Graduateness of computing students in a Sub-Saharan African context

Author

Jan H. Kroeze, School of Computing, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.Follow
Paul Prinsloo, Institute for Open and Distance Learning, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.Follow
Shana Ponelis, School of Information Studies , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States.Follow
Isabella Venter, Computer Science, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.Follow
Philip Pretorius, School of IT, North-West University (Vaal Triangle Campus), Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.Follow

Abstract

This paper surveys graduate attributes as is required of students in Computer Science and Information Systems disciplines in Africa in general and in South Africa in particular. Graduate attributes as envisioned by students and employers internationally are discussed complemented by an international, liberal education perspective to indicate the importance of graduate attributes from both of these groups’ perspective. This discussion is followed by insights specific to computing disciplines in Sub-Saharan African countries. An overview of the graduate attributes required by the South African National Qualifications Framework and the South African Qualifications Authority is compared to the attributes suggested by the Association for Computing Machinery for Computing syllabi. It is felt that this may help African and in particular South African computing departments to self-assess their programmes in terms of international standards.

Recommended Citation

Kroeze, Jan H.; Prinsloo, Paul; Ponelis, Shana; Venter, Isabella; and Pretorius, Philip, "Graduateness of computing students in a Sub-Saharan African context" (2012). AMCIS 2012 Proceedings. 11.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2012/proceedings/Posters/11