Computer Science at Computer Science at University of Wales University of Wales

AberystwythAberystwyth

Professor Chris Price Professor Chris Price

Head of DepartmentHead of Department

Structure of DepartmentStructure of Department

25 full-time lecturing staff25 full-time lecturing staff 35 support and research staff35 support and research staff 450 undergraduates and MSc students450 undergraduates and MSc students 25 PhD students25 PhD students

Undergraduate CoursesUndergraduate Courses Common themes to degreesCommon themes to degrees

Common first year of study, and much of second yearCommon first year of study, and much of second year Emphasis on adaptable, vocationally oriented software engineering Emphasis on adaptable, vocationally oriented software engineering

education education Degree schemes offered:Degree schemes offered:

Computer ScienceComputer Science Software EngineeringSoftware Engineering Internet Computing Internet Computing Business Information TechnologyBusiness Information Technology

Degree ‘flavours’ linked to our research interestsDegree ‘flavours’ linked to our research interests Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence Mobile and wearable computingMobile and wearable computing AI and RoboticsAI and Robotics Vision, graphics and visualization Vision, graphics and visualization

EquipmentEquipment

ComputersComputers Cluster of Sun V880sCluster of Sun V880s Sun-donated workstation roomsSun-donated workstation rooms Several PC-based Beowulf clustersSeveral PC-based Beowulf clusters

Large robotics laboratoryLarge robotics laboratory Assembly robotsAssembly robots Mobile robotsMobile robots AerobotsAerobots VICON vision systemVICON vision system

Building new robot scientist laboratoryBuilding new robot scientist laboratory University is building new Visualisation CentreUniversity is building new Visualisation Centre

Perspectives

Plan for new Visualisation CentrePlan for new Visualisation Centre

Aims of our coursesAims of our courses The main aim of our undergraduate single honours degree The main aim of our undergraduate single honours degree

courses is to produce good quality computer scientists with courses is to produce good quality computer scientists with a strong software engineering bias.a strong software engineering bias.

We seek to produce graduates who have a broad We seek to produce graduates who have a broad knowledge of Computing, a wide skills base, good knowledge of Computing, a wide skills base, good intellectual skills and strengthened interpersonal skills.intellectual skills and strengthened interpersonal skills.

We want our graduates to have the intellectual basis and We want our graduates to have the intellectual basis and skills to adapt to the changes of a rapidly moving industry, skills to adapt to the changes of a rapidly moving industry, so that their skills will still be relevant in 10 years time.so that their skills will still be relevant in 10 years time.

Marks of successMarks of success Top marks in QAA assessment in 2002Top marks in QAA assessment in 2002 Degrees accredited by British Computer SocietyDegrees accredited by British Computer Society

Computer Science : Computer Science : The Alternative ViewThe Alternative View

AssumptionsAssumptions Academic Progress is all important.Academic Progress is all important. Details of courses, modules & content are on the web. Details of courses, modules & content are on the web.

You’ve heard it all before.You’ve heard it all before. You graduate with a good degree!You graduate with a good degree!

What gets you the job you want over the next What gets you the job you want over the next person?person? You do! You do! Your interests and abilitiesYour interests and abilities Your personality, your interpersonal skills, Your personality, your interpersonal skills,

communication skills, sense of humourcommunication skills, sense of humour We can work on these togetherWe can work on these together

Key Events in Our DegreesKey Events in Our Degrees

A programme of residential, skill-A programme of residential, skill-development weekends in the first two development weekends in the first two yearsyears

A realistic industrial computing experience A realistic industrial computing experience in the second yearin the second year

The opportunity to explore YOUR The opportunity to explore YOUR computing interests in the final yearcomputing interests in the final year

First year weekendFirst year weekend

Interpersonal SkillsInterpersonal Skills Team BuildingTeam Building Personal ChallengePersonal Challenge

Addressing EmployabilityAddressing Employability

Second year weekendSecond year weekend Interview technique sessionsInterview technique sessions Mock interviews by top employersMock interviews by top employers Problem solving sessions to enhance Problem solving sessions to enhance

teamworkteamwork

Second Year Group ProjectSecond Year Group Project

Groups of 8 to 10Groups of 8 to 10 Requirements for an application are Requirements for an application are

providedprovided Emphasis on producing quality software Emphasis on producing quality software

