KARACHI, June 19: The NED University of Engineering and Technology is introducing advanced professional courses for students of its BCIT programme from the new academic session, commencing January next, said sources on the campus.

It was learnt that Department of Computer Science and Information Technology (DCIT) at the university would offer four new schemes to newly admitted students on payment of nominal fee. On successful completion of all four courses, one in each year, a students would be handed over a certificate in recognition of his advanced proficiency.

At present, the university offers 100 seats for admission to its BCIT four-year programme, which comprises software development as well as hardware engineering courses.

But, students awarded a science degree after successful completion of their study, like students of similar courses at other institutions, take extra short courses from outside institutions, in addition to course taken at the varsity.

However, NED students would now not need to look outside for undertaking courses, said a source.

When contacted, chairman, Computer Science and Information Technology department Dr Mahmood Khan Pathan, said the optional courses were aimed at improving the professional skills of NED graduates, and it would give them an edge over graduates of other computer science institutions in the job market.

Talking about varsity's BCIT programme, he said it was a unique structured programme, which emphasised both on computer engineering (hardware) and software development activities.

He said two of the four new courses offered to BCIT students during their first and second years of study would be meant for all, but the course offered in third year would be restricted to a limited number of students based purely on merit and their performance in the two courses taken earlier. While, the course offered in fourth year would be of advanced level in specialised fields, and would be available only on successful completion of the third year course.

Giving details of the courses, the source said the optional course during first year of education would pertain to introduction to developments in computer science and information technology.

In second year, a course on theoretical aspects of computer science and applications would be offered; in third year, students would be required to choose one of four courses, including advanced database concepts, basic implementation of digital communication computer networks, software engineering fundamentals and fundamentals of programming languages.

While, four courses planned to be offered in fourth year, include object oriented database design and implementation, advance computer network, software development methodologies using UML, and algorithm analysis and design.