Overview International Software Engineering University Consortium (ISEUC)

ISEUC is a consortium of universities and schools around the world who will provide subjects in Software Engineering (SE) to students globally via distance learning, primarily using asynchronous modes such as the Internet. Members have established programs and/or degrees in software engineering, and have agreed to make one or more subjects in SE available via the World Wide Web of the Internet. Membership in ISEUC is entirely voluntary and may be terminated anytime.

Background
There is a lack of qualified software engineers to address the dramatic worldwide growth in Information Technology (IT), and the supply of Software Engineering (SE) programs available where required is not keeping up with the increasing demand for qualified SE professionals.
Because of the high demand for SE professionals, institutions of higher learning (hereafter just called “universities”) have an opportunity to increase enrollment and revenues while continuing to develop SE-specific curriculum and subjects for students. These resources can be efficiently leveraged using Distance Learning technologies and processes to expand the reach of universities to a global student body as well as local students.
The International Software Engineering University Consortium (ISEUC) will provide access for software-intensive industries and their global sites, involving renowned international universities. ISEUC is based on international best SE education practices, accreditation standards, credit programs and professional education.

Broad Objectives
The objectives include:

1. Increase the number of Software Engineering professionals
2. Enhance the skills of existing professionals from many disciplines
3. Facilitate cross-discipline training and awareness for management

Using Distance Learning subjects originating from “primary” universities coupled with traditional face-to-face aid from close-by “associate” universities, an effective hybrid program of web-based asynchronous and synchronous interactive learning modes can be fashioned to benefit the consortium participants, the students, and the industries that rely upon SE.

Proposed Curriculum
These are broad categories on which many effective and world class Software Engineering curricula are based:

• Core Coursework
  - Methodology
  - Requirements
  - Design
  - Construction
  - Project Management
  - Evolution
  - Capstone Projects
• Recurring Coursework
  - Ethics and Professionalism
  - Processes
  - Quality
  - Modeling
  - Metrics
  - Tools and Environments
  - Documentation

Existing Subjects:
Most recognized SE curricula already have subjects in place that fall within the categories above. Also, implementation of Distance Learning programs for many of these subjects has already taken place at some universities.

Subject Delivery / Learning Modes: This consortium would drive distance learning using both asynchronous and synchronous learning modes.

- Asynchronous: Web-based system
- Synchronous: Face-to-face/video conference/chat/interactive sessions

Packaging
Individual subjects could transfer from the primary university. They could be packaged into certificates (3-4 subjects with a specific focus), as well as on a stand-alone basis. Those subjects taken for professional development would typically be short subjects.

Benefits
Benefits for Consortium Participants:

1. As a “primary” university, additional students would enroll in existing SE DL subjects
2. New Distance Learning SE subjects may be developed for additional university revenue from a worldwide population of students.
3. Participation as an “associate” university would also increase revenues

Benefits for Students:

1. New state-of-the-art subjects from universities world-wide would be available from which to choose
2. Asynchronous mode for most of subject: “any” time and place accessibility
3. Synchronous mode, when required, is available via mediator from associate university closer by
4. Single Point of Contact (POC) via ISEUC

a. administration
b. enrollment at any ISEUC member university
c. payment for subjects taken for credit, with reimbursement from industry employer, when the student is employed

Benefits for Industry:

1. Additional qualified SE professionals
2. Added breadth and depth of professionals
3. Better accessibility to academic centers of SE

Administration
The consortium will require activities to be performed. These functions include:

1. Administration
2. Marketing
3. Coordination
4. Single Point of Contact (POC) for students, e.g., ISEUC serves as portal for students who take subjects from several ISEUC members, e.g., University of Queensland (Australia), Texas Tech (U.S.), University of Wales (UK), and McMaster University (Canada)
5. Soliciting recommendations from ISEUC members and from Professional Advisory Board