Horizon Campus launches industry relevant degrees in networking and mobile computing

With the aim of growing graduate engineers who will take responsibility for creating the next generations of products and services in the sphere of mobile computing, Horizon Campus with a presence of just over five years in the industry and accredited and recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education and the University Grants Commission Sri Lanka, along with being an institutional member of the Asia Pacific Quality Network, now offers industry relevant degrees in Sc. (Hons) in Networking and Mobile Computing. Offering an in depth insight into computing, network and mobile technology ,smart phone development applications and network security, it involves advanced network planning and implementation that enables graduates to plan flexible, scalable systems for a business or organisation of virtually any size.

Giving a grasp of all layers needed for mobile communication and computation, from the physical network layer through to the applications that run on mobile devices the degree provides a full understanding of the web and cloud computing infrastructure, with core modules that gives a foundation on key topics on systems programming and data communications. A range of optional modules are also available on cloud computing, animation, game design and development, mobile application development and network security. Students will gain both practical engineering skills and theoretical insight, including capability to design and develop their own solutions and the necessary understanding of current technologies and architectures that provide the network and communications infrastructure for mobile enabled enterprise computer systems as well as develop skills in the design of modern distributed software systems, using appropriate technologies,

architectures and techniques, and advanced network technologies supporting the upper layers, together with their planning, management and security. Handled by a lecturer panel who are at the forefront of these disciplines, it is headed by Samanthi Wickremasinghe, Lecturer in IT and Quality Assurance in Higher Education, who also has many industry publications under her belt, that include use of cloudbased services for higher education in developing countries, Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework (SLQF) and Significance in Higher Education, Paper on Programme Accreditation of Public Universities and Private Institutions in Sri Lanka: Impact of Different Procedures and Teacher assessment and student learning outcomes assessment and innovative and interactive teaching methods for improving learning quality of higher education.

Providing students with a solid foundation and understanding of developing mobile/ wireless technologies to meet specific business needs, the programme is designed to give relevant, interesting, stimulating and practical experience via a variety of teaching and practical techniques. Wickremasinghe explained: “Different dynamic learning processes are employed in the delivery of this programme, such as lectures, tutorials, computer lab work, team-based project, real life system development, presentations, independent projects supervised by supervisors from university lecturers and industry experts.

The learning is very much practical oriented with students having regular contact with the panel through lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group work and project meetings. The students is assessed through a range of techniques including case studies, reports, presentations, inclass tests, assignments and exams.” Another interesting initiative is the development of the “Dean’s List” that is used by the faculty to honour students of exceptional achievement in turn motivating them to achieve their highest possible academic standards. This is done to ensure that the campus plays a key role in producing high calibre graduates who are fully geared to contribute positively towards the mobile computing industry in Sri Lanka.