Information systems and technologies

Information Systems and Technologies is a study programme at the undergraduate academic level. The outcome of the learning process is the development of competent graduates in the field of information systems, equipped with a multidisciplinary perspective and the theoretical and practical knowledge required to work effectively and efficiently in a dynamic business environment, particularly in the design, development, implementation, and application of information systems and software solutions in general.

The academic title awarded upon completion of the programme is Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Engineering.

Admission requirements for the study programme include completion of a four-year secondary school and passing the entrance examination.

The Information Systems and Technologies study programme consists of six elective areas (modules): Information Systems, Information Technologies, Software Engineering, E-Business Technologies, Business Analytics, and Information Engineering.

Undergraduate academic studies last four years, i.e., eight semesters. Each academic year carries the same number of ECTS credits – 60, amounting to a total of 240 ECTS credits.

The total number of courses within the study programme is 45 (including the professional internship and the final thesis). All courses are one-semester courses.

The list of compulsory and elective courses, along with their ECTS credit values, is presented in the relevant tables and appendices of this document.

All courses in the first year of study are common to all elective areas (modules) and provide students with fundamental knowledge in information systems and technologies, programming, e-business, management, organization, mathematics, economics, psychology or sociology, as well as foreign languages.

Upon enrolling in the second year, students choose one of the six elective areas (modules). Courses in the second, third, and fourth years are oriented toward further study of both the theoretical and practical aspects of information systems and technologies, with a balanced representation of subjects covering the selected module areas, business functions, the application of quantitative methods, and general education courses.

In each subsequent year, the courses become increasingly specialized, while still encompassing all key aspects of the areas studied in previous years. This approach enables students to first gain a broad understanding of different domains and perspectives, and then focus on more detailed study and problem-solving.

More detailed descriptions of the elective areas (modules) are provided in the appendices of this document.

Each year of study includes both compulsory and elective courses. For each elective course position, students choose one course from two or more offered options. In the final year, students select two courses from the study programme offerings and four courses from the elective area (module) offerings.

In addition, students complete a professional internship in companies, where they apply the knowledge they have acquired. The internship is awarded 3 ECTS credits.

Teaching in this study programme is delivered through lectures and practical exercises. Active student participation is emphasized in both lectures and exercises. The final thesis is a mandatory requirement for all students and is awarded 7 ECTS credits.

The conditions for transfer from other study programmes in the same or related fields are defined by the University Statute, the Faculty Statute, the Call for Enrollment in undergraduate academic studies, as well as by the general regulations of the Faculty.

The purpose of the Information Systems and Technologies undergraduate academic study programme is to provide education, further development, and partial specialization of students in the field of information systems and technologies and related disciplines. The field of information systems and technologies is characterized by highly dynamic development at the global level.

The Faculty of Organizational Sciences is the leading institution in this field at the University of Belgrade and has, for several decades, been educating students for well-recognized and clearly defined professions in the domain of information systems and technologies. The demand for engineers in these areas is continuously increasing, both nationally and internationally. Job market trends, employment opportunities, and developments in the economy, society, public administration, and other public institutions clearly confirm this need and represent strong evidence of the relevance of the proposed study programme.

Through this study programme, the Faculty of Organizational Sciences aims to provide students with the most up-to-date knowledge and competencies in line with the evolving demands of the labor market. Compared to previous versions of the programme, one of the most significant innovations is the introduction of a structure based on six elective areas (modules). This represents a natural evolutionary step aligned with contemporary global trends in the development of information systems and technologies, with each module offering more focused and in-depth coverage of specific subfields essential to modern information systems. The primary motivation for this innovation is the growing and evident demand, both locally and globally, for highly specialized professionals with diverse profiles in this field.

The purpose of the Information Systems and Technologies undergraduate study programme is fully aligned with the core mission and objectives of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences.

The Faculty of Organizational Sciences has a long-standing tradition in delivering education in information systems and technologies. The Information Systems and Technologies study programme has been offered at the undergraduate level for more than three decades, and for a somewhat shorter period at the postgraduate level.

