Westminster Higher Education Forum Keynote Seminar
Next steps for computer science teaching in Higher Education - accreditation, course design and employability
with
Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Lead, The Shadbolt Review of Computer Science Degree Accreditation and Graduate Employability
and
Phillip Donnelly, Step Enterprise; Professor Susan Eisenbach, Imperial College London; Dr Bill Mitchell, BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT; Sally Smith, Edinburgh Napier University and Council of Professors and Heads of Computing; Paul Swaddle, PocketApp and Professor Jon Whittle, Lancaster University
This event is CPD certified
Morning, Thursday, 11th February 2016
Central London
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Dear Mr Andrew
I am writing to invite you to attend the above seminar. Please note there is a charge for most delegates, although concessionary and complimentary places are available (subject to terms and conditions - see below).
This seminar will bring together key policymakers with stakeholders from industry and the Higher Education sector to assess the future of computer science teaching in HE.
It is timed to discuss the findings of The Shadbolt Review of Computer Science Degree Accreditation and Graduate Employability, due to be released in late 2015, and will come as the Government considers its response to the review.
The review’s lead, Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, has kindly agreed to give a keynote address at the seminar.
A full transcript of the proceedings of this conference, together with short papers contributed by delegates, will be sent to all attendees following the seminar - and shared with further Government officials and regulators most involved in the progress of policy in these areas, and with interested ministerial offices and Parliamentarians.
Key areas for discussion include:
· Key benchmarks that should be included in the accreditation of computer science degrees;
· Balanced course design and addressing the challenge of keeping course content up to date with innovation in the sector;
· The regulation of alternative providers of computer science degrees and Degree Apprenticeships;
· Strategies for improving the employability of computer science graduates through work experience opportunities and improving their readiness for work; and
· Steps to improve the diversity of the computer science workforce, particularly with regard to BAME representation.
The draft agenda is copied below my signature, and a regularly updated version is available to download here. The seminar is organised on the basis of strict impartiality by the Westminster Higher Education Forum.
Speakers
We are delighted to be able to include in this seminar a keynote address from: Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Lead, The Shadbolt Review of Computer Science Degree Accreditation and Graduate Employability.
Further confirmed speakers include: Phillip Donnelly, Managing Director, Step Enterprise; Professor Susan Eisenbach, Head of Department of Computing, Imperial College London; Dr Bill Mitchell, Director of Education, BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT; Sally Smith, Head of School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University and Chair, Council of Professors and Heads of Computing; Paul Swaddle, Chief Executive Officer, PocketApp and Professor Jon Whittle, Head of Computing and Communications, Lancaster University.
Additional senior participants are being approached.
Networking
This seminar will present an opportunity to engage with key policymakers and other interested parties, and is CPD certified (more details). Due to attend are representatives from LShift; Plymouth University; The IET; The Open University; University of Hull and University of Warwick.
Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group numbering around 120, including Members of both Houses of Parliament and officials from BIS and other Government departments and agencies, university and college leaders; academics and other higher education professionals; representatives from students’ unions; businesses and their advisors; interest groups and the voluntary sector; along with commentators and reporters from the national and trade press.
Output and About Us
A key output of the seminar will be a transcript of the proceedings, sent out around 10 working days after the event to all attendees and a wider group of Ministers and officials at the DfE, BIS and the Government Office for Science and other government departments; officials at HEFCE and other agencies affected by the issues; and Parliamentarians with a special interest in these areas. It will also be made available more widely. This document will include transcripts of all speeches and questions and answers sessions from the day, along with access to PowerPoint presentations, speakers’ biographies, an attendee list, an agenda, sponsor information, as well as any subsequent press coverage of the day and any articles or comment pieces submitted by delegates. It is made available subject to strict restrictions on public use, similar to those for Select Committee Uncorrected Evidence, and is intended to provide timely information for interested parties who are unable to attend on the day.
All delegates will receive complimentary PDF copies and are invited to contribute to the content.
The Westminster Higher Education Forum is strictly impartial and cross-party, and draws on the considerable support it receives from within Parliament and Government, and amongst the wider stakeholder community. The Forum has no policy agenda of its own. Forum events are frequently the platform for major policy statements from senior Ministers, regulators and other officials, opposition speakers and senior opinion-formers in industry and interest groups. Events regularly receive prominent coverage in the national and trade press.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01344 864796. If advance credit card payment is not possible, please let me know and we may be able to make other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
· Places at Next steps for computer science teaching in Higher Education - accreditation, course design and employability (including refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £210 plus VAT;
· Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded individuals and those in similar circumstances are £80 plus VAT. Please be sure to apply for this at the time of booking.
For those who cannot attend:
· Copies of the briefing document, including full transcripts of all speeches and the questions and comments sessions and further articles from interested parties, will be available approximately 10 days after the event for £95 plus VAT;
· Concessionary rate: £50 plus VAT.
If you find the charge for places a barrier to attending, please let me know as concessionary and complimentary places are made available in certain circumstances (but do be advised that this typically applies to individual service users or carers or the like who are not supported by or part of an organisation, full-time students, people between jobs or who are fully retired with no paid work, and representatives of small charities - not businesses, individuals funded by an organisation, or larger charities/not-for-profit companies). Please note terms and conditions below (including cancellation charges).
