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Master Computer Science at

the Vrije Universiteit

Computer Science Programmes

Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems

Dr.-Ing. Thilo Kielmann

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Why Study Computer Science at Vrije Universiteit ?

• Good organisation

• Well-structured course plans

• Close student supervision

• Excellent computer facilities

• Extensive contacts with companies, broad expertise

• Department with a strong (inter)national reputation

• Campus university, easy to reach, in a booming area

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Master’s Programmes at the Department of Computer Science of the Vrije Universiteit

• Artificial Intelligence

• Bioinformatics

• Business Mathematics and Informatics

• Information Science (1 year)

• Computer Science (6+1 programmes)

• Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems (top master)

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WO Monitor of VSNU

– 100% of VU Computer

Science alumni had jobs

– 100% of them were happy

with their jobs

– 100% said their degree was

needed for their job

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Computer Science Programmes

- Internet and Web Technology

- High Performance Distributed Computing

- Software Engineering

- Technical Artificial Intelligence

- Multimedia

- Formal Methods and Software Verification

- Computer Science and Communication

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Which Programme Suits You?

More practical:Software Engineering, Multimedia

More technical:Internet and Web Technology,High Performance Distributed Computing

More theoretical:Formal Methods and Software Verification

Multidisciplinary:Technical Artificial Intelligence

Society-oriented:Computer Science and Communication

There is ample room for choice within each program, to fit it to your preferences

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General Structure

• Lasts 2 years, 120 ECTS (possibly extended with premaster)

• Compulsory courses

• Compulsory choices

• Optional courses (recommendations are given)

• Seminars, literature study

• Programming projects

• Master's project of 36 ECTS

• Courses mostly in english

• Your study programme approved by examination board

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Premaster

• For HBO students, usually a premaster is required

• Consists usually of theoretical and program-specific courses

• Up to 30 ECTS • Contact the Master coordinator for more info

vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Technical Artificial IntelligenceTechnical Artificial Intelligence Technical Artificial IntelligenceTechnical Artificial Intelligence

• Endows the student with the developments on the area Endows the student with the developments on the area of artificial intelligence and computer science.of artificial intelligence and computer science.

• The realisation of intelligent computer programs is the The realisation of intelligent computer programs is the central subject. Artificial intelligence is in part inspired by central subject. Artificial intelligence is in part inspired by human cognition and nature. human cognition and nature.

• One aim is to obtain computer programs that can reason One aim is to obtain computer programs that can reason with symbolic representations of this knowledge. The with symbolic representations of this knowledge. The computer is also used for recognition of structures in raw computer is also used for recognition of structures in raw data, from which conclusions can be drawn.data, from which conclusions can be drawn.

vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

11stst year Technical AI year Technical AI (compulsory)(compulsory) 11stst year Technical AI year Technical AI (compulsory)(compulsory)

Evolutionary Computing 6

Distributed Systems 6

Machine Learning 6

ICT in a Social Context 4

Neural Networks 6

Design of Multi-Agent Syst.

6

Programming in Prolog 4

Project Knowledge Systems

6

vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Compulsory ChoicesCompulsory Choices Compulsory ChoicesCompulsory Choices

Software Engineering course

Theoretical Computer Science course

(recommended: Logical Verification)

Mathematics course

(recommended: Probability and Statistics)

vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Some Recommended ChoicesSome Recommended Choices Some Recommended ChoicesSome Recommended Choices

• Data Mining Techniques Data Mining Techniques

• Knowledge Management and Modeling Knowledge Management and Modeling

• Experimental Psychology Experimental Psychology

• Organisational Dynamics Organisational Dynamics

• Automated Reasoning in AI Automated Reasoning in AI

• Robotica (UvA)Robotica (UvA)

vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Some Master's ProjectsSome Master's Projects Some Master's ProjectsSome Master's Projects

• Negotiating agents for e-commerce

• Recognition of handwriting

• Knowledge support by a domain expert system

• Ecological knowledge system

• Collaborative bookmarking

• Interpreter for medical guidelines

vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Master's Projects - ContactsMaster's Projects - Contacts Master's Projects - ContactsMaster's Projects - Contacts

• Companies , eg., Rabobank, Shell, Arthur Andersen Consulting, Sentient Research Amsterdam,

Swedish electricity company

• At the VU:• AI Department• Department of Law

• Other universities, e.g.:• Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen• Vrije Universiteit Brussels• University of Adelaide, Australia

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Formal Methods and Software Verification

• Formal specification and verification techniques: How can we check the correctness of algorithms/protocols?

• Decidability, expressivity of programming formalisms

• Foundations of computation

• Also: distributed computing, software engineering, mathematics, ICT in a social context, ...

• Close collaboration with UvA for optional courses

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Some Master's Projects

• Verification of an electronic voting protocol for the Dutch parliamentary elections

• Quantum complexity classes

• Well-foundedness of higher-order recursive path ordering in Coq

• Formele specificatie van een workflow engine: van UML naar ObjectZ

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Multimedia

The arrival of broadband Internet has enabled the combination of formerly disjoint media, such as interactive television.

