Half a century after they began their studies, nine former students returned to the Faculty of Computer Science at Fachhochschule Dortmund. They had all started their computer science studies together in 1976. To mark the 50th anniversary of the start of their studies, they reunited at their former university to share memories and, of course, to take a look at how the Faculty of Computer Science has evolved today.
The Faculty of Computer Science had prepared a varied program for the occasion. Dean Prof. Dr. Daniel Hamburg kicked off the event with an overview of the faculty’s current situation. Among other things, he presented the current study programs and the various fields of computer science. This allowed the former students to see just how much the faculty has diversified since their time as students.
Prof. Dr. Sonja Kuhnt then gave a presentation on “Mathematics in Today’s Computer Science Curriculum” and provided insights into the importance of mathematical foundations for computer science education.
Finally, with his presentation on “Learning and Teaching Software Development in the Age of AI,” Prof. Dr. Sven Jörges turned his attention to one of the most cutting-edge developments in computer science. He focused in particular on the changes that artificial intelligence is bringing about in software development as well as in the learning and teaching of programming.
There was also plenty of time for personal interaction. Over coffee and cake, the former students took the opportunity to share memories of their time as students and catch up with one another.
A highlight was a guided tour of the faculty’s laboratories. It was interesting for the alumni to see how much the technical equipment has changed over the past 50 years. For the faculty, alumni reunions are always a valuable opportunity to benefit from the life experiences of its former students.