[kictanet] The Premier B.Sc. Computer Science Programme in Kenya

[waudo siganga]

Dear Muthoni, Chris, Tim,
Let me join those hailing this initiative. As an alumnus of ICS
(albeit in the days when Dr Okello was still a dashing young
man!) I owe a duty to give some input to your request and will
certainly critically look at the syllabus you posted and revert
to you off-list.

In the interim I can only point out one general observation for
this list:  ICT graduates appear to be conspicuous by their
absence from the ICT Public Policy space. Maybe you need a unit
on ICT Public Policy formulation and advocacy which sensitises
graduates on things like how to identify and follow through with
ICT Public Policy issues. Internationally I have noticed that ICT
Public Policy engagement is dominated by lawyers and people with
legal background. In Kenya my guess is that it is dominated by
civil society colleagues who are not necessarily ICT people. Most
of the ICT people (some call them "techies") I come across are
avers to brush with Public Policy and yet policy inevitably
affects the way they discharge their contribution to society.

BTW how come there appears to be no data base of ICS alumni
contacts? I think you can build one and also think of an annual
alumni meeting, perhaps in conjunction with the annual open day.

Kind Regards,
Waudo
On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:04 +0300, "Muthoni Masinde"
<muthoni at uonbi.ac.ke> wrote:

  Sam,
  This is definitely great input to our curriculum review
  process.  I totally agree with you; we  for example have cases
  of very bright students with excellent system (software)
  development skills but who cannot market/manage their ideas!
  My colleagues are reading this and we intend to implement your
  suggestions.
  Thank you very much,
  Muthoni
  On 11/12/09 8:07 AM, "Sam Aguyo" <saguyo at yahoo.com> wrote:

  Dear All,
  It is nice having this discussion, some of my thoughts are
  below.
  ·        The kind of Computer Science graduate the market
  needs; in terms of knowledge and skills
  You realize that this field really changes first i.e.
  Languages maturing (getting simpler) by the day therefore a
  lot of hard coding will diminish.  This leaves the students
  more with alignment of technology to business requirements.
  Considering this, it is of utmost importance for our
  institutions like UON to start modeling these students to be
  capable of interpreting the business requirements and what
  technology can provide.

  In my view, the current state promotes concentration on
  technology than providing business solutions (industry
  knowledge). The end result is having graduates who are
  detached from mainstream management and are therefore
  relegated to back office solution centres.  We would want to
  see the graduates rise to become CEOs of companies or
  illustrious industry entrepreneurs. This can happen when our
  institutions start inculcating in the minds, strong business
  principles. If you asked me i would include management and
  entrepreneurship in the the curriculum.

  ·        The kind of courses you would recommend to be
  critical for this graduate
  Universities are knowledge centres so any temptation to be
  like a reed that dances with the wind should be avoided. We
  may not have a curriculum that addresses all the industry
  requirements lest we start teaching <experience!>.  The
  curriculum should be premised on the industry fundamentals, we
  had narrow band now it is broadband.  We had copper technology
  now we have fibre and it is bound to change, there is a danger
  in taking a reductionist approach.
  Sam Aguyo
  +++++++++++++++++++++++++

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