Problems

Software engineering (SE) is a sub-field of informatics/computing that deals with the development of real-life software products. By one of the definitions, “software engineering is a defined, step-by-step process that facilitates the specification, design, implementation, and testing of a software solution for a set of stated requirements in the most expeditious and cost-effective manner possible“. The application of best SE practices has therefore a great impact on the development, quality and reliability of software, the software industry, and consequently business, administration, and economy.

SE is however not a well-developed field in the region – it is not practiced in the industry and it is not sufficiently taught during the studies in informatics (if at all). At the same time there is a growing need for SE, due to opening up the countries in the region and their inclusion into international community.

Furthermore, studies leading to a M.Sc. degree are mostly organized quite differently in the region - students mostly work individually with regular consultations with lecturers. The list of courses is often too broad, too theoretically-oriented and most studies lead to a general degree of M.Sc. in informatics without particular specialization. Therefore most students studying for an M.Sc. degree continue with an academic career and are rarely employed in industry.

Needs analysis

Current EU practices and emerging standards (Bologna declaration) provide a good basis for a proper university education in the field of software engineering. Because all countries in the region have signed the Bologna declaration, the need to reform a university-level education according to latest standards is not only a need but also a must.

The proposed project would successfully solve both of the mentioned problems:

• to enable required high-quality and specialized education in the field of SE; and to
• establish M.Sc. studies according to the principles of the Bologna declaration.

Since SE is a highly specialized field, the curriculum would be common for many institutions and thus would support (or even rely on) mobility of teachers and students. Laboratory equipment adjusted for student's team work is also needed for fulfillment of the task, as well as extensive update of libraries at beneficiary partners.

Because of high specialization of the field and the need to create a novel curriculum from the scratch according to new principles, this task can be executed only with the involvement of institutions that are already experienced in the field.

On the consortium

The consortium consists of representatives (departments or faculties) from the following universities:

• Humboldt Univ., Berlin, Germany (later on: BER);
• Univ. of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain (later on: BIL);
• De Montfort University, Leicester, UK (later on: LEI);
• University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, FYR Macedonia (later on: SKO);
• Univ. of Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro (later on: NS);
• Univ. of Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro (later on: BEG);
• Univ. of Niš , Serbia and Montenegro (later on: NI)

and two individual experts:

• Prof. Ioan Jurca, Timisoara, Romania and
• Prof. Stanimir Stojanov, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Previous cooperation between consortium members. The consortium mostly originated from a successful DAAD/Stability pact project (2000-2003) that involved 10 universities of 7 countries in creation of a joint undergraduate SE course and research in reverse engineering. Participants that were most active in the educational part of that project form a basis of this consortium. Moreover, mutual collaboration between NS, BEG, NI, and SKO has got a long history in different areas including undergraduate and graduate education and mobility of teachers. Individual collaboration between NS and BER, and NS and LEI, lasts for more than 10 years in education and research.

Presentation of the consortium

EU members. BER, LEI, and BIL have a significant background, experience and expertise in undergraduate and graduate studies in SE as well as in research in SE. In addition, BER has a previous experience in leading the international project in creating a joint (undergraduate) course in SE as a cooperation of 10 universities of 7 countries (DAAD/Stability Pact).

LEI has a strong research component in SE and its graduate studies include the following directions (all of which are parts of SE): ‘Distributed Systems Integration', ‘Industrial Data Modelling', ‘Information Systems Management', and ‘Information Technology and Management Science'. Particular expertise includes formal methods in SE and requirements engineering in SE.

BIL is one of the first universities in Spain teaching a “Master Course on Software Engineering” since 1993 and is also known for its innovative teaching initiatives successfully exposed in national and international meetings. At present, BIL is also conducting an ambitious educational transition program to meet Bologna requirements at medium term.

Members from partner countries - SCG. Consortium members from SCG (NS, BEG, NI) have the longest history in teaching informatics and teaching SE at undergraduate level in SCG. Recently all three institutions offered also (old-fashioned) graduate studies with a direction towards SE. Start of the reform of undergraduate and graduate studies according to Bologna declaration is a requirement for all universities in SCG until 2007. Besides that, NS, BEG, and NI are strongly devoted to this process. Implementation of this project proposal is therefore in full compliance to the long term needs and policies of beneficiary partners, countries educational goals and needs of labour market.

NS employs around 50 persons of teaching staff of high information technology skills. Most speak English, while some also speak German and French. It enrolls 120 students of informatics and 80 students of mathematics every year and has several laboratories with total of 50 PCs spanning from very old 386-based PCs to more modern based on PIII processors. The level of employment is nearly 100% but the average undergraduate study period is 6 to 7 years. Studies officially last 8+4 semesters (undergraduate + graduate) leading to a degree in informatics. Core courses in syllabus consist on subjects in informatics (including SE) and partly on mathematics, and there is around 10% of elective courses.

BEG employs around 20 persons of teaching staff of which all speak English and have high information technology skills. It has two laboratories with total of 20 PCs of moderate quality and enrolls 130 students every year. The level of employment is 100% but the average undergraduate study period is nearly 7 years. Studies officially last 9+4 semesters (undergraduate + graduate) leading to a degree in Computer Engineering and Information Technology. Core courses in syllabus consist on subjects in electrical engineering and computing (including SE) and are compulsory. Undergraduate studies are currently under revision.

NI employs around 30 persons of teaching staff of which all speak English and have high information technology skills. It has 4 laboratories with 40 PCs of contemporary quality. It enrolls around 100 students of informatics every year. The level of employment is 100% but the average undergraduate study period is over 7 years, while studies officially last 9+4 semesters. Core courses in syllabus consist on subjects in electrical engineering and computing (including SE) and are compulsory. Five courses of undergraduate studies are currently under revision (and supported by Tempus project).

Members from partner countries -Macedonia. SKO is the leading educational institution in FYR Macedonia having a long experience in teaching informatics. Recently they had restructured undergraduate studies. The first generation of undergraduate students who studied according to new curricula will finish at the end of this academic year. Because of that, the reconstruction of M.Sc. studies is a necessity and in accordance with institutional goals and the goals of the country itself.

SKO currently employs 30 persons of teaching staff of which most speak English, which is also compulsory subject for all students and a prerequisite to start graduate studies. Average duration of undergraduate studies is 7,3 years and of graduate studies is 4,8 years (official duration is 4+2 years). SKO is well equipped – it has four teaching laboratories with 90 IBM PC compatible computers Pentium II and Pentium III, a teaching laboratory with 10 Macintosh computers, and several research laboratories with 20 Pentium III and Pentium 4 computers.

Individual experts. Besides the expertise in certain fields of SE (distributed applications, multi-layered systems, ...) professors Jurca and Stojanov have also rich experience in other activities that are very useful for the project. Prof. Jurca has an experience and membership in accreditation boards and in establishing quality control of curricula. Prof. Stojanov, besides teaching SE, also has a long and fruitful cooperation with large companies. As such, Prof. Stojanov will take care of the inclusion of the best SE practices and principles into a teaching material.