By Corinne Fenech

Have you ever considered organisations as simply a group of people who come together to achieve particular goals? Think about it, they are. But the wonder is that people achieve together much more than the sum of what individuals can accomplish on their own. People come together and form organisations for all sorts of goals, from manufacturing toys to manufacturing weapons, from giving joy rides to tourists to offering meals to the homeless and the possibilities are endless. Ranging from global organisations to individual entrepreneurs they all form part of one gigantic network which makes the world go round.  Organisational Behaviour questions how people come together, what makes them work together and what makes them fall out of love with what they do. Think of it as one big funnel starting with the broader subjects and filtering down to what makes us unique individuals. Together we explore the interconnections from the broader environment, to organisational culture, to how teams operate and onto individual differences. We debate how organisations operate as part of the gigantic network, how they influence and are influenced by each other and their responsibilities towards the society which allows them to operate. We explore, question, and discuss subjects which really matter like; can we make people want to come to work? And should we? What forces of power are at play in organisations? How do individuals fit in organisations? And most importantly who do I want to be and what will be my impact? During our weeks together we discuss all this and much more.  If you would like to join in on this course, come prepared to share your opinions in an environment where no idea is too stupid to be discussed and to be open to forming new opinions based on academic teachings and real-life examples.
I find this subject fascinating. Don’t you?

By Andrew Caruana

The Software Development Techniques module is designed to train students to get to a problem’s solution using the various tools programming languages provide.   This is achieved by discussing the theoretical aspect of the subject and various exercises, which help students build experience and knowledge through reason.  The module’s structure, supported by the consistency of delivery, has helped STC Higher Education students gain great outcomes in past years.  The training methods used throughout the module are Pseudocode and Desk-checking; two techniques that require only pen and paper, rather than any specific programming language.  This helps students grasp the notion of writing code in English and thinking in a logical, rational manner without the complexity of the programming language itself.  Once students master these techniques, they will be able to design code structures that can be translated into most programming languages available today.  Within the classroom some practices such as starting and finishing a topic on the day and allowing at least one hour for guided practice has returned excellent results.  Also, whenever possible, challenge days are set up.  This gives a gamified experience while at the same time contributing to students’ growth.  Prior to embarking on a full fletched programming carrier, STC Higher Education makes sure that its students feel comfortable, confident, and empowered.  For this to be possible an exam is used to assess the students’ abilities and pushes them to achieve their best possible results.

By Joanne Fenech

“In essence, digital marketing is the marketing of a product or service through the use of an electronic device or the internet. It’s a phrase for online marketing. Hundreds of thousands of businesses now use digital marketing to reach a big number of people because it is easier—and more cost-effective.  Traditionally, organizations used television, radio, publications, events, and direct mail to reach their target audience. Nowadays, businesses are attempting to attract potential clients through digital platforms as individuals spend more time online. Marketers must be aware at all times of the trending norms and where the people are.  Prior to the rise of digital marketing, few people discussed the customer journey because it was difficult to comprehend and evaluate. A customer would most likely go to a physical store after viewing an advertisement on television or in the newspaper, make a decision, and pay for the product or service inside the store. In digital marketing, however, we can trace every step a customer takes, frequently starting from the time they are prompted to look for a solution or product.  Nowadays, it’s normal for a consumer to view an advertisement online, search and compare costs on several websites, and then go to a store to try the goods or shop online. Customers should be encouraged to follow the organisation’s social media sites. This enables the marketer to evaluate daily their preferences as they scroll through their social media feeds. Keeping people informed is both useful and relevant, as well as providing content that inspires and delights is key. Clients that are more engaged and informed are most likely to buy from your company if they ever need your service or product.

The Wolverhampton module Marketing and Digital Strategy delves into the complexity of a strategic marketing approach that every company requires to build and maintain a competitive edge. It offers an understanding of the external and internal factors that drive strategic decisions and how businesses build and maintain a competitive advantage. Traditional and digital marketing expertise and knowledge are expanded in this subject. A thorough awareness of how products and brands are positioned offline vs online. It will also look at the role of marketing from a strategic standpoint.”

By Omar Zammit

This module’s main aim is to help students develop skills that are useful in computer science, focusing mainly on analytical and problem-solving skills. Using the C programming language, students will learn how to convert numerical methods into code and how to use concurrency to improve software performance. The concepts discussed during this module are supported by workshops that resemble real work problems, including learning some useful Linux commands, implementing a simple machine learning algorithm and image processing using multithreading.

By Dr Kenneth Grech

The Professional Leader and Manager are delivered by STC on behalf of the Wolverhampton Business School, University of Wolverhampton.  It is a Level 5 course with 30 credits aimed at students who wish to further develop and enhance their knowledge, skills and understanding of the leadership process and various management approaches in the business world.  Several topics of interest are covered, including human resource management, motivation, change management, dealing with stress as a manager, managing teams, the influence of power and culture, managing in a multiethnic and multicultural environment and the role of a leader and manager at the strategic and operational level.  The module takes an interpretative, formative and reflexive approach, with practical examples and case studies used to augment and enrich the students’ experience.  Assessment is both case-based and also students give an oral presentation to assess their communication skills.