Hot topics are authoring, information retrieval, human computer interaction, software architecture, and 3D-graphics.

Special attention is given to the use of 3D virtual environments for the disclosure of multimedia information.

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Some Topics in Multimedia

• Clima Futura: a game to gain experience with the

parameters of climate change

• Second Life: a virtual world at the VU

• Intelligent Multimedia: 3D virtual environments

based on agents technology

• Game design

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Internet and Web Technology

– Focus:

Technology for the Internet and the Web

– Large-scale computer systems

(e.g. Web server architectures)

– Network protocols

– Peer-to-peer technology

– Security in the Internet (e.g. worms,

honeypots)

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High Performance Distributed Computing

• Focus:

Large-scale computing

• Parallel computing: clusters, grids, mainframes

• High-performance computers and networks

• Scientific and commercial applications: e.g., genome

sequencing, designing new medicines, oil-field

discovery, stock-market predictions, Google's and

Amazon's services

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State-of-the-art equipment

DAS3, the distributed ASCI supercomputer, is operated from the VU

Nodes are situated atLeiden, Delft, Amsterdam (UvA,VU)

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Parallel and Distributed Computer Systems

Some courses:

• Distributed Systems

• Parallel Programming

• Cluster and Grid Computing

• Network Security

• Distributed Algorithms

• Protocol Validation

• Network Programming

• Research Proposal Preparation

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What is a Top Master's ?

• International (students from Europe, USA, India,

China)

• Research oriented

• Selective admission

• Practical orientation (many labs, projects)

• Narrowly focused on systems – Operating systems, networks, distributed systems

– Multiprocessors, clusters, Internet, grids

– Parallel algorithms / languages / systems

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Andrew S. Tanenbaum

• Small, reliable, secure, operating systems

• Wide-area distributed systems

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IWT / HPDC / PDCS Master's Projects

- Turtle - secure P2P

- Monitoring in Globule - Content placement for video-on-demand - Visualization / computer graphics projects - Parallel bioinformatics applications - Energy-aware wireless epidemics - Grid security infrastructures

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Software Engineering

Software engineering is an important field:

Shift, from “construction”, “programming-in- the-large” to interplay between organization and application portfolio

Shift, from product orientation to service orientation, from production to use

Shift towards the “Internet of Things”

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Software Engineering Dimensions

EngineeringUsage

Human

Build systems,Master technology,and complexity

Glue systems,Create added value,Use services

Support daily work,Envisage culture,Plan for global use

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SoftwareEngineering@VU

IMSE – Information Management and Software Engineering

Build systems to be used and to make life easier

IT portfolio needs proper assetmanagement and maintenance

Architecture is the basefor communication anddecision making

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Some Courses

Advanced Topics in Software Design

Software Architecture

Software Asset Management

Software Configuration Management

Project Information Systems (team effort for an industrial customer)

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Double Degree Programmes (in Europe)

One year at the VU, one year Abroad

Two Master degrees (from both universities)

International experience, contact with other cultures

Complement your studies with different courses, enrich your CV

Many possibilities for scholarships

For more information: www.few.vu.nl/internationalisering

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• One Master, two degrees

Learn how to master IT/Software projects in an international environment

• One year at the VU, one year at a VU Partner

Mälardalen University (Sweden)

University of L'Aquila (Italy)

University of Westminster (UK)

• Three profiles: Software Architecting Real-Time Embedded Systems Web Systems & Service Engineering

Global Software Engineering European Master

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Erasmus “Long Life'' Exchange Programme

Scholarship of 287 euro per month

You do not need to pay a fee to the foreign university

VU has an exchange programme with a large number ofEuropean Universities

Go to www.few.vu.nl/onderwijs/buitenland/Erasmus.html

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Interested in International Experience?

Are you a first year CS Master student? Or are you starting the coming academic year?

Start thinking about your Europeanexperience now!

Pre-register now to go in September 2009, contact us for detailed information!

international@few.vu.nl

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Computer Science and Communication

This variant consists of two parts:

- Training in Computer Science at Master level

- Communication theory and practices

Compulsory courses:

- Communication Sciences

- Research Methods

- Science Journalism

- Internship / research project

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Master Coordinators

• Technical AI: Martijn Schut (schut@few.vu.nl)

• IWT / HPDC, PDCS : Thilo Kielmann (kielmann@few.vu.nl)

• Software Engineering: Hans van Vliet (hans@few.vu.nl)

• Multimedia: Anton Eliens (eliens@few.vu.nl)

• Formal Methods and Software Verification:

Roel de Vrijer (rdv@few.vu.nl)

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More Information

www.few.vu.nl/ (Dutch)

www.few.vu.nl/en/ (English)

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Registration

Simply go to www.studielink.nl