1. Computing at Aberystwyth University Chris Loftus Senior Teaching Fellow and Third Year Coordinator

2. Checking out your University choices

3. ….. the town

4. ….. the campus

5. …..the people

6.  Computers 2 workstation rooms just for CS students, 2 workstation rooms just for CS students, one donated by Sun one donated by Sun Cluster of Sun V880s Cluster of Sun V880s Several PC-based Beowulf clusters Several PC-based Beowulf clusters  Large robotics laboratory Assembly robots Assembly robots Mobile robots Mobile robots Aerobots Aerobots VICON vision system VICON vision system  New robot scientist laboratory  New Visualisation Centre …..the equipment

7. …..what will I study? Help you make a decision about Aber and help us make a decision about you …..what will I do then?

8. Plan for the day Talks: (1.30 – 2.30) Academics Student life Team building and careers TourLab / Robots / Chat or Lab / Robots / Chat Tour Tea and Cake (3.30 – 4) Safe home (5pm)

9. What does a CS department do?  Consulting CASIS – centre for advanced software and intelligent systems http://www.aber.ac.uk/casis/ CASIS – centre for advanced software and intelligent systems http://www.aber.ac.uk/casis/  Research Latest Research Assessment Exercise: Latest Research Assessment Exercise: 100% research being of international quality.. Best in Wales100% research being of international quality.. Best in Wales Source of final year projects and even jobs Source of final year projects and even jobs Main Topics: Model-Based Systems; Bioinformatics and Biocomputing; Intelligent Robotics; Vision, Graphics and Visualisation; Software Engineering Main Topics: Model-Based Systems; Bioinformatics and Biocomputing; Intelligent Robotics; Vision, Graphics and Visualisation; Software Engineering  Teaching – the most important to you!

10. Aim of our courses We seek to produce graduates who have: a broad knowledge of Computing, a broad knowledge of Computing, a wide skills base, a wide skills base, good intellectual skills, and good intellectual skills, and strengthened interpersonal skills. strengthened interpersonal skills. So that they …. can adapt and be relevant in 10 years time. Do we succeed? Degrees accredited by British Computer Society Top marks in last QAA assessment Top marks in last QAA assessment Voted best ‘Computer Science Teaching in Wales’ by students Voted best ‘Computer Science Teaching in Wales’ by students Aberystwyth voted 4 th in UK for Teaching and Learning Aberystwyth voted 4 th in UK for Teaching and Learning Our students get good jobs in the Computing industry Our students get good jobs in the Computing industry And also have fun And also have fun

11. Undergraduate Courses  Common themes to degrees Common first year of study, and much of second year Common first year of study, and much of second year Emphasis on adaptable, vocationally oriented computing education Emphasis on adaptable, vocationally oriented computing education  Degree schemes offered: Computer Science Computer Science Software Engineering Software Engineering Internet Computing and Systems Administration Internet Computing and Systems Administration Business Information Technology Business Information Technology  Degree ‘flavours’ linked to our research interests Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence AI and Robotics AI and Robotics Ubiquitous computing Ubiquitous computing Computer Graphics, Vision and Games Computer Graphics, Vision and Games Open Source Computing Open Source Computing

12. Features of all our degrees  Flexible you can change scheme or mix and match you can change scheme or mix and match  Vocational Activity weekend in first year - interpersonal and team skills. Activity weekend in first year - interpersonal and team skills. Professional skills weekend in second year - mock interviews Professional skills weekend in second year - mock interviews Encouraged to spend a year in industry Encouraged to spend a year in industry Project based Project based  Hard Work – Lots of project work!

