Course Introduction:

This PTFG Fully SAAS-Funded Professional Development Award (PDA) in Software Development is an unmissable opportunity for aspiring and current software professionals in Scotland. Software development isn’t just about writing code it’s about mastering the systems, methods, techniques, and processes that bring software to life. In today’s fast-paced digital world, a deep and thorough understanding of software development is absolutely essential to create powerful, efficient, and future-ready applications that drive our digital economy, tech-driven society, and modern learning communities. But that’s not all software development is an ever-evolving field. That’s why this course also equips you with the cutting-edge strategies needed to stay ahead of the curve, ensuring you can continuously track and leverage the latest innovations in the industry.

A qualification offered by organisations like the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) designed to enhance skills and knowledge in a specific profession or field. PDAs typically involve a combination of theoretical and practical training and are recognised in the workforce, especially in fields like software development, healthcare, and management.

Objectives:

The principal objective of the course is to develop an awareness of the state-of-the-art in software development environments and automated support for software development. The course presents the subjects, defies and practical concerns that trigger the construction and use of such environments. Students completing the course should have the ability to evaluate, gauge and deploy appropriate automated support for software development in an industrial setting. A supporting, but nonetheless important, objective is that students gain an increase of the rational encounters which the study of software production dowries

Course Organisation and Structure: 

The SQA Professional Development Award (PDA) in Software Development at SCQF Levels 7 and 8 offers different tiers of expertise in software development, each corresponding to a different Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level. These levels represent increasing complexity and depth of knowledge, skills, and understanding. Here’s an overview of each:

1. SCQF level 7 Group Award Code: GL15 47
2. SCQF level 8 Group Award Code: GL13 48

Each of the Levels consists of three mandatory Units and the total credit value 6 SQA credits (48 SCQF credit points) for each level. There are no optional Units in delivering this PDA.

Unit Specifications Summarisation:

The Professional Development Awards in Software Development at SCQF levels 7, and 8 focus on skills in computer programming. These qualifications equip learners with a wide range of root knowledge and skills relevant to computer programming, together with practical skills in software maintenance and program testing.

The three units at all Levels (7, and 8) that make up a SQA PDA include analysis and design, implementation and testing. There is also a software development project where learners will have opportunities to work within a programming project team and apply project management techniques to the software development process.

Each level comprises three Units:

1. Software Development: Analysis and Design
2. Software Development: Implementation
3. Testing Software Development: Project

Level 7 is suitable for leaners with no previous background in Computing other than basic IT skills, level 8 for learners with some previous knowledge of computing or a graduate-level qualification in a non-STEM area Those completing lower levels are likely to require further training before being ready to enter employment.

A: PDA in Software Development @ SCQF Level 7

Typically aimed at those entering the field of software development or those with a foundational understanding of IT.

This level introduces fundamental concepts of software development, including:

• Basic programming skills in a relevant programming language (e.g., Python, Java, C++ or web development).

• Problem-solving using algorithms and basic software engineering principles.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understanding the software development life cycle (SDLC).
• Ability to write, test, and debug simple programs.
• Developing structured solutions to problems using programming concepts like loops, conditions, and functions.

Career Path:

• Entry-level roles like Junior Programmer, Software Tester, or Technical Support Assistant.

Further Progression:

• Learners can progress to SCQF Level 8 to deepen their knowledge and skills.

The following tables outline the award at each level.

PDA Software Development at SCQF level 7

Analysis and Design

This Unit introduces the Software Development Analysis and Design Process. It covers traditional and contemporary trends in software development methodologies including Waterfall, Prototyping, Incremental, Spiral, Rapid Application Development (RAD) and Agile. You will gain practical experience in using various Analysis and Design tools and be able to produce models and apply both the Waterfall and the Agile Development approaches.

Implementation and Testing

This Unit will introduce you to the principles and practices of computer programming including the stages in writing a computer program, the basic constructs of programming, algorithms, data types, data structures and testing techniques. You will develop your programming and computational thinking skills by implementing and testing practical solutions using an appropriate software development environment.