I do hope that you will be able to join us for what promises to be a most useful morning, and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Jonny Roberts
Jonny Roberts
Associate Editor, Westminster Higher Education Forum
T: 01344 864796
F: 01344 420121
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The parliamentary patrons of the Westminster Higher Education Forum are: Sir David Amess MP, Rt Hon the Lord Baker of Dorking, Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, Paul Blomfield MP, Lord Boswell of Aynho, Lord Dixon-Smith, Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, Baroness Garden of Frognal, John Glen MP, Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Baroness Howe of Idlicote, The Earl of Listowel, Ian Lucas MP, Baroness Maddock, Gordon Marsden MP, Professor the Lord May of Oxford, Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall, Stephen Metcalfe MP, Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, Baroness Morgan of Huyton, Anne Marie Morris MP, Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve, Baroness Perry of Southwark, Lord Roberts of Llandudno, Baroness Sharp of Guildford, Lord Shipley, Lord Storey, Rt Hon the Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, Lord Triesman, Lord Turnberg, Andrew Turner MP, Baroness Wall of New Barnet, Mark Williams MP, Rob Wilson MP and Viscount Younger of Leckie. Note: parliamentary patrons take no financial interest in the Forum.
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This email and any attached files are intended solely for the use of the entity or individual to whom they are addressed. Opinions or views are those of the individual sender and, unless specifically stated, do not necessarily represent those of the Westminster Higher Education Forum. If you have received this email in error please notify info@forumsupport.co.uk.
FINANCIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The delegate fee includes copies of the presentations via PDF and refreshments. Cancellation policy is as follows: (1) cancellations 14 or more days before the event: £70+VAT cancellation fee per delegate; (2) cancellations less than 14 days before the event: no refunds. Cancellations must be notified in writing to the Westminster Higher Education Forum. No charge will be made for replacement delegates. Transfer of any confirmed booking between events is not possible. The organisers reserve the right to alter the programme and change the speakers without prior notice. The Westminster Higher Education Forum is unable to grant extended credit and therefore must request that full payment be made within 30 days from the date of invoice. Should payment not be received within 30 days from the date of invoice, the Westminster Higher Education Forum will apply an administration charge of £40+VAT, likewise for payments made to our account in error.
Westminster Higher Education Forum Keynote Seminar: Next steps for computer science teaching in Higher
Education - accreditation, course design and employability
Timing: Morning, Thursday, 11th February 2016
Venue: Central London
Draft agenda subject to change
| Registration and coffee | |
| | |
| 9.00 - 9.05 | Chair’s opening remarks Senior Parliamentarian |
| | |
| 9.05 - 9.35 | The Shadbolt Review: key findings and next steps Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Lead, The Shadbolt Review of Computer Science Degree Accreditation and Graduate Employability Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 9.35 - 10.15 | Accrediting computer science degrees: supporting innovation and regulating new forms of provision What are the key benchmarks that should be included in the accreditation of computer science degrees, and how should the sector contribute to deciding these? How best should new forms of higher education provision be regulated and accredited with regard to computer science courses? In a fast evolving sector, how can regulators ensure that degrees and the accreditation system remain up to date with the latest innovations and processes? How appropriate is the current balance between ensuring the inclusion of key information in computer science curriculums and supporting the development of creative course design and delivery? How can originality in course design be better supported within the accreditation system? Professor Susan Eisenbach, Head of Department of Computing, Imperial College London Dr Bill Mitchell, Director of Education, BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT Senior representative, employer Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 10.15 - 10.35 | Computer science degree accreditation: the system now and thoughts on the future Senior speaker to be confirmed Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 10.35 - 10.40 | Chair’s closing remarks Senior Parliamentarian |
| | |
| 10.40 - 11.10 | Coffee |
| | |
| 11.10 - 11.15 | Chair’s opening remarks Senior Parliamentarian |
| | |
| 11.15 - 11.35 | Trends in the employability of computer science students Senior speaker to be confirmed Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 11.35 - 12.05 | What do employers want? The view from the sector Senior speaker to be confirmed Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 12.05 - 12.55 | Strategies for promoting employability: soft skills, work experience and industry relevance In light of perceptions by some employers that computer science graduates lack the ‘soft skills’ needed to succeed in recruitment processes and professional environments, what steps can universities take to embed these skills within their degrees? How can universities address concerns that the Teaching Excellence Framework will discourage the involvement of individuals with industry experience in the delivery of degrees? How can greater opportunities for industry experience be integrated into degrees and do employers need to better engage with universities in order to provide work experience opportunities? What are the causes of the higher unemployment rate of black and minority ethnic computer science graduates in comparison to white graduates and what steps can be taken to tackle this disparity? How should industry-specific Higher Apprenticeships coexist with the university-lead model of computer science provision? How can universities contribute to CPD provision in the industry? Professor Jon Whittle, Head of Computing and Communications, Lancaster University Phillip Donnelly, Managing Director, Step Enterprise Sally Smith, Head of School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University and Chair, Council of Professors and Heads of Computing Paul Swaddle, Chief Executive Officer, PocketApp Questions and comments from the floor |
| | |
| 12.55 - 13.00 | Chair’s and Westminster Higher Education Forum closing remarks Senior Parliamentarian Jonny Roberts, Associate Editor, Westminster Higher Education Forum |
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