Business Information Systems

Damogib

Can anybody who has done this course tell me about it, is it worth doing ?

Nailz

Hello there, I'm just after completing my first year of BIS this year so I might be able to help out, I'm in fact going to be receiving my semester 2 results this afternoon at around for 4 o'clock, so you probably got me in the right mood for discussing it. Firstly, are there any questions you'd like to ask about the course in particular?

Another boards user PM'd me asking for details on BIS not so long ago, so I'll post up my reply to it and you can take from it waphat you will, if you want me to expand on it just shout.

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In my opinion putting it down on your CAO would be a great choice, from my own experience of course. In terms of difficulty; it is a hard course in essence, but if you put the work in you should be looking at atleast a pass for everything, as with anything I suppose. Having said that, yes the work is ultimately necessary, but there is a lot of work to be done, there is plenty of continuous assessment, which is great I think, as it keeps you going on the course material all the way up to the exams and some of the assignments are just easy marks.

And in terms of this ‘dropout rate’ [in which the PM'ing poster inquired] the 50% figure as mentioned there is pretty much right, as a matter of fact on our first introduction session we were told of the dropout/fail rate and it's hardly surprising from my own experience, not because there's anything majorly difficult to be done, it's just because most of the people who dropout/fail hardly show up half the time. In first year, we started with 43 registered students, and we ended up with about 26 near enough the end, and I don't think that'll be too far off the overall amount passing. I know that the current 3rd years started off with about the same amount and they had 7 this year; which sounds pretty sad. The thing that separates our course with 95% of the courses is that some of our subjects require attendance, not for official reasons, but because you will not pass those subjects if you do not go to them, Programming in particular.

But if I may comment on the above, weighing whether to do a course or not based on the courses difficulty is irrelevant with regards what you want to do. Does the course look like something you'd like to do, does the course interest you, is it the type of thing you'd like to do as a career.

And concerning career prospects; let's just say it's one of the best courses in the University with regards making a career out of it, maybe up there with some of the best in the country. You're almost guaranteed a job with this degree, and I'm not messing, there is a huge need for Irish people in this sector, big companies find it very difficult getting Irish employees in this sector, too much the struggle they need to bring in people from the continent, Asia and America to work, so it's in the best interest of the company to find Irish people to employ.
The thing about BIS is that big organisations heavily endorse it, there's massive involvement from HP, Microsoft, Oracle, Accenture, Google, Intel and DERI. It's the only course that I know of where organisations actually come in to try and scout its graduates, never mind going and looking for a job yourself, something like that counts for massive prospects! If I remember correctly all of the BIS graduates bar two already got high-end job before their graduation, and the other two were just undecided in whether to go out into the work force or continue on in doing Masters degrees, such as M.Sc. Management Information Systems.

Overall, it really depends on what you want to do in college. Does BIS interest you? I love the course myself because I love what I do in it, I find it interesting and I want to know more about what I can do in such a field. If you're looking to do more Business than IS then the course probably isn't for you, IS is the name of the game here, its implementation and usage is its main concerns in business. Just be aware of that.

Damogib

Thanks for your quick reply

I would like to ask you about the programming end of the course. would it be similar to the uses of python or is python a completely different area? and is the programming end of the course tough considering that i am willing to put in the work? what way in your opinion is the course split into e.g 50% commerce and 50% information systems ? or is it more focused on one aspect ?

Nailz

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, I'm abroad so I have restricted time on the Internet.

Python is not dissimilar to what we do in Programming, although we do not use Python, so far all that has been covered is the .NET languages such as VB and C#, as well as using such languages on Visual Web Developer, which is part of the .NET framework. We'll be covering more languages this year and the following years. I don't know if I would call programming tough work, what is required of you with regards Programming is almost constant attendance and your undivided attention, the assignments are great practice in themselves too.

So, as you said, if you willing to put the work in, you really should have no problem. As it was told by our lecturer, you are either really good or really bad at programming; the latter end of that scale are mainly those who don't put the work in, don't go to their lectures and don't hand in assignments. That's the main void in programming, you can't bullshit you way through it and given how hard you've work it will always reflect in your results for better or for worse. In Business Application Development 1 — which is its subject name — I got 98%, including continuous assessment, a written exam, the works. I believe at least 8 or 9 of my fellow course mates also achieved a 1.1 grade, where as ONE THIRD of our class failed, emphasising what I said earlier about the differences in spectrum for doing well in the subject.

We do six subjects each semester. Last year over the two semesters we had two subjects which could be vaguely identified as commerce, these were Accounting and Economics; split into Financial Accounting and Microeconomics for semester 1, and Management Accounting and Macroeconomics for semester 2. The other four subjects were split into two IS theory subjects and then two technical IS subjects, such as Programming and IS components.
Therefore I don't think it's an even split, the emphasis of BIS largely leans toward information systems, whilst incorporating business aspects in order to realise the usage of IS within a business environment. So in terms of subjects, BIS would be 1/3 business and 2/3 IS, but the end product is more IS and technological focus with business knowledge. Which is a deadly mix, might I add.


Of course, if you have any more questions I'll do my best to answer them for you.

Hunchback

Hi Nailz,
Are you aware of any of your colleagues in your year coming on to this course with their previous knowledge of the area of programming being at absolute zero?

