short courses are not issued against single modules, since these are less than fifteen hours per week of class contact.

Institutions such as Westminster University offer Summer Schools as part of their regular curriculum. These usually run through June to August, with courses ranging from 3-5 days per week, covering a wide variety of programmes, including English as a Foreign Language.

Programmes of training may be designed for small groups of people, to do short courses that lead up to a Diploma of Special Studies in Computing/Computing Foundations. It is always an asset, once some computing skills are added to a person's knowledge set; the Internet generation and channel marketing via the Web are engaging companies and Governments worldwide with a challenge to adjust to the paradigm shift that computer and communications technologies have thrust upon us.

Author
Lal Uttamchandani
Cavendish School of Computer Science

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