Dr. Michael Norman

Position:Senior Lecturer
Department:Computer Science 
Faculty:Faculty of Natural Science
Qualifications:PhD in Computer Science (University of the Western Cape, South Africa)
Tel:021 959 3007
Fax:021 959 1274
Email:mnorman@uwc.ac.za

 

Biography

Dr. Michael Norman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at the University of the Western Cape. His key research area is the software industry in developing countries and as such his PhD in Computer Science from the University of the Western Cape focused on the software development successes in a developing country such as India with the intention of determining what other developing countries could learn from this. A study of software development in the Western Cape region (Cape Town) has also been undertaken to determine the status thereof. Dr Norman recently started co-supervising postgraduaate projects in Cybersecurity and Quantum Computing in collaboration with external collaborators who have been appointed Research Fellows in Compute Science at UWC. He primarily teaches software engineering at both undergraduate as well as graduate levels.

Courses

Undergraduate
  • CSC312 (3rd years) – Software Engineering component                                                                                                                                                                  Introductory topics(e.g. Process, Umbrella activities, Principles, Methods, Tools to achieve software quality (ISO), etc.) for students doing a 1st course in Software Engineering. Individual assessments and a capstone team project are undertaken to determine if the students have acheived the SE component outcomes.
Honours
  • COS731/732 (Hons) – Honours Project Coordinator                                                                                                                                                                          Honours Project Supervisor for projects in Cybersecurity and Quantum Computing
  • COS726 (Hons) – Advanced Software Engineering                                                                                                                                                                                 Advanced topics (e.g. Quality Concepts, Scurity Engineering, Product Metrics, Emerging Trends in Software Engineering, etc.) plus recent pulications in Software Engineering (AI-automated SE). Selected case studies, excercises, assignments, projects and reports are completed to determine if students have acheived the module outcomes.
     

Research

Research Interests (Honours Projects only)

Quantum Computing in collaboration with a UWC Research Fellow

Traditional computers use bits (0s or 1s) like light switches that are either off or on to process information sequentially. Quantum computers use qubits, which leverage quantum mechanics to exist as 0, 1, or both simultaneously—a state known as superposition. This allows quantum computers to analyze vast numbers of possibilities all at once rather than one by one, solving complex problems in minutes that would take classical supercomputers many years to complete.

Hons Project for 2027: Quantum Hash Signatures with Superdense Secure Transfer

Cybersecurity in collaboration with a UWC Research Fellow

Cybersecurity is the digital equivalent of locking your doors, installing security alarms, and keeping your valuables in a safe. It is the practice of protecting connected devices—like computers, smartphones, servers, and networks—from unauthorized access, theft or damage. Instead of physical locks, cybersecurity relies on tools like passwords, encryption and firewalls to keep digital intruders from stealing personal data, taking down websites or accessing sensitive systems like financial or government systems.

Hons Projects for 2027: Will be announced later.

Project Titles from 2026:

Artificial Intelligence in Digital Forensics: Tools, Threats, and Adoption Challenges (Hons Research Project)

A Privacy-Preserving License Plate Redaction Tool Using Gaussian Blur for Images (Hons SE Project)

Web Application Firewall for Node.js Web Applications (Hons SE Project)

 

Mobile Phone Hacking Detection Application (Hons Research Project)