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Microsoft Invests in the University of Waterloo

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the cash-reserves-proving-useful dept.

saforrest writes "Say goodbye to independent academia. In a presentation by Microsoft on Wednesday at the University of Waterloo, a new joint initiative was announced which involves the addition of a mandatory course on C# for all electrical and computer engineers. 'Completion of this course will be mandatory for students entering the E&CE program.'" Microsoft's press release is available.

4 of 681 comments (clear)

  1. so what? by Roadmaster · · Score: 2, Troll

    How does it work in college? some subjects you enjoy, some others you don't like but you know they'll be useful, and some others you just loathe, but you have to complete them in order to graduate.

    So what if they have to learn another programming language. I once had a full course on Prolog, which I hated, but I went through it, passed, and then forgot completely about Prolog.

    This seems to me like just it. Pass the course on C#, maybe with the help of some nearby geek, for those who don't like programming too much, and then go on with your life. It's not like C# will be the only language they'll ever use after that.

    Unless, of course, it's the ONLY mandatory programming course they have?

  2. Re:At least C# is (probably) useful by mrcparker · · Score: 1, Troll

    At least C# has an ISO standard. Can't say that much about the current language of choice for most universities, Java.

  3. Re:Academic Integrity by John+Courtland · · Score: 0, Troll

    This isn't that new.
    My school was funded by IBM. They gave the university like $5 million, and some computers. I had to learn IBM S/390 Assmebler and COBOL. Absolutely worthless. I learned NOTHING about technology developed after 1979. At least C# is new, and will be USEFUL in the future. Lucky, I say.

    --
    Slashdot is proof that Sturgeon's Law applies to mankind.
  4. Accreditation criteria by tlambert · · Score: 1, Troll

    Computer Science programs at accredited universities are accredited through the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET), specifically though the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC).

    The ABET CAC web site is located at:

    http://www.abet.org/cac1.html

    Here is the accredidation criteria:

    http://www.abet.org/criteria_cac.html

    Here is the current list of accredited Universities:

    http://www.abet.org/accredited_programs/CACWebsi te .html

    Please note that the University of Waterloo is absent, but the University of California at Berkeley and Washington State University are both present.

    If your College or University is not on this list, expect to have to take additional classes in order to be admitted to graduate degree programs at anywhere that *is* on the list.

    See also:

    http://www.acm.org/education/
    http://csab.org/~ csab

    Have a nice day.

    -- Terry