ui cs alumni reunion lecture
TRANSCRIPT
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THEORY AND PRACTICE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION :– THE ROLE OF THE ALUMNIBy Rasheed Adegoke (CIO, First Bank of Nigeria)
TABLE OF CONTENTStructure of Computing
Education
Understanding the Theory-Practice gap
The UI Computer Science Alumni: Scorecard
The role of the Alumni Association
A model for improving UI Computer Science Alumni ParticipationQ & A
Opening quip…
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
But, in practice, there is.
Jan L.A. Van de Snepscheut/Yogi Berra
Structure of computing education../1
Computing Education
Computer Engineering
Computing Science
Theory of computati
on
Algorithms & data
structures
Programming methodology & languages
Computer Elements & Architecture
Information Systems
Structure of computing education../2
Computing Science or Computer Science The study of the theoretical foundations of
information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems
Computer Engineering A discipline that integrates electrical engineering
and computer science and teaches the design of circuits, microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers
Information Systems or Information Technology Professional and academic discipline concerned
with the strategic, managerial and operational activities involved in the gathering, processing, storing, distributing and use of information, and its associated technologies, in society and organizations
Understanding the Theory-Practice gap
Structure of Computing Education
The UI Computer Science Alumni: Scorecard
The role of the Alumni Association
A model for improving UI Computer Science Alumni Participation
Q & A
Understanding the theory-practice gap: 1: the “Town & Gown” divide
Historical physical and egocentric divide between the “Ivory Tower” and the non-academic community
Mutual misperceptions of “Townie practitioners” as sloppy & uninformed and the Ivory Tower as full of “impractical theorists”
The failing involvement of the Alumni network in bridging the Town & Gown divide
Understanding the theory-practice gap: 2: Perspective, Context & Motivation
Perspective
Theory (Underlying
principles) vs. Practice
(Proveness of methods for
everyday use)
Context
Discovery (New insight)
vs. Business or
Social impact
Motivation or Payback
Breakthrough knowledge vs. Breakthrough
Profit
Understanding the theory-practice gap: 3: the Education system & process Static curricula
Though Computing Sciences and Information Systems practices change rapidly, Computing education curriculum remain static and built on old subject matters or methods
Research methodology Local Academia is overly focused on basic
research (at the expense of applied research) with only a few academic research having any commercial application
Orientation of learning Students are not given specific career-path
oriented training and are basically groomed as generalists sometimes without a mastery of any particular skill needed in the “real world”
Understanding the theory-practice gap: 4: the Education system & process Teaching practices
Current teaching practices are largely based on transmitting knowledge without establishing any relevance to future career choices of the students or linking to industry practices
Curriculum delinked from practice Current curricula are insulated from practice
and sometimes dated e.g. students learning COBOL or FORTRAN instead of Java or C#, Desktop applications vs. Web & mobile Apps
One size fits all Curriculum and course plans are based on a
one-size-fits-all approach rather than give students specialisation opportunities that fit their future career aspiration & ability
Understanding the theory-practice gap: 5: the Education system & process Faculty mix
Computing faculties are made up of pure academics whereas a careful mix of academics and industry leaders will deliver a richer & more balanced learning experience
Absence of career guidance opportunities Most students, not just in Computing
education, go through school without really planning for post-campus life
No Entrepreneurial context Our education is overly built around grooming
workers. This is a key source of the gap between theory and practice as opportunities to create new enterprises are never explored or discovered while our graduates languish in unemployment
Structure of Computing Education
The UI Computer Science Alumni: Scorecard
Understanding the Theory-Practice gap
A model for improving UI Computer Science Alumni Participation
Q & A
The role of the Alumni Association
The role of the Alumni association: ../1 Serve as a funding source for Student and
Alumni activities Alumni Associations traditionally help fund
some activities of Student Organisations such as NACOSS, the University and Alumni events
Inspire current Students towards academic and professional excellence Visibility of Alumni within the Corporate and
Public space Networking events between Alumni and
Students including career fairs that serve as motivation to the Students
Create a strong advocacy platform for the University Alumni Associations usually serve as veritable
advocacy platforms for the University
The role of the Alumni association: ../2 Connecting University/Departments to
Corporate Donors Alumni Associations beyond their own direct
funding activity can also help build the necessary corporate donor base for Universities and Departments
Expand the reach and influence of the University through socially responsible actions The Alumni Associations serve as the long bridge
between “the Town” and “the Gown” and can strongly help in lifting the image of the parent Institution or Department through socially responsible actions (community services)
Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap Departmental Alumni Associations can participate
in curriculum review and as visiting industry experts to complement the core faculty and help bridge the gap between theory and practice
Structure of Computing Education
The role of the Alumni Association
Understanding the Theory-Practice gap
A model for improving UI Computer Science Alumni Participation
Q & A
The UI Computer Science Alumni: Scorecard
The UI Computer Science Alumni: The Scorecard
• Serve as a funding source for Student and Alumni activities
Poor
• Inspire current Students towards academic and professional excellence
Fair
• Create a strong advocacy platform for the University
Poor
• Connecting University/ Departments to Corporate Donors
Poor
•Expand the reach and influence of the University through socially responsible actions
Poor
•Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap
Poor
Structure of Computing Education
The role of the Alumni Association
Understanding the Theory-Practice gap
The UI Computer Science Alumni: Scorecard
Q & A
A model for improving UI Computer Science Alumni Participation
A model for Alumni participation: A solution framework
Access & Consultation
Socialisation
Information Exchange
Financial Involvement
& Development
Organisation
FUNCTIONALCOMPUTER SCIENCEALUMNI NETWORK
A model for Alumni participation: A solution framework Organisation
We need to create or better organise the Department Alumni Associations for UI Computer Science Department
Access & Consultation The CS Alumni Association must be easily reachable
via a host of channels including the Alumni Office, Social Media & Website
The CS Alumni Association should be engaged for consultation on curriculum review matters and other developmental initiatives of the department
Socialisation The CS Alumni Association should create a good
number of social platforms to facilitate both physical & virtual interactions among members and between members & other stakeholders
A model for Alumni participation: A solution framework Information Exchange
The CS Alumni Association must create bi-directional informational media such as e-newsletters, Web-portal & blogsite that will keep members, students and other stakeholders informed not just about Association activities but also about emerging opportunities
Financial Involvement & Development The CS Alumni Association must operate as a self-
funding body and should also get financially involved in the development of the department including sponsorship of some student programmes
Bonus The CS Alumni Association could be a veritable
source for industry resources that will complement the teaching efforts of the core faculty of the department by playing a visiting instructor role
THANK YOU!Structure of Computing Education
The role of the Alumni Association
Understanding the Theory-Practice gap
The UI Computer Science Alumni: Scorecard A model for improving UI Computer Science Alumni Participation
Q & A