Computer Science Education in Japan

Bush, M. E. (2004). Computer science education in Japan. CACM, 47(8), 23-26.

Public or Private?Public or Private?

Over 70% of university students attend private universities

Over 90% of college students attend private colleges

By comparison, less than 30% of U.S. undergraduates are in private universities

How does the funding affect the education?

Over 70% of university students attend private universities

Over 90% of college students attend private colleges

By comparison, less than 30% of U.S. undergraduates are in private universities

How does the funding affect the education?

Computer Science EducationComputer Science Education First introduced in 1970 Over 130 undergraduate programs Over 100 postgraduate programs Until 1997, mostly hardware focus

First introduced in 1970 Over 130 undergraduate programs Over 100 postgraduate programs Until 1997, mostly hardware focus

IPSJ GuidelinesIPSJ Guidelines1. Computer science fundamentals2. Programming fundamentals3. Discrete mathematics4. Computing algorithms5. Probability and information theory6. Basic logic7. Digital logic8. Formal language and automata theory9. Data structures10. Computer architecture11. Programming languages12. Operating systems13. Compilers14. Databases15. Software engineering16. Human-computer interfaces

1. Computer science fundamentals2. Programming fundamentals3. Discrete mathematics4. Computing algorithms5. Probability and information theory6. Basic logic7. Digital logic8. Formal language and automata theory9. Data structures10. Computer architecture11. Programming languages12. Operating systems13. Compilers14. Databases15. Software engineering16. Human-computer interfaces

Student CultureStudent Culture

Relatively homogenous Uniform level of knowledge in

math and physics due to entrance exams

Relatively homogenous Uniform level of knowledge in

math and physics due to entrance exams

Faculty CultureFaculty Culture

Largely ex-students of departments

Usual arrangement: lab with about 20 students

Mix of Ph.D., master’s, and final-year project students

Collaborative atmosphere

Largely ex-students of departments

Usual arrangement: lab with about 20 students

Mix of Ph.D., master’s, and final-year project students

Collaborative atmosphere

IPSJ Milestones in Software EngineeringIPSJ Milestones in Software Engineering Structured Programming Use of tree structures for processing files Solution of a problem in concurrent programming cont

rol Programming semantics for multiprogrammed comput

ations An axiomatic basis for computer programming A relational model of data for large shared databases Program development by stepwise refinement A technique for software module specification with ex

amples Communicating sequential processes

Structured Programming Use of tree structures for processing files Solution of a problem in concurrent programming cont

rol Programming semantics for multiprogrammed comput

ations An axiomatic basis for computer programming A relational model of data for large shared databases Program development by stepwise refinement A technique for software module specification with ex

amples Communicating sequential processes

What may need to change?What may need to change? Curriculum Educational methods Credit system Degrees Quality level Methods of evaluation

Curriculum Educational methods Credit system Degrees Quality level Methods of evaluation

Environmental ChangesEnvironmental Changes

Recession and reduced employment Shrinking population of student ages:

2M (1994) -> 1.5M (now) -> 1.19M (2012)

Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (JABEE) established 1999, working with IPSJ on inspection and accreditation of specific courses

Recession and reduced employment Shrinking population of student ages:

2M (1994) -> 1.5M (now) -> 1.19M (2012)

Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (JABEE) established 1999, working with IPSJ on inspection and accreditation of specific courses