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The proposed UK computing masters benchmark

The proposed UK computing masters benchmark. 5th TEMPUS JEP -1606 Meeting Belgrade  April 26/27. The players. Government agency. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Higher Education Funding Council for England HEFCE. proposes/ recommends. approves, adopts.

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The proposed UK computing masters benchmark

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  1. The proposed UK computing masters benchmark 5th TEMPUS JEP -1606 Meeting Belgrade  April 26/27

  2. The players Government agency Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Higher Education Funding Council for England HEFCE proposes/ recommends approves, adopts Council of Professors and Heads of Computing CPHC Autonomous representative group

  3. Existing QAA undergraduate computing benchmark • Authors included Dan Simpson • Benchmark explicitly avoided ‘tick-list’ approach • In my opinion, it provides sound guidance about course design e.g. about need for student induction into the University environment

  4. QAA levels ‘Breadth’ is measured in CATS points – 1 CATS point based on 10 hours of study

  5. QAA M level indicators – all disciplines • Systematic understanding; critical awareness of current issues at the forefront of the discipline • Comprehensive understanding of techniques • Originality of application of knowledge • Conceptual understanding: evaluation of current research and scholarship; evaluation of methodologies

  6. M level attributes Typically, holders will be able to: • Deal with complex issues; • Demonstrate self-direction; • Continue to advance their knowledge etc., • Have ‘transferable’ skills: applicable to the world of work

  7. Types of Masters degrees (CPHC) ‘A common goal of all masters degrees is that they should add value to undergraduate degrees’ CPHC Examples • Building directly on undergraduate programme • Develop professional application of skills • Combine disciplines e.g. lexicography and computing • Focus on a particular employment sector e.g. health informatics

  8. CPHC development of QAA indicators • Have interpreted them in the context of computing e.g. • QAA ‘systematic understanding’ • CPHC ‘..related to design and implementation of computer-based systems’ • Professional, legal and ethical framework • Project work: ‘demonstrate the ability to apply the principles and practice of the discipline in tackling a significant technical problem…’

  9. The ‘conversion’ problem • Some current computing masters do not require a computing first degree • Should these be Masters degrees? CPHC answer • non-computing first degrees possible • initial computer literacy should be expected • should be academically on a par with other Masters awards • generalist versus specialist degrees

  10. Generalist degrees requirements • Focused on employment needs • Non-computing skills from first degree could be built upon as well as computing skills • Graduates should demonstrate relevance of broad knowledge to bring about change and/or develop inter-disciplinary insights • Meet M level outcomes

  11. University of BrightonPost graduate programme in modular computing See http://www.cmis.brighton.ac.uk/courses/postgrad Titles are: • Software Engineering • Information Systems Development • Object-Oriented Software Technology • Internet Applications Development • Distributed Systems • Course units (modules of 10 or 20 CATS points) can be taken as stand-alone professional updating courses or as part of a programme of study leading to an award. • Project worth 60 CATS points • Programme worth 180 CATS points in total • The taught part of each module is delivered as a stand-alone intensive course (a full week or a half week).

  12. Database Design for Client-Server Systems Co-operative Operating Systems   Distributed Components   Internet Business Strategy   Network Infrastructure   Object-Orientation and Databases   Object-Oriented Real-Time Systems Object-Oriented Software Development Object-Oriented Software Implementation Requirements Analysis & Design Methods Rigorous Object-Oriented Modelling  Evaluating Software Research Software Process Management Web Applications Development   Web Interaction Design Web Mastery Project PGMPC modules include

  13. University of BrigthonMSc Information Systems • ‘… enables arts, humanities and social science graduates with little or no computing experience to take up careers in areas such as systems analysis, web development and information management.’ • Topics include: Systems Analysis and DesignTechnology and the InternetProgrammingManagement in Information SystemsDatabasesDissertation and Individual project

  14. Personal view • Need to answer the question: Would a student with a good computing first degree be better off working in industry? Do less able students (i.e. those that can’t get jobs) sometimes go on to do masters degrees? Are non-computing students sometimes better than computing students?

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