Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation

Qualification

Up to 2 years part-time
NZQF Level 8 (60 credits)

Start Dates

10 July 2023

11 September 2023

30 October 2023

30 January 2024

18 March 2024

20 May 2024

8 July 2024

9 September 2024

29 October 2024

Course Fees (Year 1. See fees information.)

Domestic $5,179.00 NZD

Admission Requirements

Refer to Entry Criteria below

Portfolio Requirements

N/A

Study online

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Industry partnerships

Trans-Tasman Business Circle

NZTech

American Chamber of Commerce

Become a digital transformation leader

What is unique about this programme is that it has been created in collaboration with leading innovative organisations for working adults, developed in response to the increasing need for creative and agile approaches, cultures and leadership across all types and levels of organisations. This programme provides a sound understanding of the digital technologies, capabilities and mindsets needed not only to survive, but thrive, in a rapidly changing and increasingly uncertain and volatile world.

Components include:

Digital Transformation (Introduction)
Design Thinking
Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
User Experience (UX)
Agile Mindset
Cybersecurity
Dynamic Leadership
Cloud Computing
Human-Centred Design
Internet of Things (IoT)

Why should I study a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation?

You’ll gain the understanding, skills and mindsets to gain deeper insights into your organisation and industry sector, creatively solve problems, and develop innovative solutions through leveraging emerging technologies. Integral to this programme are Mātauranga Māori, Māori ethics and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles – as they relate to organisations and digital transformations in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Prime candidates for this programme are those in leadership or management positions within any organisation, and at any level, looking to upskill or transition in their career to become transformational leaders or change agents. We’ll support and encourage you to rethink old operating models, be more experimental and creative, and become more agile in your ability to respond to continuously changing demands.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation is fully online, with optional support through on-campus networking events, meetings, workshops and library. Please note that this programme is not available for international students residing overseas.

Shaun Gear

The scope of the Digital Transformation programme at Media Design School is broad – it’s taken me outside my comfort zone and provided me with a wider range of tools I now use every day within my role. I didn’t enjoy school or previous tertiary experiences, and this was the first formal programme I’ve enrolled in since entering the world of work 20 years ago. I was unsure how I’d cope, but our facilitators have a wealth of industry and academic experience, and I’ve thrived with the flexibility and support they continue to offer during the programme.

For the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation, you must complete all ten 6-credit components to a total of 60 credits (at NZQF Level 8).

If you have previously completed any (or all) of our five 6-credit micro-credentials – i.e., Digital Transformation, Design Thinking, User Experience, Agile Mindset or Data Analytics and AI – these can be credited towards your Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation.

Upon successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation, you will have the option to continue with the Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Transformation, and the Master of Digital Transformation beyond that.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PART TIME STUDY

Students need to complete all 10 components that make up the Postgraduate Certificate to a total of 60 credits (at NZQF Level 8). Each component runs for one 7-week block (half a 14-week Trimester). However, you need to start with the DT001: Digital Transformation component and end with the DT006: Internet of Things (capstone) component.

Study time commitments

One component:

8.6 learning hours per week
5.6 self-directed learning hours
3 facilitated learning hours (includes live online sessions)

Two components:

17.2 learning hours per week
11.2 self-directed learning hours
6 facilitated learning hours (includes live online sessions)

Duration

Although you can choose to study one or more components per 7-week block, you will need to complete all 10 components that make up the Postgraduate Certificate within 2 academic years (6 x 14-week Trimesters). This allows for flexibility – around work and other commitments – for you to vary the number of components you take at one time, and also to take a break form study if you need to.

You need to complete all 10 components that make up the Postgraduate Certificate to a total of 60 credits (at NZQF Level 8).

* Also offered as stand-alone micro-credentials

Component Name	Credits	Toggle
Digital Transformation *	6
In this component you will gain comprehensive insights into how emerging digital technologies – coupled with agile, people-focused organisational approaches – are transforming organisations and redefining the work landscape. You will develop the understanding, skills and mindsets to help you navigate and succeed in this new landscape, and to lead digital transformations within your organisation. You will be exposed to agile, human-centred work practices, frameworks and mindsets, drawing on insights from across multiple disciplines and stakeholders to creatively solve problems and develop innovative solutions. You will also develop storytelling skills to deliver engaging and impactful presentations. Level 8 DT001 DT

Design Thinking *	6
In this component you will explore Design Thinking and Creative Intelligence approaches for creative problem solving within the context of Digital Transformation. You will gain a practical understanding of human-centred, iterative design processes through the lenses of empathy, defining, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will be encouraged to develop problem solving skills and innovative solutions using creative and critical thinking, and will explore convergent and divergent thinking processes. You will also explore reflective practice and apply design thinking methods, processes, and tools to a real-world design problem within your organisation. Level 8 DT002 DT

Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence *	6
This component is an introduction to the areas of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) where you will gain an understanding of basic information representation, problem solving techniques and data science fundamentals that turn data analytics into insights that drive decision-making to improve customer and citizen experience. You will be introduced to techniques and best practices in the analysis of data sets while exploring how data and tools can be used to solve complex, real-world business, community and social problems through the application of A.I., algorithms and machine-learning – with a consideration of ethical and privacy issues and concerns that may arise. Level 8 DT003 DT

