UWC Launches New Degree Aimed At Developing A Workforce For The Digital Era

The world of work is constantly changing. New career paths have necessitated a rethink of university courses. Therefore, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) is thrilled to announce the introduction of an all-new BCom and IS (Bachelor of Commerce and Information Systems) degree.

It is a mix of two courses – BCom and Information Technology – a blend of the most important aspects of management, finance and computer programming. The Information Systems component is vital in UWC’s drive to develop a workforce for the digital era.

This course is the result of four years of meticulous planning and will start in January 2023.

Think about everything you know about Information Technology (IT). We often joke that the go-to response for any computer-related issue from the IT Department is always: “Have you tried switching your computer off and on again?”

But in all seriousness, it is worth remembering that the study programmes and subsequent IT, did not come online until the 90s when there was a massive global technology boom.

The Bachelor of Commerce degree has long been a popular choice at UWC for students with a love for numbers. And while the current day BCom at UWC was designed to provide students with a wide range of managerial skills with a targeted focus on areas like financial accounting, banking laws and corporate accounting, we have added another layer – Information Systems.

Dr Carolien van den Berg, senior lecturer for Information Systems at the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, is excited about the rollout of this new course.

“For a BCom IS student, you’re not necessarily going to become a very technical programmer. There are a lot more alternative avenues open for you. With our degree you get more training in the technical side. And that is a skill that is very much in short supply at the moment, as we move more and more towards a digital economy,” she explained.

“You will get your BCom subjects, and you also get more technical subjects for the IS field, because in Information Systems, we study what happens when technologies, people, organisations and societies interact. In your first year, you have an introduction to programming as a subject. It helps students understand the technical side. So if you specialise in information systems, you need to understand the business aspect on the one end, but also the technical side. The skills that will be really sought after will be people who understand the technical side and how to integrate software into the company’s operations.”
 
As a graduate, you are likely to be top of the hiring list for several key jobs, such as:
Business Analyst
Systems Analyst
Consultant
Analyst Programmer
Application Developer
Technology Architect
Database Administrator
UX/UI Designer
IT Auditor
Project Manager
Change Manager
Chief Information Officer
Chief Information/Technology Officer
If you matriculated after 2008, then this is the course for you.

Admission requirements:
(a) The National Senior Certificate for Bachelor’s Degree study with four designated subjects at a rating of four, plus a score of no less than 30 points calculated according to UWC’s approved points system, as well as the following specific subject requirements:

Level 4 (50-59%) in English (home or first additional language).
Level 3 (40-49%) in Another language (home or first additional language)
Level 4 (50-59%) in Mathematics

Admission requirements for applicants who matriculated before 2008:
(a) Candidates must have obtained a Matriculation Certificate or an exemption certificate thereof or an equivalent qualification with an aggregate of at least a D (50%) with the following subject requirements:
Higher Grade (40%, E symbol) Mathematics or
Standard Grade (60%, C symbol) Mathematics
OR
(b) A qualification or level of competence that the UWC Senate has deemed to be equivalent to the requirements stipulated in (a) above.

Dr Van den Berg added: “What we are saying in terms of the future of work is that the sky is the limit. There are so many new careers opening up right now for graduates with these kinds of skills.”