Graduate Certificate of UX Design

In this subject, students will identify and integrate their personal qualities and career aspirations to create their unique professional identity. A professional identity enables students to understand and establish a sustainable, fulfilling, effective practice and direction in the design industry.

Through self-reflection and the examination of established designers and studios worldwide, this subject provides an opportunity for students to critically examine their own beliefs, values, experiences, and understanding of design. To support their learning, students will hear from industry experts who share their own career journeys and professional identity development. The subject combines critical reflection and analysis of the student's personal values as a designer with a focus on the social imperative to care for and contribute to the sustainability of our planet and the lives that inhabit it.

Assessment Tasks: Poster, report, development plan

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject introduces designers to research methodologies as a basis for identifying problems which can be the catalyst to bring about change. Students gain skills in the analysis of research data using grounded theory and phenomenography, in addition to visual research methods used as a foundation for creative and design solutions inherent in cross-disciplinary creative practice. By means of reflection, analysis and contextualising an identified culture—their own or others— and by drawing on its philosophies, typical behaviours and patterns, designers explore, elicit and assess problems to instigate creative group projects. As a starting point to the creative process designers identify problems with a beneficial outcome which is critiqued and refined during the group collaboration. Through deductive reasoning the group defines the boundaries of the problems and present these to the group in a “quick fire pitch” for critique and feedback, after which students refine and draw closer to their final inventions or solutions. The technologies used for the final design presentations enable the exploration of contexts by means of audio, visual and textual dimensions. The design practices foster understanding of, and connection with, the contexts that designed things participate in, enrich and often transform. The additional emphasis is on problem identification that informs and leads to enhanced futures based on successful creative outcomes.

Assessment Tasks: Report, presentation, design solution

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject provides a suite of cross disciplinary, practice based topics for designers in the areas of, time, space, motion and interaction. Designers will explore conceptual challenges and questions of visual expression in the quest to develop useful, usable and resonant designs for good. This will include understanding and articulating ‘user experience’, the role of design in humanizing information, the aesthetic and conceptual dynamics of effective communication, branding and communication within the international industry landscape.

Assessment Tasks: Discussion forum, design document, prototype, report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject explores how the practice of design shapes and is shaped by the ecological, financial, and technological demands of modern business. As a designer, you will provide services for a variety of businesses, therefore it is critical to understand how a business operates.

This includes:

• How design contributes to the strategic and operational success of a business and the broader economic landscape.
• How design drives viable and sustainable business to meet customer demands.
• The essential functions required to establish a successful business.

Assessment Tasks: Report, Business Model Canvas, Business Plan

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Service Design is a human-centred approach to developing quality service interactions that can improve user experiences, meet business objectives and create impact. Students will identify and define an existing complex service problem or issue, which they will investigate using various design research methods. They will use advanced journey mapping and service blueprinting methods to analyse and apply their research findings. In doing so, they can develop innovative solutions at the intersection of users, businesses, and technology.

These could include digital or physical products, services, systems and processes. This subject will challenge students to expand their thinking and equip them with a human-centred mindset to work in adaptive work environments.

Assessment Tasks: Report, Journal, Video

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject introduces you to how organisational behaviour, politics, dynamics and environments impact on the role and legitimacy of management. Constraints that managers and emerging leaders face in developing strategies to leverage advantages and overcome barriers in organisations and projects will be explored. You will identify, analyse and make effective decisions to resolve people-related issues, lead and manage change, facilitate employee development, performance and sustain effective teams in complex and diverse global operating environments

Assessment Tasks: Critical Discussion, Presentation, Report, Team Performance Evaluation

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject introduces you to the practice of contemporary project management and its relevance in industry. You will be introduced to fundamental concepts of project management, project definition and project delivery methods. Contemporary project management methodologies will be examined in the context of industry best practice. An overview of industry standard tools and techniques required to manage projects successfully throughout a project life cycle will be provided. This includes industry terminology and the rationale behind the commencement of a project.

