[kictanet] Your views on M.Sc. curriculum - Stakeholder Input - Reminder

[James Kariuki]

The document helped in the feedback. Below find my brief comments on
the programmes.

Comments on the programmes:
The exit level outcomes for the different programmes aren't that
clear. Does a person exiting with a PGD regarded to have accomplished
all the exit level outcomes? It seems not, and therefore the
articulation of the exit level outcomes should be different for the
PGD and the M-degrees. In addition, it seems like the PGD is one of
the unintended outcomes of the M-degrees. Am not sure this should be
the case as a student should enrol for a programme from the beginning.
Should there be need to change, only then administrative procedures
should kick in. Ideally, a student should be able to easily upgrade
(Say from a PGD to an M) based on performance and not to downgrade
(from M to PGD). Of course there can be exceptions to this. However,
giving students the promise that they can just exit an incomplete
programme and still get a qualification – even if it is well intended
– I find it problematic.

On the MSc (IS)
It seems to be over-reliant on the CS components of the course. I
would have wanted to see a break from the hardcore CS stuff to more
business computing and IS stuff. Here I would take more of the IS
project management, Business and systems analysis, ICT and society, IS
strategic management, Knowledge-based systems, MIS, enterprise
systems, IS Consulting, Enterprise architecture, Internet and Mobile
applications (or Emerging technologies), IS Research, Legal and
Ethics,  on the core. The IS track could take the IS/IT management
aspects in organisations.

On the MSc (CS)
I see a chance of someone going through the programme and end up
without a specialisation. My thinking is at the M level, some sort of
specialisation should be achieved. I would therefore wish to see a
very thin core with themed electives on the selected areas – SE, DS,
CA, AI and SC. The IS electives should be on the IS track only.

On the MSc (ACS)
I like the layout but I would have wanted to see one specialisation
area leading to the project in that area. Like in the MSc (CS), get
the IS component out of it completely. I do not see any unit (based on
the names) that address the high quality design product outcome.

A few questions
What is the weighting of the coursework and the project?
In terms of durations/credits what is the contribution of a single unit?

Disclaimer: This is another academic view, the industry might actually
be in need of something totally different.

--Kariuki

On 25 June 2012 09:43, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Listers,
> both local and international - plse spare some time to respond to this request from Prof. Attached is the brief summary of the MSc programs. The questions are actually only 5 and therefore may take a shorter time than earlier est. of 10mn. Feedback before end of day today will be highly appreciated.
>
> walu.
>
> ------------------------------
> On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 8:40 AM AST (Arabian) Mwololo Tim wrote:
>
>>Dear all,
>>
>>The School of Computing and Informatics (UoN) is in the process of
>>reviewing its MSc programs. We value your input. Kindly complete the online
>>survey to give us feedback. It will take you 10-15 minutes.
>>
>>ps: copy it in full
>>
>>https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG9FNnVCSmxMaTVzdjNEZGNVV1YxcUE6MQ
>>
>>--
>>Timothy Mwololo Waema (PhD, PMACM)
>>Professor of Information Systems
>>School of Computing & Informatics,
>>University of Nairobi,
>>P.O. Box 30197,
>>00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
>
>
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