Departmental Structure and Support Services for Cadets

 

Departmental Structure

The Department is headed by the Head of Department (HOD) who oversees the routine management of the Department. He/she is the line manager for all academic and non-academic staff within the Department. He/she ensures teaching quality, staff/student discipline and punctuality, smooth conduct of examination and other academic functions, and represents the Department at Academy level functions. He/she also leads curriculum development and reviews at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The HOD delegates some functions to members of academic staff: registration, coordination of programmes, examination, research etc. Members of the academic staff are members of the Departmental Board, and discharge individual duties such as teaching, conduct of examination, registration, and counselling. Academic staff in the department are assigned responsibilities by the Head of Department each Academic Session, and on ad hoc basis. These responsibilities cover those of the Department, Faculty and the Academy. In the department, decisions are made and implemented by the Departmental Board. Some of the responsibilities include the following: Examination, Welfare matters and Cadet. Additional responsibilities are given as the need arises.

 

Programme Directors are members of academic staff appointed by the HOD to coordinate specific academic programmes, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. There are Committees responsible for specific functions such as Curriculum, Publications, and Examination. Both the Programme Directors and Committees report to the HOD and/or Departmental Board.

 

The Departmental Secretariat is manned by full time non-academic staff who carry out routine clerical and secretariat functions, including the processing and filing of correspondence, minute-taking in Departmental meetings, processing of examination question papers and results, processing and distribution of time-table and general secretariat deities.

 

Infrastructure Facilities

Departmental Laboratory

The Department has a functional computer laboratory which is currently undergoing modernization and being upgraded with full ICT-driven computer equipment to meet the teaching and research needs of the department.

 

Departmental Library

The Department has a moderately equipped library at present. But in addition efforts are under way to establish a functional e-library and a virtual library.  The Department along with the Academy would be able to put in place ICT facilities that would enable the conduct of examinations on line for both the post graduate and undergraduate programmes.

 

Academy Library

The Academy Library is well-stocked with resources that are relevant to Computer Science.  The Academy is acquiring more volumes to improve the library’s holding. The Library is managed by trained subject and general librarians. Cadets are encouraged to patronise the Academy Library in all their individual and group assignments and seminar preparations.

 

Academy Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre

The Academy recently established a state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre. The Centre is stocked with technologies and e-resources that are vital to meet NDA’s strategic and institutional needs. Staff and cadets are encouraged to make optimum utilisation of the services that are provided by the ICT Centre.

 

Cadets’ Staff Academic Adviser (CSAA)

The Department operates an open-door support policy for cadets. This means that each cadet is free to arrange an appointment with any member of academic staff to seek advice on academic matters.  Our staff are trained to maintain strict confidentiality and trust with cadets with regards to enhancing learning strategies, and overcoming learning difficulties. Crucially, each cadet in the Department is entitled to a Staff Academic Adviser (CSAA). The Department believes that even though cadets are technically classified as adults and matured persons, a great number of them are teenagers and young people who need assistance and counselling in order to come to terms with academic challenges and progress in their careers. Therefore, the Department expects the Academic Staff Advisers to combine the functions of the parents, teachers, mentors and counsellors whilst cadets are under the care of the Department and the Academy. They are to be guided and directed properly in the handling of their failed courses and choice of course and as a matter of policy, no cadet is allowed to process any course form without the knowledge of, and input from Advisers. Cadets are also advised in the area of curricular and extra-curricular activities, critical thinking, academic discipline, time management, and career guidance. Close liaison with an SAA is crucial to a successful four year degree experience.

 

 

Grievances and Disciplinary Procedure

Cadets’ grievances are first handled by their respective Staff Academic Advisers (CSAA) and, where such matters need further attention, they are handled at the level of Departmental Board. However, where grievance border on misconduct or indiscipline, the Department Board or HOD may set up a committee to look into the matter. The committee shall have specific terms of references (TOR), mode of operation and deadline for submission its report. The recommendations of committee will be carefully considered and implemented by the Office of HOD. Cadets are also encouraged to discuss their problems with any of the Academic Staff or the Head of Department for prompt action.

 

Examination & Assessment

The department operates continuous assessment policy – meaning cadets are assessed regularly to ascertain level and quality of performance. Specific grade ratios are allocated to different examinable activity, and this ratio differs from one course to another. Cadets’ performance in each course evaluated using clearly stated modes of assessment. Typically, each course is assessed through a combination of some or all of the following:

 

1. In-Class Tests

Tests may be announced, but some lecturers give unannounced tests. A test is conducted to evaluate student’s performance in grounds covered in each courses, and attract marks. Test may take different forms: quizzes, multiple-choice objective questions or essay-type.

