ui cs alumni reunion lecture

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