Overview
Information technology (IT) involves the use of computers in industry, commerce, the arts and elsewhere. IT includes aspects of IT systems architecture, human factors, project management and the general ability to use computers. Increasingly businesses are implementing IT strategies to manage and process data, both to support many business processes and to deliver new opportunities.
The UK is one of the leading digital nations in the world, and its economy has the highest percentage of GDP involved in the digital economy of all European nations. The digital economy refers to both the digital access of goods and services and the use of digital technology to help businesses.
Research by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) showed that the digital economy is larger than conventional estimates show, with almost 270,000 actively digital companies in the UK, or 14.4 per cent of all companies, and 11 per cent of all jobs. Ongoing developments in the sector include the Government Digital Inclusion strategy to increase SME (small- and medium-sized enterprise) transactions online, with the aim of reaching 1.6 million businesses by the end of 2018.
Who is this qualification for?
The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Information Technology is intended to be an Applied General qualification and is equivalent in size to 3 A levels. It is designed for students who are interested in a two-year, full-time study programme that will meet the entry requirements entry for a course in information technology or computer-related study that supports progression to higher education.
No prior study of the sector is needed, but students should normally have a range of achievement at level 2, in GCSEs or equivalent qualifications.
What does the qualification cover?
The content of this qualification has been developed in consultation with academics to ensure that it supports progression to higher education. In addition, employers and professional bodies have been involved and consulted, in order to confirm its relevance to current industry practice used in IT and related occupational disciplines.
The qualification provides the knowledge, understanding and skills that will prepare students for further study or training. Students study the relationship between hardware and software, managing and communicating information and data, and the principles of designing and developing digital technologies and processes to support organisations across three mandatory units and 15 optional units as shown in the plan below. The mandatory units are labeled (M) and the optional units are labeled (O):