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

Key Events in Our DegreesKey Events in Our Degrees

A supportive, friendly environmentA supportive, friendly environment A programme of residential, skill-development A programme of residential, skill-development

weekends in the first two yearsweekends in the first two years A realistic industrial computing experience in the A realistic industrial computing experience in the

second yearsecond year Optional sandwich placement after second yearOptional sandwich placement after second year The opportunity to explore YOUR computing The opportunity to explore YOUR computing

interests in the final yearinterests in the final year

Fresher’s WeekFresher’s Week

Sunday-WednesdaySunday-Wednesday Halls & Halls &

accommodationaccommodation

GuildsGuilds clubs and socs, clubs and socs,

welfarewelfare

Information servicesInformation services library and library and

computingcomputing

Effective learningEffective learning

DeptDept precise description of precise description of

module optionsmodule options advice - general and advice - general and

personalpersonal where people and where people and

things arethings are

Other departmentsOther departments modulesmodules

Departmental student supportDepartmental student support

Group tutorials with personal tutor in first yearGroup tutorials with personal tutor in first year Personal Tutor in other yearsPersonal Tutor in other years Final year project supervisor (1:1)Final year project supervisor (1:1) Year Co-ordinator (senior personal tutor)Year Co-ordinator (senior personal tutor) Advisor for academic choicesAdvisor for academic choices Demonstrators in practicalsDemonstrators in practicals Advisory serviceAdvisory service LecturersLecturers

First year weekendFirst year weekendTeam BuildingTeam Building

Interpersonal SkillsInterpersonal Skills Team BuildingTeam Building Personal ChallengePersonal Challenge

Second Year WeekendSecond Year WeekendAddressing EmployabilityAddressing Employability

Interview technique sessionsInterview technique sessions Mock interviews with top employersMock interviews with 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

The Year in EmploymentThe Year in EmploymentBetween years 2 and 3Between years 2 and 3

Obligatory for Engineers & “with language”Obligatory for Engineers & “with language” Highly recommended for other degreesHighly recommended for other degrees

PaidPaid Help with finding prospective employersHelp with finding prospective employers Varied set of contactsVaried set of contacts

activity, size, locationactivity, size, location Contact and assistance during the yearContact and assistance during the year

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

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?