Communications of the ACM
Master's Program Targets Tomorrow's Tech Leaders
"SIT is committed to equipping graduates with the knowledge to build and grow their own high-tech businesses," says SIT Chair of Software and Security Bertrand Meyer.
Schaffhausen Institute of Technology has created its new Master of Science program in Computer Science and Software Engineering to better prepare graduates for IT leadership positions.
Launching in September 2020, the new program is available for students with bachelor's in computer science or software engineering who have ambitions to become technical leaders.
The Computer Science and Software Engineering MSc is the first master's program to be launched by SIT — a newly formed university based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. SIT was founded by entrepreneurs and is focused on bridging the gap between education and industry.
Chaired by Acronis CEO Serguei Beloussov, SIT and its syllabus has been specifically developed to tackle current challenges in industry, including the shortage of future leaders joining the software sector.
The course also provides the option of graduating with a dual degree from one of SIT's partner institutes — the Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, or the National University of Singapore in Singapore.
Industry advisors for SIT, which includes a network of IT, software, and technology organizations, suggest that existing computer science courses do not prepare graduates for leadership positions. Roles such as Chief Security Officer (CSO), Chief Product Officer (CPO), and Chief Architect are therefore lacking in potential candidates.
While many computer science graduates are equipped with technical knowledge, few hold essential skills for leadership such as management, entrepreneurship, and product management.
SIT's industry network has experienced this problem first-hand when recruiting for their own organizations. To alleviate this problem, the SIT MSc in Computer Science and Software Engineering has been strategically developed with leadership in mind, with guidance from SIT's board of directors.
"SIT is committed to equipping graduates with the knowledge to build and grow their own high-tech businesses and in the realm of computer science, this entrepreneurial spirit is needed," says Professor Bertrand Meyer, Chair of Software and Security at SIT.
"Unlike traditional master's programs, computer science and software engineering at SIT has been developed as a pathway to job roles — whether that's a CSO, CPO, or perhaps the founder of an entirely new tech start-up," Meyer says. "At SIT, we welcome the brightest and most ambitious graduates to join us in September."
SIT's master's program meets the traditional Bologna European system for higher education. Based on a two-year curriculum of full-time study, the course follows a traditional academia year and is therefore ideal for students currently graduating with a bachelor's in science or engineering.
In addition to full time study, students can choose the option of fast track study, allowing them to complete a full master's degree in three semesters.
Unlike traditional models, the master's program is available through blended e-learning, with lectures available at the SIT campus in Schaffhausen, broadcast live online, or recorded for offline study.
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