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2012-06-1X Name of session
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Title | GENERAL SESSION: The Changing Role of the Software Developer in Higher Education |
|---|---|
Presenters | Paul Walk (UKOLN, University of Bath) |
Date and time (EDT) | June 11, 2012, 1:15 p.m. |
Room | Peachtree Ballroom |
Facilitator | (Empty for now - What's this?) |
Description
Software development covers a range of activities and approaches. To a basic extent, anybody can develop software in its broadest sense, as scripting environments and development tools become 'friendlier'. However, the business of developing timely, robust and fit-for-purpose software is a serious as ever. While there is a demonstrable and reasonable interest in the use, by higher education institutions, of remotely provided 'software as a service', institutions need to retain and nurture their capacity to develop software locally if they are going to be able to innovate. The notion of a 'software developer' therefore, covers a range of activities, levels of expertise and approaches.
The Developer Community Supporting Innovation (DevCSI) project in the UK is a JISC-funded initiative designed to improve our understanding of the role of the developer through working directly with developers, and to approach the issue of developer capacity in our higher education institutions. This talk will give an overview of what we have learned and what we plan to do, as well as making the case for recognition of the changing role of developers in our institutions.
Materials