University meets industry in new Computer Science Doctorate
Posted on 27 May 2008
Unlike conventional academic PhDs, the new Engineering Doctorate qualification features advanced research into new technology, carried out in an industry setting.
The reason for this initiative is the ongoing growth in the size and complexity of IT systems
Julie Bates
The research focuses on Large Scale Complex IT Systems (LSCITS), a category which includes many modern-day commercial computer systems.
Alongside the research component, the Doctorate is complemented by taught modules delivered by leading academics at York and its partner universities, including customised offerings from the York Management School.
Julie Bates, the Postgraduate Programme Manager in York’s Department of Computer Science, said: "The reason for this initiative is the ongoing growth in the size and complexity of IT systems. Our ability to develop, maintain and manage these systems is falling behind their growth in complexity. Unless we act now, there’s a high risk that we’ll find ourselves reliant on systems that we don’t fully understand and that we can’t manage effectively."
The programme has been designed to be of particular benefit to those who already have industrial experience and may wish to work with their current employer as their industrial sponsor. It is also suitable for recent graduates in Computer Science or a cognate discipline.
The programme is delivered in a partnership, led from York and including the Universities of Bristol, Leeds, Oxford and St Andrews, with the LSCITS EngD Centre being based in York’s Department of Computer Science. The programme is part of the UK National Research and Training Initiative in LSCITS, and is supported by a grant of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) which offers financial support to students on this programme.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Further information on this world-leading new training programme can be found at www.lscits.org/training.shtml.
- The Department of Computer Science is one of the leading computer science departments in the UK. In the most recent research assessment exercises the Department was awarded the highest possible rating of 6*, and it is consistently ranked among the top computer science departments in the UK. The Times Good University Guide 2007 ranked it fourth. Teaching in the Department was recently judged to be excellent by HEFCE. It has 400 undergraduates, 100 taught postgraduates and 100 full-time research students.