Software Engineering Education: from Dysfunction to Core Competency

Abstract

This chapter provides a snapshot of the current status of our two-phase, eight-year, nationwide effort to improve software engineering education in Taiwan. In the first phase of this program (2004–2008) we identified four dysfunctions and performed a series of corrective actions to address them. At the end of the first phase, the number of universities that regularly offer software engineering courses grew from 63 to 92, and the number of courses offered grew from 159 to 406. The second phase (2011–2015) was set to establish and implement the core competencies of software engineering in our module programs, and multiple actions have been taken to enhance the core competencies of students in ICT-related programs in Taiwan, including developing practical course material, offering training courses for trainers, providing on-site lecturing support, and delivering industrial-oriented practical courses.