Communication and leadership skills in the Computer Science and Information Systems curricula: A case study comparison of US and Bulgarian programs

In this paper we present results from our curriculum research on the behavioral educational topics being in the computer science (CS) and information systems (IS) academic programs in two countries USA and Bulgaria. Specifically, we address learning outcomes as they pertain to IT Project Management. Our research reveals that the two countries approach undergraduate education from different vantage points. The US universities provide a flexible general education curriculum in many academic areas and students have the opportunity to strengthen their soft skills before they enter the workforce. Bulgarian universities provide specialized education in main CS subject areas and the students are technically strong upon graduation. Is there a way to balance out this divergent educational experience so that students get the best of both worlds? Our paper explores this aspect and provides possible solutions

Technology-enhanced Personalised Learning: Untangling the Evidence

Technology-enhanced personalised learning is not yet common in Germany, which is why we have tasked scientists with summarising the current status of international research on the matter. This study demonstrates the great potential of technology in implementing effective personalised learning. Nevertheless, it has not been assessed yet whether the practical implementation actually works: Even in countries such as the U.S., which lead the way in using techology in classroom settings, hardly any evaluation studies have been done to prove the effectiveness of technology-enhanced personalised learning. In the light of the above, the authors make recommendations for actions to be taken in Germany to make best use of the potential of technology in providing individual support and guidance to students

A Primer for Work-Based Learning: How to Make a Job the Basis for a College Education

Provides an overview of the Jobs to Careers model, in which employers and colleges collaborate to embed curricula and training in the work process, as a way to meet healthcare labor force needs. Includes grantee profiles, lessons learned, and worksheets

Business Process Management Education in Academia: Status, challenges, and Recommendations

In response to the growing proliferation of Business Process Management (BPM) in industry and the demand this creates for BPM expertise, universities across the globe are at various stages of incorporating knowledge and skills in their teaching offerings. However, there are still only a handful of institutions that offer specialized education in BPM in a systematic and in-depth manner. This article is based on a global educators’ panel discussion held at the 2009 European Conference on Information Systems in Verona, Italy. The article presents the BPM programs of five universities from Australia, Europe, Africa, and North America, describing the BPM content covered, program and course structures, and challenges and lessons learned. The article also provides a comparative content analysis of BPM education programs illustrating a heterogeneous view of BPM. The examples presented demonstrate how different courses and programs can be developed to meet the educational goals of a university department, program, or school. This article contributes insights on how best to continuously sustain and reshape BPM education to ensure it remains dynamic, responsive, and sustainable in light of the evolving and ever-changing marketplace demands for BPM expertise

Current and Future Artificial Intelligence (AI) Curriculum in Business School: A Text Mining Analysis

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes one of the most important driving forces in industrial innovations, more business schools, mostly in graduate programs, are introducing AI in their curricula, particularly in information systems (IS) curricula. However, there appears to be a paucity of research on the AI curriculum. This study examines the current status of the AI curriculum in both undergraduate and graduate business schools and provides recommendations for future AI curriculum development. The study develops a technical competency model for AI curriculum based on both MSIS2016 - Global Competency Model for Graduate Degree Programs in Information Systems and IS2020 - A Competency Model for Undergraduate Programs in Information Systems and the AI technical competencies. Using text mining analysis, we collected and analyzed AI courses from the top 46 business schools at both undergraduate and graduate levels, ranked by US News in 2020. The findings indicate that machine learning is at the core of the AI curriculum in business, and most AI curricula are a hybrid of AI and data analytics. This acknowledges that the AI curriculum is still at its early stage, and business schools are closely adhering to the industrial development trend. The proposed technical competency model for AI curriculum can serve as a guideline for future AI curriculum development in business schools. We hope this study provides systematic insight into AI curriculum and offers recommendations for business education, in IS programs specifically

Career Development Program for Refugee and Migrant Youth

The Career Guidance for Refugee and Migrant Young People project is an initiative of the South Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre funded by the Department of Education and Training. It aims to develop, pilot and evaluate a career development and planning program that specifically meets the learning levels and needs of refugee youth with low levels of education, cultural life skills and English language ability

Computer science curriculum in the community college: an evaluative study

The purpose of this study was to assess the sufficiency of the Computer Studies curriculum at Camden County College in meeting the needs of its local job market. A questionnaire was distributed to 106 computer-based businesses in southern New Jersey, northern Delaware, and the greater Philadelphia area. The purpose of the survey was twofold. it was first necessary to ascertain whether or not these businesses would hire individuals possessing an associate\u27s degree in Computer Science and if so, how many such positions might they have available in any given year. The survey then questioned respondents about the individual needs of their organization with regard to entry level positions in the areas of software design and implementation. Fifty-seven, 54 percent, of the surveys were completed and returned. The researcher also investigated several areas of rapidly changing technology which included CASE Tool Technology, Object-Oriented Programming, Client/Server Systems, Hypermedia, Database Programming, and Graphical User interface. The survey results coupled with the author\u27s literary search led to the conclusion that Camden County College should update its Computer Studies program and that faculty and administrators must be aware of the need to continually modify this curriculum as the technology evolves

IS 2002 Model Curriculum and Guidelines for Undergraduate Degree Programs in Information Systems

This article contains the official text of the IS 2002 Model Curriculum for Undergraduate Degree Programs in Information Systems as approved by The Association for Computing Machinery, The Association for Information Systems, and The Association of Information Technology Professionals. It is presented in its original form

Competency maps: An effective model to integrate professional competencies across a STEM curriculum

Curricula designed in the context of the European Higher Education Area need to be based on both domain-specific and professional competencies. Whereas universities have had extensive experience in developing students’ domain-specific competencies, fostering professional competencies poses a new challenge we need to face. This paper presents a model to globally develop professional competencies in a STEM degree program, and assesses the results of its implementation after four years. The model is based on the use of competency maps, in which each competency is defined in terms of competency units. Each competency unit is described by their expected learning outcomes at three domain levels. This model allows careful analysis, revision and iteration for an effective integration of professional competencies in domain-specific subjects. A global competency map is also designed, including all the professional-competency learning outcomes to be achieved throughout the degree. This map becomes a useful tool for curriculum designers and coordinators. The results were obtained from four sources: 1) students’ grades (classes graduated from 2013 to 2016, the first four years from the new Bachelor’s Degree in Informatics Engineering at the Barcelona School of Informatics); 2) students’ surveys (answered by students when they finished the degree); 3) the government employment survey, where former students evaluate the satisfaction of the received training in the light of their work experience; and 4) the Everis Foundation University-Enterprise Ranking, answered by over 2000 employers evaluating their satisfaction regarding their employees’ university training, where the Barcelona School of Informatics scores first in the national ranking. The results show that competency maps are a good tool for developing professional competencies in a STEM degree.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Integration of Information Operations Theory into the Corporate Air Force

The purpose of this research was to determine the desired end-state for company grade officers in terms of an information operations education. Specifically, an examination of company grade officer curricula from the pre-commissioning sources to the Squadron Officer College was performed. This assessment was then compared to the Air Force Institute of Technology Cyber Competency Areas Framework. Any areas that were missing from the current company grade officer curricula were identified and a proposed implementation plan was presented to correct these deficiencies. To aid in developing an implementation plan, redundancies between the two Squadron Officer College courses were identified. Furthermore, the Air Force process for determining subject content for Air Force professional military education was identified, as were potential ways to influence professional military education curricula. This research resulted in several recommendations designed to bridge the gap between the current company grade officer curricula and the proposed company grade officer curricula, as determined by the Air Force Institute of Technology Cyber Competency Areas Framework