A Case for a Broadly Based Curriculum in Informatics

1. A Case for a Broadly BasedCurriculum in Informatics Graz University of Technology Ao.Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Eugen Brenner brenner@tugraz.at

2. Structure of studies in Austria • Bachelor: 3 years / 180 ECTS-Credits • 30 Credits / Semester, 60 Credits per year (prof. or academic) • Master: 2 years / 120 ECTS-Credits • Doctorate: 3 years / 180 ECTS-Credits (?) • Tuition fee € 360.- / semester • Every Austrian having A-level or equivalent can start studies (except Art, Sports, and new: Medicine, etc…); • Arbitrary number of students in the beginning… • Universities of Applied Sciences are allowed to have entry-procedures • Obtained credits are valid without time-limit • Credits from every accepted post-secondary educational institution can be accepted (national contracts…) • University laws 1975, 1993, 2002 (valid from 1.1.04), ??

3. Legal situation and structures • 2 Curricula-commissions of the senate • Bachelor’s- and Master’s programs (yes, we changed the names!) • Doctorate- programs and University-Courses • 1 working-group “Studienkommission” per program • (BSc, MSc or Diploma) • Schedule: • Working group develops the program according to the sample-curriculum • Curricula-Commission decides about acceptance or rejection • Rector and “Universitätsrat” give comments, guarantee the financial situation • Senate decides about the final version

4. Structure of Bachelor’s in Telematics • Duration: 3 years / 180 ECTS (legal situation in Austria) • Orientation-year • First 2 semesters of studies (legal situation of a section of a program); some exceptions possible, introductory and orientation lectures • Every exam can be taken a second time until the end if 3rd semester • Characteristic contents for the program and basics of natural science and informatics • Students should be able to decide whether they are interested and/or able to finish the program • Structured in courses and “subjects” (compulsory, elective) • Semester plan, groups of elective courses • 5% (ECTS) free elective courses • Defined set of course-types (e.g. lecture, practical, laboratory, seminar…) • Definition of prerequisites for exams

5. Curriculum Bachelor‘s in Telematics • Main subjects: • Basic Sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Signal processing, System Modelling, …) • Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (El. Networks, Electronics, Communications Engineering, …) • Computer Science (Programming practical, Data structures, OOAD, Real-Time Systems, Distributed Systems, Computer Vision and Graphics, …) • Softskills, Human Science and Motivation (Seminar, Projects, presentations, scientific writing, group work, …) • Free elective subjects (form Universities in Austria and abbroad)

6. Bachelor‘s in Telematics 1.Section of study 6 Telematics-Seminar, Telematics-Project Computat. Intelligence Image Anal. & Computer- graphics Computer- &Comm.- networks Social Aspects of Inf.-Techn. Communications- engineering and Laboratory 5 Control Systems 2 Design & Analysis of Algorithms Modern Information- systems Operating- systems Design of realtime- systems 4 Electro- dynamics Signal- processing Control Systems 1 Differential- equations Proj.-Management Data- bases Architect. of distrib. Systems Electronic Circuits 1, 2, Laboratory Electr. Measuremem. and Laboratory 3 Datastructures & Algorithms Software Architecture Nonlin. electrical Systems Written Work Probab. theory & Stochastics Numer. Calc. & Lin. Algeb. Presentation 2 Electro- techn. basic-lab. Electrical Networks Computer- organisation Analysis T1+T2 Discrete Mathematics Programming- practical 1 Fundamentals of Informatics Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering Intro. to struct. Prog. Introduction to Telematics Physics Internet & New Media Algorithms Comp.-Lang. Computer Circuits Signals Systems Math. Soft Skills

7. Structure of Master’s in Telematics • Title: Master of Science (Dipl.-Ing.) • Duration: 2 years / 120 ECTS (legal situation in Austria) • Deepening in two selectable subjects • Application of basic sciences • Changeover to scientific work • Preparatory training and professional qualification leading to executive position • Broad offerings of specialized courses • (including economics and management) • Many selectable options • 5% free selective courses • Only possible because of broadly based Bachelor’s program

8. Structure of Master’s in Telematics (2) • Composition: • First and Second Subject (25 ECTS each) • ≥ 18 ECTS laboratories, practices from selectable courses, ≥ 33 ECTS lectures • Seminar/Project (10 ECTS) (associated with First or Second Subject) • Elective Subject (24 ECTS) • Master’s thesis (30 ECTS) • Freely selectable courses (6 ECTS) • ≥ 18 ECTS from Faculty of EE&IT and CS

9. List of selectable subjects

10. Alternatives of choice • Three possibilities: • Two subjects from list – First Subject is associated with Master’s Thesis, name of subject is appended to the title e.g. “Master of Science in Telematics – System-on-Chip Design” lots of possibilities with only little bureaucracy • Individual subject – can be defined by the student with the help of a Mentor from the complete list of available courses • Studium irregulare – can contain every available course from the university (including exchange programs from abroad), is evaluated by the responsible Deans of Studies and permitted by the Vice-Rector Academics

11. Course-descriptions • Contained in Campus-Online (German and English) • Title, type, weekly hours • Position in program / ECTS-credits • schedule, exams • Prerequisites (formal, informal) • Contents (description in detail, practical abilities) • Learning outcomes (knowledge and competences) • Teaching- and learning-methods • Teaching language • Sample examinations / assessment method • Link to course material and additional information • Connection to administrative tools (participants, exams, evaluation, rooms, schedule, staff)

12. Quality-assurance • Measurements: • Common structure of all programs • Defined formal criteria, therefore concentration on contents • Defined and controlled process for development of courses • Defined structure for course-description • Defined structure for course-evaluation • Examples for accreditation (CEAB, Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board) in Mechanical engineering • Only accepted when in accordance with guidelines • Ongoing discussion: how to include evaluation-results