Goals and aims

Goals

The common goals for the specializations in the master’s programme in Computer Science are established in the course rules. Basically it comes to this: the master’s programme aims to combine a scientific mindset with specialist technical knowledge, enabling graduates to analyze, design, validate and implement state-of-the-art ICT systems in their operational context. Graduates of the master’s programme are trained to take a scientific, ethical and socially responsible approach to conducting and contributing to research in their specific area of study and to international trends in and related to their field of study. The master’s programme aims to offer an engaging and challenging, research-oriented academic environment, enabling students to:

-	acquire extensive knowledge and insight; develop their professional and scientific mindset by taking the initiative in and assuming responsibility for the learning process

-	develop an inquisitive and reflective attitude

-	understand and gain practical experience with methods and technologies for modeling and describing systems and their properties

-	acquire a knowledge of, understand and gain practical experience with taking stock of the requirements of ICT systems (i.e. technology, design, validation and implementation) and of promising alternatives, and take informed decisions

-	develop a constructively critical attitude in which decisions are substantiated and discussed

-	work as part of a team in applying and/or developing theories, methods, technologies and tools pertinent to the development of ICT systems in their operational context

-	gain practical experience working in complex, dynamic settings in which the information required is not always immediately available or complete

be encouraged by means of an engaging curriculum (involving case studies, research projects, and discussions about research, trends and literature relevant to the discipline) to follow the trends in their field and use this information as a guide for and incorporate it into their own personal development.

The master’s programme also aims to encourage students who have the necessary affinity with and demonstrated talent for scientific research to continue on to pursue doctoral research. The course rules state the following domain-specific goals for the CSC programme. The CSC master’s programme strives to achieve the aims described below.

The CSC master’s programme focuses on three themes:

-	development of ICT systems in their commercial context

-	technological aspects and applications of embedded systems

-	development process of sophisticated software systems

Students will acquire specialist knowledge in one of these areas. The CS master’s programme is designed for students with a thorough understanding of technology and of the functional and qualitative properties of systems and ability to evaluate and predict these properties and their context dependencies. System security, performance and efficiency are key areas of focus.

General scientific attainment levels

Graduates of the master’s programmes in the department of Computer Science will be able to meet the following scientific attainment targets:

a. Graduates have an extensive knowledge of and understand the issues relevant to their specific field of study (i.e. programme-specific attainment targets).

b. Graduates can contribute to scientific research, and independently design, conduct and present the results of small-scale research.

c. Graduates can provide an original contribution to the development and/or application of the field of study.

d. Graduates can analyse complex problems (change problems) relevant to the field of study and obtain the required knowledge and information.

e. Graduates can design, validate and implement solutions/systems in their operational context; identify and apply relevant advanced knowledge, methods and techniques from their field of study.

f. Graduates can assess solutions/systems and their applications according to their properties and potential to solve problems even if they are new to or unfamiliar with the situation or lack information and/or reliable information; they can use their assessment as a basis for (substantiation of) decisions.

g. Graduates understand the ethical, social, cultural and public aspects of problems and solutions in their field of study; apply this insight in their international role as scholar.

h. Graduates can work as part of and play a leading role in a team; manage and plan a development process; document development and research processes.

i. Graduates can substantiate research results, designs and applications in writing and verbally; critically assess and participate in debates regarding the same.

j. Graduates can independently acquire new knowledge and skills; reflect on trends in their field of study, responsibilities and roles and use this insight as a guide for and integrate it into their own personal development.

k. Graduates can integrate information from other disciplines into their own work if necessary.

l. Graduates take a critical approach to reading, incorporating information presented in and participating in debates regarding international scientific literature relevant to their field of study.

The word ‘original’ in c is understood to mean ‘demonstrative of a creative contribution’, and not ‘pioneering’.

Computer Science specific attainment levels

The final attainment levels of the Computer Science programme are in line with the Dublin descriptors:

Knowledge and understanding:
The graduates have demonstrated knowledge and understanding that is founded upon and extends and/or enhances that typically associated with Bachelor’s level, and that provides a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and/or applying ideas, often within a research context;

b.	Application of knowledge and understanding: The graduates can apply their knowledge and understanding, and problem solving abilities in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study

c.	Formulate judgement: The graduates have the ability to integrate knowledge and handle complexity, and formulate judgements with incomplete or limited information, but that include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgements;

d.	Communication: The graduates can communicate their conclusions, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously;

e.	Learning skills: The graduates have the learning skills to allow them to continue to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed or autonomous.

In addition to the general attainment targets, CSC graduates will command a high level of scientific knowledge and understanding of computer science. This is demonstrated by their extensive knowledge and understanding of the technical aspects and design of ICT systems. In addition to a thorough understanding of these issues, CSC graduates also have a specialist knowledge and understanding of the chosen track