13. Common Choice of First Year Total BeginnerMost Experience Semester 1Semester 2 Introduction To Programming (Java) Maths driving license Operating systems Databases Concepts in Programming (Java and …) Operating systems elective Formal Languages Software Design (Java) Prof develop (with AI) Telecomms Web Tools html/xml/Jscript

14. Business Information Technology Total BeginnerMore Experience (similar to other schemes) Semester 1Semester 2 Introduction To Programming (Java) Maths driving license Operating systems Databases Concepts in Programming (Java and …) Operating systems Intro to Info Studies The Business Environment (2 semesters) Prof development Telecomms Web Tools html/xml/Jscript Photoshop

15. CS or BIT major with ….. Other schemesMajor Semester 1Semester 2 Introduction To Programming (Java) Operating Systems Software Design (Java) Prof develop Telecomms Introduction To Programming (Java) Operating Systems 20 credits in your minor 20 credits in your minor Web Tools html etc Maths …. Databases or elec Major

16. Other Departments Level 1 and beyond  Business & Management  Sports Science  Education  Theatre, Film and TV Studies  Geography &Earth Studies  Information Studies  Physics  Maths  Psychology

17. Moving into the Second Year  You may arrive on one degree scheme and wish to change to another  This may be because of interest / first year modules / A level results  We believe that your first year is more important than your A-level results!  MUST pass core modules for course you wish to pursue

18. Modules - Year 2 Data Structures & Algorithms Data Structures & Algorithms Architecture & Hardware Architecture & Hardware C and unix C and unix C++ C++ Databases and Data Analysis Databases and Data Analysis Artificial Intelligence Toolbox (2 modules) Artificial Intelligence Toolbox (2 modules) Intelligent Robotics Intelligent Robotics The Internet: Design & construction Web Programming Web Programming Image Processing Image Processing Interactive Graphics Interactive Graphics Mobile Computing Mobile Computing User Centred Design User Centred Design Commercial Database systems Commercial Database systems …………….and more Focus: Software Development Lifecycle (Group Project)

19. Two group projects  All schemes, except BIT  Business Information Technology

20. An Example Default Project Yes, we have a sense of humour! (we think) A program that allows users to ask questions that relate to first year issues: all CS, AI, …  Called Ask Lynda  One group’s logo  Lynda:

21. One of this year’s projects: Android Phone Game

25. Between years 2 and 3 Year in Industry (optional)  We prepare you for finding a job (later)  We help you find one relevant to your degree  We support you while you are out  Why would you do that? Paid! Paid! Experience – you are never a ‘new’ graduate Experience – you are never a ‘new’ graduate Helps your final year understanding and marks Helps your final year understanding and marks Source of Final year Projects and Jobs Source of Final year Projects and Jobs

26. Some jobs in aber – most not

27. A few places that our students have worked Visualisation Centre Plymouth Marine Lab

28. Modules - Year ‘3’ Distributed Systems Distributed Systems Agile Methodologies Agile Methodologies Formal Methods in S’ware Engineering Formal Methods in S’ware Engineering Professional Issues Professional Issues Small Real Time Systems Small Real Time Systems Network Technologies Network Technologies Internet admin. Internet admin. Ubiquitous computing Ubiquitous computing Open Source Development Artificial Intelligence Concepts Space Robotics Advanced Computer Graphics Computer Vision Visualisation ………..…and more Focus: Individual Project (33% of time)

29. Chris Foulston and Robot Scientist A robotic system for a biological laboratory that can automatically design its own experiments and execute them, then interprets the results for itself. Chris's project was to build a software system to discover and report faults with the Robot Scientist. As well as an excellent major project this was accepted as a poster (and 4 page paper) at a UK e-Science conference.

30. Modules - Year ‘4’ (MEng) Computer Forensics Computer Forensics Quantitative Methods in Software Engineering Quantitative Methods in Software Engineering Hot Topics in Software Engineering Hot Topics in Software Engineering The Internet And How It Really Works The Internet And How It Really Works Inroduction to Intelligent Systems Inroduction to Intelligent Systems Developing Advanced Internet-Based Applications Developing Advanced Internet-Based Applications Distributed Group project Distributed Group project

31. Getting Help and Information Lots of it is available: http://www.aber.ac.uk/schemes http://www.aber.ac.uk/modules Ask anyone today or call/email later with questions This also holds true when you become a student: Demonstrators - in the labs Personal tutor – member of staff Year tutor – in charge of whole year Lecturers – happy to answer questions Industrial Year supervisor – visits you on site Final year project supervisor – weekly meetings

32. So what makes Aberystwyth different?  Being a student in Aberystwyth  Team work preparing for a career and fun Next Talks……….