This document describes the advanced software courses that are currently offered by UNU-IIST. Such courses have been presented in many developing countries since UNU-IIST was founded in 1992, including China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, DPR of Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia, Gabon, Cameroon, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Senegal, Cuba, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Any of the courses described here can be given alone or in combination with other courses.
Sound, modern approaches to software development are essential if software is to be developed to today's exacting standards. These courses aim to provide the basis of various techniques and approaches to the problem of developing software.
UNU-IIST centres its research around the theme for formal (mathematical) software engineering, and this theme is reflected in much of the course material.
UNU-IIST does not want merely to provide courses. Courses should be the beginning of continuing collaboration between UNU-IIST and the host institution. Such collaboration may involve:
Course attendees should be at least graduates in computer science. They may be academics or working in industry, government, etc. When a course is run for a particular institution it may be possible to adapt the workshop examples included in the course to the particular domain of that institution.
The courses are presented in English. We have given courses with interpretation, but found that non-English speakers were at a distinct disadvantage.
There should be at least 15 attendees, and at most 40.
Attendees are required to submit brief CVs in advance to establish that they are suitably qualified for the course.
Lecturers are usually from UNU-IIST's scientific staff. These staff not only have considerable expertise and experience in using and teaching the course topics, they have also done research in them, and in some cases are among the developers of these topics.
Lecturers may also be past UNU-IIST fellows who have learnt how to present the courses through participation in UNU-IIST's `Curriculum Development' project. When appropriate lecturers from this category are available it may be possible to present all or part of a course in the lecturer's native language instead of in English.
Occasionally when there is someone from the host country who is suitably qualified then he or she may be used as a lecturer.
"Guest" lecturers from the host country sometimes also give additional, related lectures during the courses.
The first is conference or class room in which the course is to be held. This should be equipped at least with an overhead projector or data projector (preferably the latter), a projection screen, and a whiteboard.
Many of the courses have a practical content and a computer lab may be required for some sessions. As far as possible UNU-IIST uses software which is standardly available or free.
Where non-local people are among the attendees we ask the host institution to make suitable low-cost accommodation available.
Host institutions run courses as partners of UNU-IIST. It is therefore not acceptable for them to charge costs like rental of the course room. Costs to be budgetted must be real expenditure caused solely by the course.
Costs differ greatly between countries. The items we expect to be concerned with are
The order here is significant. We expect the host institution to cover at least the first 2, are happy if they cover the first 6, particularly pleased if they cover more. (Sometimes lunches are provided as part of the course, sometimes people get and pay for their own; it depends on local practice and what facilities are available.)
Item 8 is one we will consider individually on application.
Sometimes the host institution charges a course fee. UNU-IIST has no objection to this provided three conditions are met:
Any intended fee must be described in the course budget.
Course budgets are prepared by the host institution and must be approved by UNU-IIST. UNU-IIST is very happy to advise and assist in this process.