research-article

Professional Competencies in Computing Education: Are They Important?

Authors:

Justyna Szynkiewicz,

Gunhild M. Lundberg,

Mats DanielsAuthors Info & Claims

2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)

Pages 1 - 5

https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE44824.2020.9273987

Published: 21 October 2020 Publication History

Abstract

In this Work in Progress paper, we discuss why including professional competencies into computing education curriculum is important. We are particularly interested in competencies that students could and, we believe, should acquire during collaborative learning experiences in project-based IT courses. In the times of globalization and technological advancement, there is a need for competencies like collaborating, communicating, working in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams, while computing education tends to focus on content knowledge and technical skills. Which is contrary to the emphasis companies put on soft skills in a hiring situation. This discussion and reflection paper discuss how employability, and identity frameworks can be used to analyse professional competencies in a project course environment in Norway? This paper focuses on how professional competencies should be implemented in the curriculum of computing degree programs and courses in the Norwegian university system. We use Curtin’s graduate attributes" framework used by an Australian university as an example of learning outcomes that emphasize professional competencies. In this conceptual paper we discuss how putting more emphasis on graduate attributes, employability and identity can help to legitimize diverse ways of participation in the computing discipline and at the same time broaden the identity of the computing discipline.

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Cited By

Prickett TCrick TDavenport JBowers DHayes AIrons AMonga MLonati VBarendsen ESheard JPaterson J(2024)Embedding Technical, Personal and Professional Competencies in Computing Degree ProgrammesProceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3649217.3653578(346-352)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3649217.3653578
Bowers DHayes APrickett TCrick TStreater KSharp C(2023)The Institute of Coding Accreditation Standard: Exploring the Use of a Professional Skills Framework to Address the UK Skills GapProceedings of the 2023 Conference on United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research10.1145/3610969.3611121(1-7)Online publication date: 7-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3610969.3611121
Stamm SDoyle MStephenson BDorn BSoh LBattestilli L(2023)Desired Qualifications Sought in Entry Level Software EngineersProceedings of the 54th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3545945.3569849(854-860)Online publication date: 2-Mar-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3545945.3569849

Index Terms

Professional Competencies in Computing Education: Are They Important?
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Computing education programs
        Computer science education
      2. Model curricula

Index terms have been assigned to the content through auto-classification.

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2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)

Oct 2020

2717 pages

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IEEE Press

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Published: 21 October 2020

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Cited By

Prickett TCrick TDavenport JBowers DHayes AIrons AMonga MLonati VBarendsen ESheard JPaterson J(2024)Embedding Technical, Personal and Professional Competencies in Computing Degree ProgrammesProceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3649217.3653578(346-352)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3649217.3653578
Bowers DHayes APrickett TCrick TStreater KSharp C(2023)The Institute of Coding Accreditation Standard: Exploring the Use of a Professional Skills Framework to Address the UK Skills GapProceedings of the 2023 Conference on United Kingdom & Ireland Computing Education Research10.1145/3610969.3611121(1-7)Online publication date: 7-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3610969.3611121
Stamm SDoyle MStephenson BDorn BSoh LBattestilli L(2023)Desired Qualifications Sought in Entry Level Software EngineersProceedings of the 54th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3545945.3569849(854-860)Online publication date: 2-Mar-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3545945.3569849

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