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Inspiring Computer Science Students. 28th September, Leicester, UK.

Introduction and Welcome

A Workshop about Inspiring Computer Science Students to study undergraduate Computer Science.

During the last five years, the UK, and indeed other western countries, have seen a considerable reduction in the number of students applying to universities to study undergraduate courses in both information technology and computer science. The purpose of this workshop is to provide a forum in which we can learn more about the underlying issues, and hence consider how to inspire more people, especially school leavers, to study Computer Science by making them aware that it is an exciting and challenging subject which can lead to a successful career. The workshop will consider these questions

  • Why should students study IT/CS?
  • How do we encourage more young people to study IT/CS?
  • How should we describe University IT/CS to young people - and what should we inform them about?
  • What examples of role models from the professions can we present?
  • How do we convince young people that IT/CS can be interesting and challenging?
  • What kinds of interactions with schools are worth persuing?

We have invited Anna Round, University of Northumbria, to give a seminar flowing from her recent work in the area.

Some members of our Industrial Advisory Board will talk about the knowledge and skills that they wish graduates to have; here we are envisaging a few short presentations, of about ten minutes or so, from IAB participants. Richard Taylor and Penny Eccles, University of Leicester, will discuss Computer Science in relation to general marketing and student recruitment. Andrew Sithers, Microsoft, will talk about how Microsoft have been involved with projects to try to make students excited by Computer Science.

We will complete the workshop with a panel discussion, to summarise the key points from the day, and in particular to decide how best to inspire students to study Computer Science.

Timetable

The meeting will take place in the Ken Edwards Building in room 526 within a short distance of the Department of Computer Science.

Start Time Speaker Activity
0945 Guests Arrive (Ken Edwards Room 526)
0955 Roy Crole Introduction and Welcome
1000 Anna Round Attitudes to Computing and ICT among School Pupils
1100 Coffee and Biscuits - General Discussions
1115 to 1130 IAB members Role Models: Knowledge and Skills for the Professions
1200 Richard Taylor and Penny Eccles A View from Marketing and Student Recruitment
1230 Lunch and Coffee
1400 Andrew Sithers How can MS Academic Development Team help?
1430 Roy Crole and Reiko Heckel Panel Discussion

Travel and Accommodation

For travel to the University, please consult Visitor's Information: Maps and Transport and click on the links at the bottom of the page for maps and transport. A key fact is that the rail station, hotels and University are all fairly near to each other. The University is located on University Road and the rail station on London Road. Victoria Park is adjacent to the campus, London Road, and Victoria Park Road.

For getting from your hotel to the University, please find maps through multimap.com. Select Great Britain, and then use your postcode. These may be of help:

  • University is LE1 7RH
  • Stoneycroft and Mitchell is LE2 1RB
  • Spindle Lodge is LE1 7NA

Some local hotels

Enquiries

You may contact the organisers, Roy Crole and Reiko Heckel, if you have any questions

Messages may be left with the Secretary to the Head of Department, Ms Jyoti Sharma:

Ms. J. Sharma,
Department of Computer Science,
University of Leicester,
Leicester
LE1 7RH
United Kingdom

Tel: 0116 252 3887 (Outside UK +44 116 252 3887)
Fax: 0116 252 3915 (Outside UK +44 116 252 3915)

Author: Roy Crole.
© University of Leicester September 2006. Last modified: 29th September 2006, 15:56:26
CMS Web Maintainer. This document has been approved by the Head of Department.