User Experience *	6
You will be introduced to best-practice User Experience (UX) Design and User Research methods to determine the target audience, collect their perspectives and synthesise the information to uncover their needs, goals and values. You will examine qualitative and quantitative research methods and explore tools such as empathy maps, personas, user journeys and user story mapping. Your understanding of UX and skillset will be developed to allow you to design usable user-centred experiences, while gaining valuable insights into the processes that lead to improved UX in both physical and online environments. Level 8 DT005 DT

Agile Mindset *	6
This component introduces you to the core Agile values and principles and their application to product development, project management, teams, and across entire organisations – with an emphasis on people and their interactions, and collaboration. Having an agile mindset involves embracing change and uncertainty, being open to new possibilities and opportunities, and a commitment to continuous (iterative) improvement and growth. Rather than doing agile, it involves being agile. As well as being introduced to specific agile development methodologies – such as Scrum and Kanban – you will critically evaluate the suitability of adopting agile approaches, mindsets, cultures and leadership across projects, teams and organisations as a way of fostering creativity and innovation in response to rapid and uncertain change. You will evaluate your current organisational culture and develop a strategic roadmap to adopting an agile mindset for your organisation. Level 8 DT009 DT

Cybersecurity	6
In this component you explore Cybersecurity challenges on a global scale and the social factors that inform individual, organisational, and international attitudes towards it. You will examine risk and governance frameworks and Cybersecurity strategies, risk treatment plans and incident response plans, while reviewing and applying cyber-prevention strategies and techniques. The entire development lifecycle of IT systems in a secure environment will be examined, including secure design methodologies, software development models, architecture design and industry 'Secure by Design’ best practices. Level 8 DT004 DT

Internet of Things (IoT)	6
This component introduces the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the underlying connections between people, process and platforms that can drive the digital transformation of organisations. You will be introduced to key technological components underpinning IoT and how they can serve business strategies by increasing efficiencies, coordination, and productivity. You will learn how to recommend strategies for developing necessary skills and foundational capabilities to support the implementation of IoT technologies within an organisation. Level 8 DT006 DT

Cloud Computing	6
In this component you will explore how Cloud Computing infrastructure has evolved from traditional Information Technology infrastructure and the business advantages and disadvantages that it brings. You will gain an understanding of the different cloud segments and service models, architectures/platforms, cloud deployment models, and the key cloud services in the market. You will learn to assess how various models can be applied to solve business and organisational problems and to make ‘fit-for-purpose’ decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of user case needs. Level 8 DT007 DT

Dynamic Leadership	6
This component focuses on developing your own leadership capability and style through reflecting on what leadership means to you personally in your situation. From the perspective of leadership as a state of mind, and a way of thinking about your interactions with the world, you will explore the changing leadership paradigms required for the 21st Century – in which we expect leaders to be authentic, agile, collaborative and empathetic to others around them. You will be introduced to various aspects of leadership – thinking and acting strategically, leadership as a process of influencing and motivating others, cultural sensitivity, creating a climate for creativity and innovation, and leading in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. You will create a plan for your continued leadership and professional development consistent with your personal values and fostering authenticity, confidence, cultural sensitivity, and resilience. Level 8 DT010 DT

Human Centred Design	6
This component explores the human, social and environmental aspects of digital technologies, focusing on the human experience of technology and its sociocultural, environmental and ethical implications. You will introduced to the core principles of human-centred design, and look at how it has more recently evolved into humanity-centred and 21st Century design – involving broader, more complex socio-technical systems. Working collaboratively in teams, and guided by the principles of human-centred design, you will draw on your existing knowledge and specialised skills to propose innovative solutions to complex problems affecting diverse organisations, communities, societies and environments. Level 8 DT017 DT

What you'll need for this course

A Bachelor degree or Graduate Certificate or Diploma in a relevant discipline (e.g. business or management studies)

A Bachelor degree or Graduate Certificate/Diploma in an unrelated discipline, and a minimum of two years' work experience that is relevant to the aim of this programme

Professional experience and documentary evidence of outcomes in the work environment that demonstrate an ability to perform in the programme and commit to achieving its outcomes (including a CV showing a minimum of six years relevant employment and recommendation letters from employers or professional colleagues).

All applicants need to provide a Personal Statement explaining why they believe they should study on the programme, their motivations and further career aspirations. A personal interview may be required and will cover prior education, personal knowledge and experience of digital transformation and motivation for post graduate study.

Employment Pathways

Graduates who successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation will be in the position to take on various strategic and digital transformation leadership roles within teams, departments, organisations and communities across a wide range of industries and sectors.

Employment pathways will be partly determined by the graduates’ previous education, experience and choice of career. These roles could include team leaders, project managers, product owners, managers, supervisors, consultants, or strategists across a wide range of areas, including general business or operations, marketing, finance, people and culture, customer experience, innovation, risk, strategy, product and service development, and entrepreneurship.

Meet the Faculty

View all Faculty

Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation

Industry partnerships

Overview

Become a digital transformation leader

Why should I study a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Transformation?

Thoughts from our Alumni

Course Outline

Study time commitments

Entry Criteria

What you'll need for this course

Employability

Employment Pathways

Meet the Faculty

Dr. Matthew Stevens

Programme Coordinator - Digital Transformation

Simon Nicholls

Lecturer - Master of Design, Bachelor of Media Design, Digital Transformation