My presentation at the UI Department of Computer Science Alumni Reunion.

1. BRIDGING THE GAP
BETWEEN THEORY AND
PRACTICE IN COMPUTER
SCIENCE EDUCATION :–
THE ROLE OF THE
ALUMNI
By Rasheed Adegoke (CIO, First Bank of
Nigeria)

2. TABLE OF CONTENT
Structure of Computing Education
Understanding the Theory-
Practice gap
The UI Computer Science
Alumni: Scorecard
The role of the Alumni
Association
A model for improving UI
Computer Science Alumni
Participation
Q & A

3. Opening quip…
In theory, there is no
difference between theory
and practice. But, in
practice, there is.
Jan L.A. Van de Snepscheut/Yogi Berra

4. Structure of computing
education../1
Computing
Education
Computer
Engineering
Computing
Science
Theory of
computation
Algorithms &
data
structures
Programming
methodology
& languages
Computer
Elements &
Architecture
Information
Systems

5. Structure of computing
education../2
 Computing Science or Computer Science
 The study of the theoretical foundations of information and
computation, and of practical techniques for their
implementation and application in computer systems
 Computer Engineering
 A discipline that integrates electrical engineering and
computer science and teaches the design of circuits,
microprocessors, personal computers, and
supercomputers
 Information Systems or Information Technology
 Professional and academic discipline concerned with the
strategic, managerial and operational activities involved in
the gathering, processing, storing, distributing and use of
information, and its associated technologies, in society and

6. Understanding the Theory-Practice
gap
Structure of Computing
Education
The UI Computer Science
Alumni: Scorecard
The role of the Alumni
Association
A model for improving UI
Computer Science Alumni
Participation
Q & A

7. Understanding the theory-practice
gap:
1: the “Town & Gown” divide
 Historical physical and
egocentric divide between
the “Ivory Tower” and the
non-academic community
 Mutual misperceptions of
“Townie practitioners” as
sloppy & uninformed and
the Ivory Tower as full of
“impractical theorists”
 The failing involvement of
the Alumni network in
bridging the Town & Gown

8. Understanding the theory-practice
gap:
2: Perspective, Context & Motivation
Perspective
Theory
(Underlying
principles)
vs. Practice
(Proveness
of methods
for everyday
use)
Context
Discovery
(New insight)
vs.
Business or
Social impact
Motivation
or Payback
Breakthrough
knowledge
vs.
Breakthrough
Profit

9. Understanding the theory-practice
gap:
3: the Education system & process
 Static curricula
 Though Computing Sciences and Information
Systems practices change rapidly, Computing
education curriculum remain static and built on old
subject matters or methods
 Research methodology
 Local Academia is overly focused on basic research
(at the expense of applied research) with only a few
academic research having any commercial application
 Orientation of learning
 Students are not given specific career-path oriented
training and are basically groomed as generalists
sometimes without a mastery of any particular skill

10. Understanding the theory-practice
gap:
4: the Education system & process
 Teaching practices
 Current teaching practices are largely based on
transmitting knowledge without establishing any
relevance to future career choices of the students or
linking to industry practices
 Curriculum delinked from practice
 Current curricula are insulated from practice and
sometimes dated e.g. students learning COBOL or
FORTRAN instead of Java or C#, Desktop
applications vs. Web & mobile Apps
 One size fits all
 Curriculum and course plans are based on a one-
size-fits-all approach rather than give students

11. Understanding the theory-practice
gap:
5: the Education system & process
 Faculty mix
 Computing faculties are made up of pure academics
whereas a careful mix of academics and industry
leaders will deliver a richer & more balanced learning
experience
 Absence of career guidance opportunities
 Most students, not just in Computing education, go
through school without really planning for post-
campus life
 No Entrepreneurial context
 Our education is overly built around grooming
workers. This is a key source of the gap between
theory and practice as opportunities to create new

12. Structure of Computing
Education
The UI Computer Science
Alumni: Scorecard
Understanding the Theory-
Practice gap
A model for improving UI
Computer Science Alumni
Participation
Q & A
The role of the Alumni Association

13. The role of the Alumni
association:
../1
 Serve as a funding source for Student and Alumni
activities
 Alumni Associations traditionally help fund some
activities of Student Organisations such as NACOSS,
the University and Alumni events
 Inspire current Students towards academic and
professional excellence
 Visibility of Alumni within the Corporate and Public
space
 Networking events between Alumni and Students
including career fairs that serve as motivation to the
Students
 Create a strong advocacy platform for the University

14. The role of the Alumni
association:
../2
 Connecting University/Departments to Corporate
Donors
 Alumni Associations beyond their own direct funding
activity can also help build the necessary corporate donor
base for Universities and Departments
 Expand the reach and influence of the University
through socially responsible actions
 The Alumni Associations serve as the long bridge between
“the Town” and “the Gown” and can strongly help in lifting
the image of the parent Institution or Department through
socially responsible actions (community services)
 Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap
 Departmental Alumni Associations can participate in
curriculum review and as visiting industry experts to

15. Structure of Computing
Education
The role of the Alumni
Association
Understanding the Theory-
Practice gap
A model for improving UI
Computer Science Alumni
Participation
Q & A
The UI Computer Science Alumni:
Scorecard

16. The UI Computer Science Alumni:
The Scorecard
• Serve as a
funding source
for Student and
Alumni
activities
Poor
• Inspire current
Students
towards
academic and
professional
excellence
Fair
• Create a strong
advocacy
platform for the
University
Poor
• Connecting
University/
Departments to
Corporate
Donors
Poor
• Expand the reach
and influence of
the University
through socially
responsible
actions
Poor
• Bridging the
Theory-Practice
Gap
Poor

17. Structure of Computing
Education
The role of the Alumni
Association
Understanding the Theory-
Practice gap
The UI Computer Science
Alumni: Scorecard
Q & A
A model for improving UI Computer
Science Alumni Participation

18. A model for Alumni
participation:
A solution framework
Access &
Consultation
Socialisation
Information
Exchange
Financial
Involvement &
Development
Organisati
on
FUNCTIONAL
COMPUTER SCIENCE
ALUMNI NETWORK

19. A model for Alumni
participation:
A solution framework
 Organisation
 We need to create or better organise the Department
Alumni Associations for UI Computer Science Department
 Access & Consultation
 The CS Alumni Association must be easily reachable via a
host of channels including the Alumni Office, Social Media
& Website
 The CS Alumni Association should be engaged for
consultation on curriculum review matters and other
developmental initiatives of the department
 Socialisation
 The CS Alumni Association should create a good number
of social platforms to facilitate both physical & virtual
interactions among members and between members &

20. A model for Alumni
participation:
A solution framework
 Information Exchange
 The CS Alumni Association must create bi-directional
informational media such as e-newsletters, Web-portal &
blogsite that will keep members, students and other
stakeholders informed not just about Association activities
but also about emerging opportunities
 Financial Involvement & Development
 The CS Alumni Association must operate as a self-funding
body and should also get financially involved in the
development of the department including sponsorship of
some student programmes
 Bonus
 The CS Alumni Association could be a veritable source for
industry resources that will complement the teaching

21. THANK YOU!
Structure of Computing
Education
The role of the Alumni
Association
Understanding the Theory-
Practice gap
The UI Computer Science
Alumni: Scorecard
A model for improving UI
Computer Science Alumni
Participation
Q & A