School of Computing Sciences ComputingElectronics

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School of Computing SciencesComputing/Electronics

• Dr Ben Milner
• Director of Learning and Teaching
• School of Computing Sciences

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Overview

• Science at UEA
• Trends in Computing Science and Electronics
• Degree content
• Projects
• Learning and transferable skills
• Future trends
• Summary

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Science Faculty (SCI)

• Science faculty comprises five schools of study

Faculty of Science
Faculty of Social Science
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Institute of Health
Computing Sciences
Mathematics
Environmental Sciences
Biological Sciences
Chemistry and Pharmacy
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Science Faculty (SCI)

• Strong collaboration within Norwich Research Park
  (NRP)

Faculty of Science
Faculty of Social Science
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Institute of Health
Computing Sciences
Institute for Food Research
Mathematics
Genome Analysis Centre
Environmental Sciences
John Innes Centre
Biological Sciences
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Chemistry and Pharmacy
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Trends in computing/electronics

• Applications to computing subjects have fallen
  dramatically - halved since 2000, now stabilised
• Similar trend for electronics degrees - fall was
  earlier

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Trends in computing/electronics

• Decreasing student numbers in computing and
  electronics has led to many university
  departments merging or closing
• UEA - pre-2000 both Computing and Electronics
  departments - merged into School of Information
  Systems, then to School of Computing Sciences
• Similar merges elsewhere - Essex, Brunel,
• Result is that once separate disciplines now
  moving closer together - reflects technological
  advances
• Computing Science and Electronics are now not so
  pure - reflected at UEA
• More choice for students - less straightforward
  for employers

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Undergraduate degrees

• MComp Computing Science
• BSc Computing Science
• MComp Computing Science with a Year in North
  America/Australasia
• BSc Computing Science with a Year in North
  America/Australasia
• BSc Computing Science with a Year in Industry
• MComp Computer Graphics
• BSc Computer Graphics
• BSc Computing Science with Imaging and Multimedia
• BSc Applied Computing Science
• BSc Computer Systems Engineering
• BSc Internet Computing
• BSc Computing for Business
• BSc Computing for Business with a Year in
  Industry
• BSc Business Information Systems

Computing science degrees
Specialised computing degrees
Business computing degrees
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Modules in years 2 and 3
Year 2
Year 3
Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Software engineering II
Theoretical computing
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Computing Science profile
Year 2
Year 3
Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Theoretical computing
Software engineering II
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Computing Science profile - example 1
Year 2
Year 3
Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Theoretical computing
Software engineering II
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Computing Science profile - example 1
Year 2
Year 3

• Year 2
• Data structures and algorithms
• Software engineering I
• Theoretical computing
• Database systems
• Systems analysis
• Free choice - e.g. business
• Year 3
• Project
• Information retrieval
• Software engineering II
• Systems engineering
• Free choice - e.g. language

Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Theoretical computing
Software engineering II
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Computing Science profile
Year 2
Year 3
Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Theoretical computing
Software engineering II
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Computing Science profile - example 2
Year 2
Year 3
Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Theoretical computing
Software engineering II
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Computing Science profile - example 2
Year 2
Year 3

• Year 2
• Data structures and algorithms
• Software engineering I
• Theoretical computing
• Operating systems
• Analogue electronics
• Sound and image I
• Year 3
• Project
• Computer networks
• Digital electronics
• Sound and image II
• Free choice - e.g. language

Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Theoretical computing
Software engineering II
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Computer Systems Engineering profile
Year 2
Year 3
Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Software engineering II
Theoretical computing
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Computer Systems Engineering profile
Year 2
Year 3

• Year 2
• Software engineering I
• Operating systems
• Analogue electronics
• Sound and image I
• Artificial intelligence
• Free choice - e.g. maths
• Year 3
• Project
• Computer networks
• Digital electronics
• Systems engineering
• Sound and image II

Artificial intelligence I
Project
Data structures
Artificial intelligence II
Software engineering I
Information retrieval
Software engineering II
Theoretical computing
Database systems
Computer networks
Systems analysis
Computer vision
Operating systems
Digital electronics
Analogue electronics
Systems engineering
Computer graphics I
Computer graphics III
Computer graphics II
Animation, VE and games
Sound and Image I
Sound and Image II
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Final year project

• Project areas cover a broad range of subject
  areas and applications
• Hardware
• Mars rover robot, DTMF transceiver, error
  correction/detection, network convergence
• Multimedia
• Music synthesis, voice conversion, audio coding,
  face recognition, beauty meter
• Graphics
• Bird flight modelling, urban modelling, crowd
  modelling, vehicle dynamics
• Computing
• Data mining for crime detection, spam email
  detection, PDAs, poker advisor
• Mathematics
• Admissions to AE, power laws, combine harvester
  movement, workshop job scheduler
• Business
• Warehouse stock management, systems analysis, IS,
  booking system, online car sales

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Final year project

• Student selects project area - list of projects
  from faculty or own project
• Spend almost 1 year on the project
• Analysis, design, implementation, testing,
  refinement, evaluation
• 20 of total degree - two degree classes

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Project example - Ross Buggins

• Studied Computer Systems Engineering - 2004 -
  2007
• Own idea for final year project on Network
  Convergence
• We secured him a placement at BT Adastral Park
  where he worked in the Mobility Research Group
  related to his project
• Returned, adjusted project ideas and produced an
  excellent project (over 80)
• University provided him with venture capital for
  a start-up company - Shore Tech Systems

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Learning and transferable skills

• Learning outcomes
• Dependent on modules studied
• Comprise computing, business, electronics or a
  mixture of skills
• Transferable skills
• Analysis
• Research
• Problem solving
• Testing and evaluation
• Project planning - tasks, deliverables,
  timescales, resources
• Project management
• Technical report writing
• Oral presentation skills
• Demonstration skills
• Independent study
• Group working

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Accreditation of degrees

• There are national standards for computing
  degrees through British Computing Society (BCS)
• Accreditation process involves thorough checking
  of degree content, teaching, projects, etc.
• Not all Universities offer accredited degrees
  important to check
• In CMP - our degrees are being put forward for
  re-accreditation in March 2009

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Future trends

• Move towards four year undergraduate degrees -
  Master of Computing (MComp) - fourth year focuses
  on a large (possibly group) project and advanced
  modules
• Degrees with year in industry - placement year
  between years 2 and 3 - industry work can be
  continued in year 3
• Industry-based learning - some moves towards
  offering degrees to industry - material taught at
  company, online or at university
• Foundation degrees - two year programme of study
  - be wary of content and quality

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Summary

• History of computing and electronics has made the
  two disciplines much closer
• Reflected in university organisation and
  degrees/modules taught
• Degree title can mean many things - dependent on
  modules taken, project, university
• Skills of student better assessed by looking at
  modules studied and area of project
• IT is not computing science or engineering

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End