Theory: Problem resolution with the use of computers, flow chart, algorithms (representation and efficiency of algorithms), algorithms on computational methods and algorithms on statistical descriptive measures, internet risks and security, problems of information technology and their ‘partial’ solutions (privacy, hacking and cracking, encryption).

Workshops: Processing of simple and complex spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for Windows so that students are able to model economic processes and to solve simple and complex problems using financial data. The emphasis is on absolute and relative addresses, formatting procedures, charts and basic functions (statistical, logical, financial, etc) in Excel, and their application in business administration.

On completion of the course students will be able to:

• develop a programming background;
• write algorithms for problem solving;
• understand the consequences of the misuse of computer science;
• have a high level of familiarity with the features and tools of the Excel spreadsheet software;
• be able to model economic processes;
• solve simple and complex problems using financial data;
• create presentations using PowerPoint; and
• create databases using Access.