Even gender balance in ITU's software graduate programme
51 percent of the newly admitted students in the IT University's Master's programme in Software Design are women. It is important that women take part in shaping the digital development, says Head of Department Peter Sestoft.
Computer Science DepartmentEducationdiversityPeter Sestoft
Written 20 August, 2019 07:58 by Vibeke Arildsen
An equal number of men and women will be present in the auditorium when students in ITU’s MSc in Software Design programme begin their studies this week.
Of the 142 students enrolled in the programme, 73 are women, or 51 percent of the class. In 2018, 44 percent of the newly enrolled students were women.
“We are delighted that many women, as well as men, see opportunities in combining a non-IT background with software development. It is important that women are as much a part of digital development as men. ITU is making a big effort to attract more women to the technical IT education programmes, and it is fantastic that this has resulted in an even gender balance in the Software Design programme this year," says Peter Sestoft, Head of the Computer Science Department.
Software Design is aimed at students with a non-IT bachelor's degree who want to combine their academic background with computer science skills such as software development, data analysis and algorithm development.
IT combination gives unique profile
This year's newly admitted students come from a wide range of subjects within the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, as well as professional bachelors – including law, history, engineering and teaching.
Profiles combining software development and a non-IT subject are in high demand among employers, says Peter Sestoft.
"For example, a nurse will have good prerequisites for creating innovative IT solutions for the healthcare sector, while a student with a bachelor’s degree in Danish is well-equipped to develop language technology solutions, for instance for virtual assistants," he says.
In the programme, students can specialize in business analytics, user-oriented software development or software development & technology.
Peter Sestoft, Professor and Head of the Computer Science Department, phone +45 7218 5083, email sestoft@itu.dk
Vibeke Arildsen, Press Officer, phone 2555 0447, email viar@itu.dk