Not just working, but maintainable, reliable, Not just working, but maintainable, reliable, usable usable

Acceptance tests at end of projectAcceptance tests at end of project Example projects: Grobbits, JoggleCubeExample projects: Grobbits, JoggleCube

Final Year Individual ProjectFinal Year Individual Project

YouYou choose a project that you are choose a project that you are interested ininterested in

Staff advise on suitability, and supervisor is Staff advise on suitability, and supervisor is assignedassigned

Meet regularly, but Meet regularly, but youyou do the technical do the technical work, and produce softwarework, and produce software

Allows you to explore your interests and get Allows you to explore your interests and get experience matching jobs you wantexperience matching jobs you want

Example Final Year ProjectsExample Final Year Projects

Graphic system for teaching Brownian Graphic system for teaching Brownian motionmotion

Intelligent FAQS systems Intelligent FAQS systems Central database talking to Palm devices or Central database talking to Palm devices or

mobile phonesmobile phones Portable project management Portable project management Mobile fitness trackerMobile fitness tracker Mobile allergy databaseMobile allergy database

Java-based phone game - GrobbitsJava-based phone game - Grobbits

Work of our undergraduates Work of our undergraduates (2 years after graduation)(2 years after graduation)

78 % - Technical jobs78 % - Technical jobs. Jobs with titles like . Jobs with titles like “Web developer” or “Software engineer”. “Web developer” or “Software engineer”. Spending most of their time building Spending most of their time building systems.systems.

8% - Further education8% - Further education. Gone on to . Gone on to pursue a further course (MSc, PhD).pursue a further course (MSc, PhD).

14% Computing-related14% Computing-related. In all cases, the . In all cases, the job still had a technical element, e.g. job still had a technical element, e.g. quality assurance or teachingquality assurance or teaching

Typical employers of our Typical employers of our undergraduatesundergraduates

Computer Engineer, SonyComputer Engineer, Sony Business Analyst, Hitachi EuropeBusiness Analyst, Hitachi Europe Analyst Programmer, HSBC Analyst Programmer, HSBC Web Developer, Legal & General InsuranceWeb Developer, Legal & General Insurance Systems Programmer, Open World InternetSystems Programmer, Open World Internet Systems Engineer, Control TechniquesSystems Engineer, Control Techniques Support Analyst, UBS WarburgSupport Analyst, UBS Warburg Computer Programmer, LogicaComputer Programmer, Logica Systems Analyst, Powys County Council Systems Analyst, Powys County Council

Top 10 things about our Top 10 things about our undergrad degrees (10 to 6)undergrad degrees (10 to 6)

10. Wide selection of computing degrees that you 10. Wide selection of computing degrees that you can move freely between. can move freely between.

9. Staff with significant experience of the computer 9. Staff with significant experience of the computer industry, able to pass that experience on to industry, able to pass that experience on to students.students.

8. Over £4 million spent on high-powered 8. Over £4 million spent on high-powered equipment over the last three years, and more to equipment over the last three years, and more to come.come.

7. Enthusiastic staff willing to help you with your 7. Enthusiastic staff willing to help you with your problemsproblems

6. Aber is a cheap place to be an undergrad6. Aber is a cheap place to be an undergrad

Top 10 things about our Top 10 things about our undergrad degrees (5 to 1)undergrad degrees (5 to 1)

5. Aber is a fun, safe place to be an undergrad5. Aber is a fun, safe place to be an undergrad

4. Our practically-oriented degrees make you 4. Our practically-oriented degrees make you apply what you learnapply what you learn

3. Our students are able to be effective 3. Our students are able to be effective immediately with the skills learned hereimmediately with the skills learned here

2. Our students get good, highly paid jobs in 2. Our students get good, highly paid jobs in industryindustry

1. We are rated number one in Wales by students 1. We are rated number one in Wales by students for teachingfor teaching

Thank you for listeningThank you for listening

Questions?Questions?