Student interest in modern study programmes in the field of information systems and technologies at all levels of higher education (undergraduate, master’s, specialist, and doctoral studies) at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences is steadily increasing. This undergraduate study programme represents a response to such demand. It is also one of the key strategic objectives of the Faculty, given the strong student interest and the well-developed institutional capacities, both in terms of infrastructu

The competencies of graduates of the Information Systems and Technologies study programme are based both on long-standing general and experiential knowledge of labor market needs and research activities in this field, as well as on a range of internationally recognized documents in the form of recommendations issued by Association for Computing Machinery and Association for Information Systems, which will be detailed in the description of Standard 6 – Quality, Modernity, and International Alignment of the Study Programme.

In addition, the competencies of graduates are aligned with the classification published within the National Qualifications Framework of Serbia (NQFS), particularly in the areas related to codes 06 – Information and Communication Technologies, 061 – ICT, 0611 – Computer Use, 0612 – Database, Network Design and Administration, 0613 – Software and Application Development and Analysis, and 0619, which specifically highlights Artificial Intelligence.

General competencies

Students who complete the undergraduate academic studies in Information Systems and Technologies become competent to:

• independently work on requirements engineering, as well as on the development of information systems and software products, with knowledge of current information technologies and development tools;
• participate in teams developing various types of information systems and software solutions;
• provide consulting services related to requirements analysis, design, implementation, maintenance, and management of information systems and software products;
• engage in scientific research in the field of information systems and technologies and related computing disciplines, as well as in educational activities at both secondary and higher education levels;
• participate in teams providing technical support in software sales, collaborate with users, and contribute to project management in information systems development;
• apply analytical thinking and teamwork in solving problems based on acquired knowledge in information systems and technologies.

Subject-specific competencies

In addition, students acquire the following subject-specific competencies:

• development of models for automation and decision support in information systems;
• knowledge and application of programming languages, data engineering, data warehousing, and algorithms for information engineering;
• use and development of models, methods, and tools for business analytics.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes, particularly considering that professional internship and practical work are integral parts of the curriculum, include mastery of combinations of the following knowledge and skills:

• acquiring knowledge necessary for the selection, creation, application, integration, and administration of information technologies.

• collecting, analyzing, and specifying user requirements in various application domains, and modeling software systems that support those requirements;

• design, use, and administration of databases;

• independent and team-based work on the development, administration, maintenance, and performance optimization of information systems;

• conducting research in the field of information systems and technologies;

• engaging in education in the field of information systems and technologies;

• use of modern software environments and tools for the development of contemporary information systems;

• ensuring software quality;

• ensuring the security and reliability of information systems, including protection against unauthorized access, damage, destruction, network attacks, viruses, and similar threats;

• providing consulting services in the development of information systems;

• working in multidisciplinary teams requiring expert support from information systems and technologies engineers;

• mastering the concepts and theoretical foundations of computer science, enabling both independent work and participation in IT and interdisciplinary teams;

The objectives of the undergraduate academic study programme in the field of Information Systems and Technologies at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences include:

• acquiring theoretical and practical knowledge required for an information systems and technologies engineer to work in the software industry, particularly in the development, application, maintenance, and administration of various types of information systems and software products in general;
• gaining knowledge in the field of information systems and technologies, as well as knowledge of business systems, necessary for the effective application of acquired competencies;
• mastering contemporary applications in the areas of databases, information systems development, software development, artificial intelligence, computer architecture, operating systems, computer networks, Internet technologies, e-business, data science, data analytics, business intelligence, and related fields;
• providing practical work experience through both individual and team-based engagement, including participation in existing and new practical projects, as well as through mandatory professional internships. Students are expected to develop logical thinking, precise expression, the ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, and a creative approach to non-standard situations;
• providing a foundation for engagement in research activities, as well as for continuing education at the master’s, specialist, and doctoral levels.

The objectives of the programme are aligned with the vision, mission, and goals of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences as a higher education institution, particularly in relation to:

ensuring continuity of education in the field of information systems and technologies, from undergraduate to doctoral level.

the development of creative abilities and the acquisition of specific practical skills required for professional work in the field of information systems and technologies;

educating professionals for careers in the software industry, with a comparative advantage of graduates from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences reflected in their understanding of business organization, management, and related disciplines taught within the Information Systems and Technologies programme;

The Information Systems and Technologies study programme consists of six modules:

1. Information technologies
2. Information systems
3. Information engineering
4. Business analytics
5. Software engineering
6. E-business technologies