Assessment Tasks: Discussion Forum, Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Ready to turn ideas into real, working programs? This subject introduces you to programming as a powerful tool for solving real-world problems in today’s digital organisations. You will learn to code using Python, one of the most in-demand languages in the tech industry while working in an intuitive development environment (IDE) to design, test, and run your own programs. Along the way, you will build essential skills in problem-solving, algorithm design, and functional programming. Aligned with the PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer certification, this subject gives you a clear path toward professional recognition and further study in software development. You will also sharpen your collaboration and communication skills so you can explain your solutions clearly whether your audience is technical or not. Think tech isn't for you because you've never coded before? All you need is curiosity and willingness to learn, we'll bring the tools.

Assessment Tasks: Test, Report

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

21st Century professionals who aspire to hold a leadership position must have a clear understanding and appreciation of the importance of marketing. This subject is designed to develop a comprehensive understanding of marketing theories and the strategic application of marketing concepts in various contexts, including profit and not-for- profit organisations, and government. You will be equipped with the ability to formulate marketing strategy and the use of strategic marketing mix elements in developing and maintaining a market orientation. Assess organisational performance in relation to ethical and socially acceptable business practices and use strategic marketing to gain a competitive advantage.

Assessment Tasks: Report, Presentation, Marketing Plan

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online 

This subject introduces you to the foundations of business. It is focused on providing fundamental business concepts and contexts to enrich your mastery in subsequent studies, while developing as reflective practitioners. You will examine the functional operations of businesses, projects and the internal and external environments in which they operate. This includes analysis of economic, social, political, legal, cultural, technological, environmental and ethical influences on contemporary businesses. You will also explore the viewpoints and influences of internal and external stakeholders.

Assessment Tasks: Reflection, Report, Video Presentation

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

This subject seeks to build the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to succeed as an ethical entrepreneur or intrapreneur. These knowledge and skills are then applied to identify and evaluate innovative high-growth product and service opportunities in the context of a start-up, a corporation, a not for profit or a government institution. The subject allows students to practice skills, including creativity, cash-flow modelling, business model analysis and lean experimentation. Students prepare a business model for a new venture, enabling them to integrate their theoretical and practical knowledge.

Assessment Tasks: Case Study, Business Concept Plan, Business Pitch

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online 

Understanding organisational behaviour, politics, dynamics and environments and how they impact on the role and legitimacy of the management function is the core of this unit. This unit helps individuals understand the constraints they face as managers and emerging leaders and how they can develop strategies to leverage advantages and overcome constraints and barriers in their organisations. The unit also focuses on developing some of the advanced communication skills necessary in management and leadership roles, and the ability of the individual to influence others. The course introduces students to the concept of naturally occurring data and qualitative analysis.

We recommend you complete this subject towards the beginning of your MBA. The unit challenges you to think differently about your organisational experiences, to look at them through a variety of lenses, and to explore different ways by which you can influence people within the organisation and have an impact through your function as a manager. A key skill underpinning this is the ability to receive and respond to feedback, to look at data in a number of different ways to find alternative meanings and create different patterns of behaviour. The book ‘Images of Organisation’ explores the notion of the organisation through a range of metaphors; by exploring these metaphors you can gain different insights into your organisation and start to play with different interpretations and understandings of how we experience the world.

Contracts and Procurement are integral to successful project management. This subject introduces you to the procurement process of Project Management pertaining to purchases and acquisitions, requests for proposal, vendor selection, contract administration, and contract closure.  You will receive instruction in how to approach key issues with regard to short and long‐term contracts, and small and large contracts. Topics covered include the exploration of procurement strategies, responsiveness, and supplier‐client relationships. You will be exposed to understanding the tendering, bidding and order management processes with associated relevant legal and commercial implications. Also examined is the management of relationship between buyer and seller, assessment of vendor performance, contract change control, and conflict resolution.

Assessment Tasks: Discussion Forum, Report, Presentation

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online

Understanding the relationships between operational factors and projects is a core skill to be effective in the project management landscape. This subject focuses on an in-depth understanding in project planning and budgeting. The project planning emphasises developing effective management plans for scope, time, cost, resources and quality to deliver successful projects. You will critically analyse and apply appropriate tools, techniques, processes and methods to create different plans and effectively communicate them to diverse groups of stakeholders.

Assessment Tasks: Discussion Forum, Reports

Delivery Mode: On Campus, Online