In the interview with the KTV 1 I discussed the history, the mission, and the purpose of Software Engineering Department at Salahaddin University-Erbil. Dr. Ibrahim Hamarash established this department in 2000/2001 with 25 students. The first head of the department was Dr. Ibrahim himself with the founding teachers of the department were Dr. Shawbo, Mr. Karim, and Dr. Moaiad.
Mission & Vision
The software engineering department’s mission is to teach and prepare liberally educated, articulate, and skilled software engineers for leadership and professional careers and for advanced study. A central objective of our department program is to contribute to society by advancing the fields of software engineering through innovations in teaching and research thus enhancing student knowledge through interactive instruction, global engagement, and experiential learning, also the program will serve as a resource to inform society about innovations related to the production and uses of computers and software.2
Graduates of the software engineering department will be recognized as innovative leaders in the field of software engineering by their work in software development in a myriad of application areas, and through their work in advanced study and research. The department will continue to be known for its passion for teaching these students and for their knowledge, expertise, and innovation in advancing the frontiers of knowledge in software engineering.2
Who can Apply
Then the discussion began about the skills and mindsets that are required from students so that they can successfully apply to this department and become productive self-sustaining and entrepreneurial members of their community. The qualities that are discussed were mainly about how they can map between their natural talents and different branches of software engineering in general. for example one of the quality was the love for art if a student has a love and passion for art then they might become successful UI/UX designers. We have also discussed students’ desire for the discipline and how choosing this path out of passion will render a more successful and happier developer rather than choosing it out of the market calculation.
Challenges
We also conversed about the problems with having many applicants and limited resources in the department which renders to rejecting many talented young developers. The solution for that might be the need for government support so that the department can open more labs and larger lecture rooms. As this can be considered a matter of national importance to have enough software engineers for the upcoming digital transformation plan of the KRG3.
Opportunities
A background in Software Engineering ensures that you develop the skills and mindset to tackle many different professional challenges. Here are just a few of the skills a Software Engineering degree can help you develop:
Core Software Engineering Skills
- A comprehension of the design process of contemporary software systems and the steps involved from planning to execution. This will be underlined by a curriculum focused solely on software, without much focus on hardware design
- A strong comprehension of mathematics, engineering and computer science principles
- An ability to use theory and think critically about the practical application of software systems in real life projects with fellow students and teachers4
Communication, Data Gathering and Organizational Skills
- The ability to organize, understand and analyze sources of information and to apply novel forms of technology or new information to different professional settings and tasks
- The capacity to critically analyze problems, think creatively and make sound decisions while considering different sides of an argument
- The ability to explain complex ideas clearly to others and to apply complex theoretical concepts to everyday practice and professional dilemmas
- The skills to collect various types of information, assess them, analyze and incorporate potential linkages from different fields, put them into writing and efficiently convey your message and the goal of your work4
Management and Teamwork Skills
- The ability to interpret and analyze information presented by peers and efficiently and constructively support or challenge their proposals, theories, ideas and reports in order to achieve a project’s intended and successful end result
- The capacity to lead and interact with a variety of people with different approaches and personal and professional backgrounds
- Skills enabling you to work effectively in group situations, partaking in decision-making, leading and contributing in various capacities to the ultimate success of the team and task
- The capability to identify priorities and proper courses of action, to plan the execution of tasks and to determine and delegate responsibilities to group members to most effectively carry out projects4
Career Options in Software Engineering
Below is a sample list of some future choices to explore following studies in Software Engineering. This list is not exhaustive but it provides a solid idea of what fellow graduates have gone on to do and what potential careers a Software Engineering degree can offer. Some options are more directly associated with specific areas of Software Engineering than others.4
- Code Developer
- Communications Specialist
- Corporate Trainer
- Embedded Software Engineer
- Entrepreneur
- Financial Analyst
- Fund Manager
- IT Specialist
- Lawyer
- Market Researcher
- Mathematician
- Media Correspondent
- Mobile Software Engineer
- Modeling Specialist
- Network Engineer
- Operations Manager
- Quality Assurance Specialist
- Research and Development Consultant
- Smartphone Application Programmer
- Software Engineer
- Technology Writer
- Technical Analyst
- Video Game Developer
- Website Designer
- Accountant
- Banker
- Brand Strategist
FootNote
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