Nailz

Hi CKonetheonlyone,
I am aware that many of my peers came in to this course with no knowledge of programming prior. I was one of those, in fact. As far as I know, only 3 out of roughly 30 coursemates [who were left] did have prior experience of programming, and it didn't really make much of a difference at all. One of them didn't pass, the other either didn't pass or just about passed and the other done quite well.

Hunchback

Thanks Nailz. I've just completed 1st year law. Results out on Monday. Quietly confident (fingers crossed), but at the back of my mind is an increasingly loud voice telling me to transfer to BIS because of the abundant employment opportunities ( there is only very limited opportunity for employment in the area of law at the moment, I am told ).

Nailz

No problem at all, dude. All the best for your results, mine came out Thursday afternoon and I can happily report that I got all 1.1's, so I'm glad for that. You'll definitely be welcome in BIS, but after all it's up to you, it all depends on if you're happy with Law and if your heart really is set on transferring, keep us updated with what you're up to anyway. Do you transfer directly into 2nd year or what happen? I don't know what happens in that regard.

Raging_Ninja

There are loads of opportunities for jobs in IT (just got one myself) but be certain you try and get internships or some type of experience working in the area before you graduate in order to put yourself ahead of the pack.

Nailz

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

There are loads of opportunities for jobs in IT (just got one myself) but be certain you try and get internships or some type of experience working in the area before you graduate in order to put yourself ahead of the pack.

I believe BIS runs a work experience programme in year 3 over the course of the second semester, they have links with all sorts of places such as Cisco Systems, Accenture, Oracle, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Google for which they organise placement during the period. Raging Ninja, do you reckon that would be adequate enough experience or should one attempt to push in some job experience into the summers, etc.?

Raging_Ninja

Nailz wrote: »

I believe BIS runs a work experience programme in year 3 over the course of the second semester, they have links with all sorts of places such as Cisco Systems, Accenture, Oracle, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Google for which they organise placement during the period. Raging Ninja, do you reckon that would be adequate enough experience or should one attempt to push in some job experience into the summers, etc.?

Try to find summer work in software houses or tech departments. The more the better, even if its just making tea and answering the phone - you'll pick stuff up simply by being in the room and will get to see how things are done in the industry. It'll show you have a genuine interest in the field. Looking back its something I should have done myself, and really regret that I didn't.

Nailz

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

Try to find summer work in software houses or tech departments. The more the better, even if its just making tea and answering the phone - you'll pick stuff up simply by being in the room and will get to see how things are done in the industry. It'll show you have a genuine interest in the field. Looking back its something I should have done myself, and really regret that I didn't.

Cheers for the advice man, I'll definitely look out and try to do something like that in the future holidays. Well in fairness I'm assuming you're set up with a decent enough job directly after college, so I reckon you would have just liked the experience for entering the work force straight away, is that the case?

I do agree with what you're saying in respect to job experience in the sector, there is a lad in our course who has at least 2 or 3 years experience working in IT before joining up, him being only around about 24/25, and he got work as an IT trainer for a large alcohol firm for the summer, with that experience and youth in consideration I believe that he is the most employable student in the course. I've only just gone on 20 a couple of months ago, so I suppose I still have plenty of time to get experience for when 2015 comes about, but I'll have to be on the ball I think. Muchos grasias, Señor Ninja!

amen

BIS because of the abundant employment opportunities

worse reason in the world for doing a course. How do you know there will still be opportunities when you graduate in 4 years time?

Law could have picked back up by then.

Pick a course/subject you like and do well in it.

Ficheall

amen wrote: »

worse reason in the world for doing a course.

Ah now, there are worse reasons...

Nailz

Ficheall wrote: »

Ah now, there are worse reasons...

Like wanting to do it because your friends do it...

Marto10

Just finished my 4 years in BIS and have got a job with SAP in Dublin and believe me the perks are unreal. IT and business is on the up so people would be stupid to turn down this course if offered....

JE Cairnes

Hi all,
For any of you interested in BIS you might like to take a look at this Microsoft video for their new 365 online for education. BIS students have been using this for a while working with our partner University in the US. These were the first students in the world to use this as part of their programme.

http://mediadl.microsoft.com/mediadl/www/l/liveatedu/12038-Office%20365_UMass_Galway_300k.wmv

Marto10

I'm the grey haired lad with the shirt n jumper in that video

But seriously the course provides great opportunities to work along with companies that can boost employment opportunities.

I got 130 points in my LC and did a fetac course in IT which brought me into BIS with high results from the course.

Now from the BIS course I have a 2.1 degree and a job in a large software company in Dublin....so the course has advantages when a person puts in the work..

Only pick this course if ur interested in Business or IT or both..

Never did business in school but my god u pick it up fast..

Regarding the 3rd year placement I did it in the ESB in Dublin (they always take on about 5 students from BIS) and earned great experience with the SAP system and updated basic business skills in general along with getting paid 450 a week so it was great!:D

Gadhafi

Marto10 wrote: »

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Regarding the 3rd year placement I did it in the ESB in Dublin (they always take on about 5 students from BIS) and earned great experience with the SAP system and updated basic business skills in general along with getting paid 450 a week so it was great!:D

Hi Marto, did everyone in the course get a paid placement?

Marto10

3 people out of like 22 didn't get paid placement, they worked in different departments of the college for 8 weeks unpaid