Design and Technology (also D&T, D.T, or Craft and Design in Scotland) is a National Curriculum academic subject of the UK educational system that can be taken at all levels from primary school upwards. It is also offered in several other countries such as Brunei, Bermuda, and Botswana. Many international schools have courses. It is also a university subject in the UK, Botswana and some other countries. Some of the UK universities who deliver courses include: Brighton, Sheffield Hallam, London (Goldsmiths), Greenwich.
IB Design Technology (DT) is an elective subject offered in all IB schools globally. Design Technology is also offered in the IB Middle Years Programme as a compulsory subject for the first four years of the MYP (grades 6–9), and at the Diploma Programme level (grades 11-12). IB Design Technology is very similar in content to Design Technology, which is widely offered in the national curricula of England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and many African nations. It is one of the Group 4 sciences.
The Diploma Programme of Design Technology is a two-year introduction to designing, a range of fundamentals of technology, and global technological issues. It provides students with the knowledge to be able to design and make in school workshops, and also to develop an informed literacy about technology in general. Because it is an international curriculum it has a particular focus on global environmental issues. It covers core topics in design, materials, product development and innovation, energy, structures, mechanisms and sustainability. Students can then specialize in one of textiles, electronic products, food, computer control or human factors. The diploma is accepted for university entrance in many countries, and is a good preparation for careers in areas such as engineering, architecture, design and education.
