The Information and Communication Technology Innovation Laboratory (ICTIL) was approved by the Bahrain Polytechnic Senior Management Team on the 21st of July 2013. Approval was given for an initial proof of concept with three student projects that were developed to prototype stage by Bachelor of ICT (BICT) students. This page outlines the goals, structure and purpose of the lab and how it fits into the overall entrepreneurial and innovation promotion ethos within the institute.
In the initial stages of the ICTIL, the focus will be on web-based software applications, accessed through a web browser in a similar manner to Self Service Banner or Moodle. The ease with which such applications can be designed and developed, along with the relatively low cost of implementation and support, ensures that quality software can be created and delivered within one academic semester. It is hoped that in the future other types of projects, including hardware or networking projects, could be implemented at the ICTIL.
By facilitating student projects, the ICTIL will develop students with a sense of professionalism, an awareness of industry norms and further develop employability skills in addition to what the students have previously learned in the Bachelor of ICT Programme. Students undertaking such projects will be expected to behave as if they were employees of the ICTIL, attending during the core working hours as determined by the institute. Students will not be paid for their time working in the ICTIL.
The ICTIL will facilitate student innovation by encouraging students to come up with ICT projects that solve every day problems. Initially, the focus will be software projects, however in time it is envisaged that the scope of the projects will broaden to encompass both hardware and software. Students will also be offered the opportunity to work on projects suggested by staff members, both academic and non-academic. Structures will be put in place to ensure that projects are supported through project management techniques and effective mentoring. Support services, such as ICT are critical to the success of the ICTIL.
Projects Pipeline
In Year 4, Semester A of the Bachelor of ICT programme, ICT students undertake a 60 credit, semester-long project as part of their studies. Following this project, students will then undertake a 60 credit, semester long cooperative learning project (CLP) at an organisation external to Bahrain Polytechnic.
Projects delivered in the Year 4, semester A module will be assessed for their commercial potential by a committee. Once these projects have been identified, students will be invited to undertake their cooperative learning project in the ICTIL. As different cohorts of students progress through the programme, each semester will provide a number of projects to be assessed for commercial potential, thereby maintaining the viability of the ICTIL. This “pipeline” concept is outlined below
Project Pipeline
Students undertaking their cooperative learning project in the ICTIL will be treated no differently to students undertaking the CLP in an external organisation. They will be expected to meet the key deliverables of the CLP in addition to the deliverables agreed with the ICTIL project. As the CLP is of one semester in duration, any project accepted for the ICTIL must be capable of being developed within this timeframe. However, later in this document additional time for implementation and support is discussed.
Facilitating, Incentivising and Delivering Innovation
In addition to accepting students who have completed the Year 4, semester A project, it is hoped that the ICTIL will also facilitate students with project ideas in Years 1, 2 and 3 of the BICT programme. Students can take a Level 5, Level 6 or Level 7 Special Projects elective, depending on the nature and complexity of the project.
These special projects will also be facilitated in the ICTIL on a part-time basis, similar in terms of deliverables and contact hours as any elective course. The interaction with the ICTIL is shown below.
ICT Innovation lab with special projects
As with any elective course, once students meet the requirements and the learning outcomes, they will be awarded 15 credits towards their programme requirements.
