The document summarizes information from an open day for computing courses at Brighton University. It provides details on student and staff numbers, the structure of computing degrees which include modules across different semesters, facilities and recent investments in computing resources totaling over $850,000. It also highlights positive feedback from national surveys on the courses, support, and learning experiences. Research areas are listed covering topics in software engineering, digital text analysis, and games. Accreditation and connections to industry are emphasized as well as placement opportunities and examples of jobs obtained by leavers.

1. CEM Open Day
12 October 2013
Dr Lyn Pemberton
Head of Computing Division
01273 642688
L.Pemberton@brighton.ac.uk

2. • Approximately 400 students
• 140 Students in the first year
• 30 approx per course
• 35 Lecturers and 8 dedicated
technicians
“I have learnt so much
since starting my
course in a subject I
liked before and love
now. Lecturers really
took an interest in my
points of view about
the course throughout
my years studying here
at Brighton. “
Source: National Student
Survey of Computer Science
(Games) students 2011-12

3. • Personal tutors
• Student support
• Course leaders
Supporting students
I have been able to contact staff
when I needed to: 91%
Source: National Student Survey of all
computing students 2011-12

4. Students’ time
• Students work in one of three “families” of
courses
• 2 semesters per year
• 6 modules each semester
• typically a lecture and a seminar/workshop
• language learning available

5. Computing course families
Computing
Degrees
Business
Computing
Digital
Media
Computing
Science
Staff are good at
explaining things: 100%
Source: National Student Survey of
Business Information Systems
Students 2011-12

6. • One of the longest established
professionally-oriented computing degrees
in the country
• Active, problem-based learning
• Continuous investment and development
– New degrees and topics
– £600,000 investment in computing
facilities
– £250,000 this year for Big Data server
configuration
– Games lab, mobile app development lab
• Not forgetting research…
Why computing at Brighton?
I have been able to
access specialised
equipment, facilities or
rooms when I needed
to: 100%
Source: National Student
Survey of computer
science(games) students
2011-12

7. • Diagrams in Software Engineering
• Affect Mining in digital text
• Crowd Sourcing for Museums via
gamification
• Intelligent agents for games
• Mobile Learning apps
• Recommender systems
Research in Computing
“The course opens you
to a wide range of
aspects within the
computing curriculum.
It also tests your
intellectual skills to a
high standard, pushing
you to go above and
beyond your limits.“
Source: National Student
Survey of Computer Science
(Games) students 2011-12

8. • Professional accreditation
by the British Computing
Society
• Industrial Advisory board:
transferable skills
demanded by employers
• Paid placement year as
standard
Why computing at Brighton?
“The course opens you
to a wide range of
aspects within the
computing curriculum.
It also tests your
intellectual skills to a
high standard, pushing
you to go above and
beyond your limits.“
Source: National Student
Survey of Computer Science
(Games) students 2011-12

9. Placements

10. Recent new
initiatives
• Three second year students are starting their
own games company as an alternative to an
industrial placement –
• We also plan to grow a permanent student
games company for charity and self-starter
work, in games, mobile apps and web sites

12. Leavers

13. Leavers
Example job titles
• Analyst Developer
• Business Analyst
• Systems Consultant
• Computer Scientist
• Development Engineer
• Games Programmer
• IT Support Engineer
• Linux Systems
Administrator
• Software Developer
• Web Developer

14. Any questions
before we go
down to
labs/course
desks?
Any questions?