The purpose of EUTC EUTC Higher Nationals in Computing is to develop students as professional, self-reflecting individuals able to meet the demands of employers in the computing sector and adapt to a constantly changing world. The qualifications aim to widen access to higher education and enhance the career prospects of those who undertake them. The objectives of the EUTC EUTC Higher Nationals in Computing are as follows:

• To equip students with computing skills, knowledge and the understanding necessary to achieve high performance in the global computing environment.
• To provide education and training for a range of careers in computing, including network engineering, software engineering, data analytics, security, intelligent systems, and applications development.
• To provide insight and understanding into international computing operations and the opportunities and challenges presented by a globalised market place.
• To equip students with knowledge and understanding of culturally diverse organisations, cross-cultural issues, diversity and values.
• To provide opportunities for students to enter or progress in employment in computing, or progress to higher education qualifications such as an Honours degree in computing or a related area.
• To provide opportunities for students to develop the skills, techniques and personal attributes essential for successful working lives.
• To provide opportunities for those students with a global outlook to aspire to international career pathways.
• To provide opportunities for students to achieve a nationally recognized professional qualification.
• To provide opportunities for students to achieve vendor accredited certifications.
• To offer students the chance of career progression in their chosen field.
• To allow flexibility of study and to meet local or specialist needs.
• To offer a balance between employability skills and the knowledge essential for students with entrepreneurial, employment or academic aspirations.

  We meet these objectives by:

• Providing a thorough grounding in computing principles at Level 4 that leads the student to a range of specialist progression pathways at Level 5 relating to individual professions within the computing sector.
• Enabling progression to a university degree by supporting the development of appropriate academic study skills.
• Enabling progression to further professional qualifications in specific computing areas by mapping to units in a range of vendor accredited certificates.

Students need both relevant qualifications and employability skills to enhance their career prospects and contribute to their personal development. EUTC EUTC Higher National Computing qualifications embed the development of key skills throughout the programme; attributes and strengths required by 21st century employers. Where employability skills are referred to in this specification, this generally refers to skills in three main categories:

• Cognitive and problem-solving skills: critical thinking, approaching nonroutine problems by applying expert and creative solutions, use of systems and digital technology, generating and communicating ideas creatively.
• Intra-personal skills: self-management, adaptability and resilience, selfmonitoring and self-development, self-analysis and reflection, planning and prioritising.
• Interpersonal skills: effective communication and articulation of information, working collaboratively, negotiating and influencing, self-presentation.