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Outreach program to help address shortage of software developers
October 25, 2011
by Erin O'Neil (Daily News)
Christopher Anand is serious about software.
The associate professor in the School of Computational Engineering and Science is taking creative steps to address a developing problem in Canada's computing and software industry: a troubling shortfall of qualified graduates to fill the rapidly increasing demand for software developers.
He has been working with an enthusiastic group of McMaster students on an outreach program to encourage Grade 8 students to consider a career in computing and science. The presentations use interactive activities to demystify the concepts of algorithms and writing code and get students thinking about math and science before they lock into a stream of study in high school.
"Many high school students don't have the prerequisites for the math component of computer science and software engineering," said Anand. "And students who don't have fun with math in grade school will lose interest and lose that opportunity."
Since 1976, computer hardware has become 1,000 times faster, while software has become 43,000 times faster and progress shows no sign of slowing down. As a result, the number of jobs in software development is expected to grow rapidly in the next decade. In the age of mobile applications, it's also an occupation with immense opportunity for entrepreneurs.
Anand said that in order to prepare graduates for success in this burgeoning field, courses have to offer training in a blend of skills - including entrepreneurship - that will prepare students for life after university.
In response to these needs, Anand has created a new course to equip computing and software students for success in entrepreneurial pursuits. The course, called Software Entrepreneurship, was offered for the first time this semester. Anand plans to guide his students from prototype to market, teaching them vital business skills along the way.
"It's important to me to do this," he said. "These are students who want to be leaders in their field."
It's a timely arrival for the experimental course. Budding entrepreneurs at McMaster now have a network of support that includes the McMaster Industry Liaison Office and the Innovation Factory, both housed at the McMaster Innovation Park. For engineers, there is also the Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Walter G. Booth School of Engineering Practise.
"We're just starting to create a software entrepreneurship culture at Mac," he said. "It's a snowball effect."
Anand is working on developing a strong connection with these offices in order to give his students the best opportunity for success.
"We're trying to reinforce every stage of this pipeline."