 

2. Individual Assignments

Each cadet is often given set of assignments on specific topics or themes. Individual assignments are also given in the form of book review, and review of journal articles and/or policy documents. It is the responsibility of cadets to ensure the timely completion and submission of individual work. Late submission attracts a penalty. Cadets who refuse to participate in set group work will be subjected to denial of grades and, in case of repeated offences, disciplinary action might follow.

 

3. Group Assignments 

Groups work and activities are built into many of our courses to encourage teamwork. Cadets are often grouped randomly to avoid “comfort grouping” and encourage peer participation. The Department expects cadets to participate actively in their group assignments. Late submission attracts a penalty; cadets who refuse to participate in set group work will be subjected to denial of grades and, in case of repeated offence, disciplinary action.

 

4. Graded Seminars

Seminars may be graded. Usually, the Lecturer returns the graded presentation or assignment scripts accompanied by a feedback to the cadet(s). The feedback will highlight queries, annotated remarks, and offer suggestions for future improvement in a similar task.

 

5. End of Semester Examinations

Typically, end of semester examination marks a high point of the semester. Examinations carry higher marks – not less than 60%– of the total grade. The Department Examination Officer/Committee coordinates a smooth conduct of examinations. The Department will produce and distribute an Examination Timetable, well in advance of the period, in liaison with the Faculty Examination Office. Academic staff are required as a matter of policy to submit their questions to the Head of department at least a week before the commencement of each semester examination. The questions are accompanied by an explicit marking scheme.

 

 

Guidance Relating to Written Submissions

 

All written work submitted for grading must conform to standard rules of intellectual property rights or copyright. Cadets are expected to ensure that they do not copy, in whole or part, the ideas and perspectives of a third party. Cadets much acknowledge all sources of information, whether these are published or unpublished.

 

Academic Honesty

This refers to the virtue of being open, frank and transparent in presenting facts and ideas. It is an academic offence to manipulate, twist or withhold information and facts, or to seek to deceive or misguide others, including lecturers and fellow cadets. Examples of academic dishonesty include misquotation, altering of facts and figures in a table of statistics to buttress a wrongful line of arguments, and stealing someone else’s research work. Any act of academic dishonesty will be severely dealt with through the Department’s Disciplinary procedure.

 

Plagiarism – Theft of Idea or Intellectual Property

Plagiarism is the theft of intellectual property. Plagiarism is defined as passing-off of another person's ideas, findings or work as one's own by copying or reproducing the work without due acknowledgment of the source. The most common form of plagiarism is presenting written work that contains sentences, paragraphs or longer sections from published work without acknowledgment. In other cases, students reproduce portions of the work of another student and present it as their own. Using the structure of another person’s argument is a form of plagiarism, even if the wording is changed.

 

The Department’s first responsibility is educative, and where plagiarism seems to arise from poor referencing practices or lack of confidence, the Academic Staff will alert students to the problem and suggest strategies for improvement. Regardless of the reasons for it, plagiarised work is never acceptable, and may lead to failure because it does not meet the requirements of academic merit. Where dishonest intent is apparent, the Department may enforce disciplinary measures (see “Disciplinary Procedure” above). In the most serious cases, Academy procedures relating to student misconduct may be invoked and can lead to disciplinary action including recommendation for expulsion to the Commandant or Academy Council.

 

Referencing

All academic work must be appropriately referenced. Cadets must acquaint themselves with the systems of reference available. Generally, there are two broad types of referencing: Oxford and Harvard. Each style is acceptable in so far as consistency is maintained.

• Harvard-Style Referencing: this style is known as “inserted referencing” or “in-text referencing”. Key author/publication details are provided in-text, with a full details of all referenced publications given at the end of the work (Bibliography). A useful guide on Harvard style can be obtained from Greenwich University’s (UK) online resource titled: “a Brief Guide to Harvard Style” (http://www.gre.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/232570/SS-Referencing-Rev5.pdf)
• Oxford-Style Referencing: in this method, key publication details are given in full at the point of citation by way of footnote or endnote.  A guide to the Oxford style can be found at Victoria University of Australia’s web resource titled: “Oxford: a brief guide” (http://w2.vu.edu.au/library/referencing/files/2495%20Oxford%20Guide%20(28%209%2010).pdf)

Please note that the Department does not impose a particular style of referencing on cadets, but rather insists on a strict and consistent adherence to any particular style.