Project

This Unit is designed to give you the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge of software analysis, design, implementation and testing to produce the components of a software product composed of multiple sub-programs. It is aimed at learners wishing to begin preparing for a role as an entry-level software developer. You will analyse a problem, design the operation and interaction of program components, produce working code to meet requirements, and test a completed solution to prove functional operation.

B: PDA in Software Development @ SCQF Level 8

This level builds on the foundations of Level 7 and dives deeper into:

• More advanced programming concepts and software development techniques.
• Software testing, debugging, and optimization.
• Working with software frameworks, databases, and integrated development environments (IDEs).
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts and design patterns.

Learning Outcomes:

• Writing more complex and efficient software programs.
• Proficiency in managing software projects, including requirement gathering, design, coding, testing, and deployment.
• Understanding the importance of user experience (UX) and user interfaces (UI) in software development.

Career Path:

• Intermediate roles such as Software Developer, Database Developer, or IT Support Analyst.

Further Progression:

• Learners can apply for university admissions more specialised and leadership-focused roles.

The following tables outline the award at each level.

PDA Software Development at SCQF level 8

Analysis and Design

This Unit introduces the use of object-oriented techniques in the Software Development: Analysis and Design Process. It reviews the analysis and design techniques used and cover the use of object-oriented analysis techniques to define user requirements, the use of object-oriented design techniques to design software solutions and the use of object-oriented modelling techniques to model solutions. You will gain practical experience in the use of object-oriented techniques to analyse user requirements and design and model software solutions.

Implementation and Testing

This Unit will introduce you to the use of object-oriented programming techniques, extend your skills in using algorithms and data structures in program development and let you apply a wider range of testing techniques. Object-oriented programming techniques include the use of objects and classes and algorithms, encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism. Data structures will cover lists, queues, stacks tables and trees, and algorithms will include sorting and searching. Testing will cover Static Testing (verification), Dynamic Testing (validation), Unit Testing, Integration Testing and User Acceptance Testing. You will develop your programming skills by designing, implementing and testing practical solutions using an appropriate software development environment.

Project

This Unit allows you to apply skills and knowledge of software analysis, design, implementation and testing to produce a software product composed of multiple subprograms. You will determine the scope and plan the development of a software project, design the operation and interaction of its components, produce working code to meet the requirements, and test a completed solution to prove functional operation. This will involve using an object-oriented programming approach and choosing appropriate data structures and algorithms to build a functional product. You will collaborate with others to deliver the completed project.

Course Funding: Scottish Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)

This course is funded by SAAS part time funding which is available to eligible individuals only;

SAAS General funding eligibility requirement:

1. You have to be a resident of Scotland
2. Either employed and earning less than 25k a year or can be unemployed as well
3. Have not used the SAAS funding in this Academic Year.

Other criteria;

• Students do not need to pay it back as this is a grant not a loan.
• This funding is different from the full-time funding which can be applied by someone who previously granted for a degree, postgrad or any other full-time studies (HNC/HND) etc.
• Part time funding cannot be received on a same session if one is already receiving any part/full time funding for other courses.
• Part Time funding can only be used for one course per academic year.
• SAAS part time funding academic year starts from Aug to July.

For more information on this, please visit the below link;

https://www.saas.gov.uk/_forms/funding_guide.pdf

To check your funding eligibility:

Please follow the below link to check if you qualify for the course funding;

https://www.saas.gov.uk/part-time/undergraduate-funding

Self-Funding:

If you do not qualify for SAAS part-time funding, you have the option to self-fund the course. The full course fee can also be paid in manageable instalments within the course duration.

Contact Us:

For more information please do contact us:

Edinburgh Phone: 0131 552 5558 – 0131 552 5800
Glasgow Phone: 0141 429 2922
Email: info@itpt.co.uk
Website: https://www.itpt.co.uk/
Contact us via website: https://www.itpt.co.uk/contact-us/

To Book an Appointment with Course Advisors:

To Book course registration or for further information about the course or its funding, please follow the below link:
https://tinyurl.com/ITPT-Appointment