Programme Background and Rationale

The bachelor of business information technology programme is intended to produce business managers with complementary information technology skills. There are many graduates of computing and informatics in the market who lack the capacity to handle business management roles but who desire to do so. On the other hand, there are many graduates of business administration who desire to apply information and communications technology skills to increase their competitive edge in the fast moving digital world, yet do not have such skills. Effective business management or organizations management in general now require managers who are techno- savvy; who are not only capable of making sound business decisions but who can also align such decisions to leverage on technology in order to attain an edge in the ever increasingly competitive world. This creates great need for the blended programme, business information technology.

In a business firm, interdependence between business organizations and information systems, and hence business information technology need not be over emphasized. This business information technology programme, by blending the two fields into one, should enhance performance of both the individual and the organization through operational excellence; new products, services, and business models; customer and supplier intimacy; improved decision-making; competitive advantage and enhanced survival.

Programme Objectives
General Objective

The business information technology (BBI) degree programme is designed to provide students with expertise in the development and use of computer systems and quantitative modeling techniques for solving business problems and making managerial decisions, in one kit.

Specific Objectives
By the end of the programme, students should:

1. Demonstrate acquisition of hands on skills and abilities to design business systems that significantly improve a firm’s business relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees through digital reach and mediation.
2. Be able to relate and accomplish core business processes, and logically related business tasks, through digital networks.
3. Be able to manage key corporate assets of a business entity including intellectual property, core competencies, and financial and human assets, through digital means.
4. Have the capacity to implement enforced business responses to changes in the environment through digital communications, and conduct business globally, beyond traditional geographic boundaries.
5. Possess the necessary academic background for pursuing post-graduate studies in either business, computing and informatics, or related fields.

Programme Duration

The programme run on a semester basis consisting of four semesters each lasting 17 weeks, or part-time basis as appropriately structured by the Faculty of Computing and Informatics and department of business information technology, and approved by Senate.

Programme Modalities

The programme shall be conducted by course work, examinations and project, based on credit units. The last two weeks of each semester of each academic year shall normally be used for end-of-semester examinations. Further,

1. A student shall take foundation/general courses in English, mathematics, science, Arabic, Islamic studies during the first one year in the freshmen. The freshman year also acts as a gateway to full admission into the bachelor of business information technology programme.
2. By the end of junior year, a student shall be required to attend at least 300 hours of internship in a real work environment.
3. A student shall come up with a well-written project in the area of business information technology during the senior year of study.

Curriculum Plan

The programme shall run on a semester basis consisting of eight (8) semesters each lasting 17 weeks in a period of four (4) academic years, whether on full time, part-time, sandwich, or online or other modes as structured by the Faculty of Computing and Informatics, and department of business information technology, and approved by Senate.

General Regulations

General University regulations and guidelines for undergraduate programmes shall apply with regard to application, registration, teaching, learning, examinations, research and graduation. A student is required to sign a memorandum of understanding during the registration process on pre-scribed forms.

Admission Requirements

This bachelor of business information technology programme is best suited to students with interest in becoming future business IT managers in business tech firms. To qualify for admission into the degree of bachelor of business information technology, an applicant shall:

1. Hold a Somaliland GCSE of at least Grade “B”, or its equivalent from a recognized examination body.
2. Successfully complete a one-year freshman programme at Amoud University, and attain a GPA of at least 2.00.
3. Meet other conditions as spelt out by the Faculty of Computing and Informatics and the department of business information technology, with approval of Senate.

Enrolment Types

There shall be three (3) categories of enrolments as follows:

1. Full-Time Day face-to-face enrolled students who shall attend classes between 7.30 am 4.30 pm from Saturday to Thursday.
2. Full-Time Evening face-to-face enrolled students who shall attend classes between 4.00 pm and 10.00 pm from Saturday to Thursday.
3. Sandwich, part-time, and other modes enrolled students who shall attend classes during specific periods as specified by the Faculty of Science and department of business information technology, and approved by Senate.

Staff, Facilities and Equipment

The faculty of computing and iformatics, and department of business information technology have adequate resources to offer this programme. The faculty has three (3) functional and well equipped computer laboratories fitted with over-head digital projectors and personal computers. In addition, the faculty has an engineering and computational laboratory, with state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment, including transport nodes, data packet routers, voice over IP gears, and a cluster of Linux workstations for protocols development and testing, that provides extensive facilities for research in telecommunications, microelectronics, and computer science. The telecommunication laboratory has training kits for fiber optics, antennas, microwaves, among other areas. Students attend extended industrial attachment training periods to gain experience get exposed to the real equipment used in software engineering.

There is free WiFi 24/7 on campus internet connections in all computer laboratories and surrounding areas hosted by two local internet service providers, with a total of 20 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload internet speeds. The main university library has an array of information materials for further reading, and several electronic books and reference materials in business information technology are also available through Amoud University Google classroom suite. The faculty has a well balanced team of highly competent local and non-local staff, trained locally and abroad. The teaching staff is readily available to help students as needs arise. The programme is allocated sufficient time and with efficient management, the faculty ensures that students complete their courses on time.

Funding

The programme of bachelor of business information technology is sustained largely by funds from tuition fees and other relevant levies. The student must show proof of ability to pay tuition fees on time before being enrolled into the programme. There are no special funding arrangements for the students enrolled in the programme of bachelor of information technology. However, if and when, additional funds are available, they shall be dispensed according to the university financial policies.

Target Groups

The target groups for this programme include:

1. Students who have successfully completed Somaliland General Secondary School Certificate (SGCSE) or its equivalent from a recognized examination body and further completed Amoud University freshman academic year successfully and would like to pursue a career that ties and binds information technology to business management.
2. Business professionals who are already practicing in the field either as entrepreneurs or as employees, and would like to improve their abilities in decision-making for increased success in the digital world.
3. Information technology professionals who are already in the field either as experts or employees of organizations, and would like to complement their technical skills with ability to make sound business decisions relevant to the current digital world.
4. Other reasonably qualified persons with passion in business information technology.

Expected Programme Outcomes

The target groups for this programme include:

1. Students who have successfully completed Somaliland General Secondary School Certificate (SGCSE) or its equivalent from a recognized examination body and further completed Amoud University freshman academic year successfully and would like to pursue a career that ties and binds information technology to business management.
2. Business professionals who are already practicing in the field either as entrepreneurs or as employees, and would like to improve their abilities in decision-making for increased success in the digital world.
3. Information technology professionals who are already in the field either as experts or employees of organizations, and would like to complement their technical skills with ability to make sound business decisions relevant to the current digital world.
4. Other reasonably qualified persons with passion in business information technology.