1 . To provide exposure to a critical specialisation in the field of software engineering. 2. To develop key skills in software quality assurance and testing required for effective practice in the field of software engineering. 3. To provide students with knowledge and skills required to be a practising software professional. 4. To provide students with knowledge and skills required by potential employers in the field of software engineering.

(LO1) Demonstrate the importance of software quality assurance and testing in the context of modern software projects and organisations.

(LO2) Evaluate critically best-practice approaches to testing software artefacts.

(LO3) Evaluate critically different levels of testing software artefacts.

(LO4) Analyse software artefacts from the perspectives of complexity, testability, test coverage and quality.

(LO5) Evaluate critical techniques and tools for managing the configuration and components of software systems.

(LO6) Analyse and evaluate different dimensions of software quality including but not limited to reliability, dependability, safety and security.

(LO7) Evaluate approaches to managing a software quality assurance effort within an organisation.

(S1) Organisational skills

(S2) IT skills

(S3) Communication and collaboration online participating in digital networks for learning and research

(S4) Information literacy online, finding, interpreting, evaluating, managing and sharing information

(S5) Learning skills online studying and learning effectively in technology-rich environments, formal and informal

(S6) Problem solving/critical thinking/creativity

(S7) Team (group) working respecting others, co-operating, negotiating / persuading, awareness of interdependence with others

Week 1: Software Engineering and Quality Assurance. The topic of software engineering, software processes, quality assurance and testing.   Week 2: Software Testing.   Best-practices in software testing. Unit, component, integration, system, user and stress testing. Test-Driven Development (TDD). Peer reviews and software inspection techniques.   Week 3: Development Testing. Technical practices related to unit, component, integration, systems and stress testing. Implementation techniques for unit testing within the context of a modern testing framework (e.g., JUnit).   Week 4: Testing Metrics. Techniques for quantifying aspects of testing. Metrics to measure/quantify complexity, testability and test coverage.   Week 5: Configuration Management.  Different approaches to, and tools for, configuration management.   Week 6: Web Testing.  Unique issues with respect to the testing and quality assurance of the web-based syste ms. Tools and techniques specifically designed to address testing web-based software.   Week 7: Dimensions of Software Quality.  Dimensions of software quality such as reliability, dependability, safety, and security.   Week 8: Quality Management.   Developing and instituting organizational practices and processes that foster quality in the engineering of software systems. Best practices as well as standards and formal approaches such as ISO 9001, CMMI, and Six Sigma.

Teaching Method 1 - online Learning
Description: Weekly seminar supported by asynchronous discussion in a virtual classroom environment facilitated by an online instructor.