Unique open online programming course starts again at Helsinki University

This is the fifth year in a row that the massive open online course (MOOC) will start at the University of Helsinki. Finns can take the course just for fun, as a part of their upper-secondary education, or even as an entrance exam to the university.

The course is free of charge, and it is so basic that students with no experience of programming can follow it.

Previous courses have been attended by thousands of enthusiastic students, who have found it useful and fun. The 14-week course follows the same requirements as the basic programming courses of the department, introducing algorithmic thinking, modern object-oriented programming, and the relevant issue of code quality in software engineering.

 

Created date

22.01.2016 - 17:07

Strategy Day of the Department 19.5. in Vuosaari

A hundred department members attended the department’s strategy seminar in sunny Vuosaari this year.   The event’s discussion topics included the transfer to the new faculty structure and new branches of research.

 

 

More details about the seminar  (Sasu's PP presentation).

The Department of Computer Science is a leading unit in its field

The Department of Computer Science is a leading unit in its field based on international rankings. The Department has the first position in Finland and third in the Nordic countries in the QS World University Rankings 2017. The Department has the first position in the Nordic Countries in the Times Higher Education 2017 Rankings

ZDNet wrote on the Ubispark project

ZDNet wrote on Feb 21st on the Ubispark project of the Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki.

A smartphone today packs more computing power than the computers used by NASA in the Apollo space program. At the same time, the Internet of Things is bringing connectivity to a growing number of devices, from smart TVs to fridges. Now researchers at Finland's University of Helsinki want to harness all these computational resources in a project called Ubispark, which uses smart devices for energy-efficient distributed computing.

Professor Sasu Tarkoma is promoter of corporate collaboration of 2016

This University of Helsinki prize was awarded for the first time ever.

Sasu Tarkoma, professor of computer science, has been exemplary in promoting collaboration between the University of Helsinki and the corporate world, the university states as the reasoning behind the prize.

He has brought the university new funding through corporate collaboration, and has opened up new avenues in teaching and open data. In addition, Professor Tarkoma participates in university-based startup work, says Vice-Rector Pertti Panula, who gave away the prize.

It’s a joy to collaborate with the industries. I believe that it’s a win-win for both parties, both the university and the corporations. The secret to success is the good teamwork, and I have had the fortune to work with good teams, said Tarkoma in his thank-you speech.

Left-right: Maarit Haataja, Sasu Tarkoma, Antti Neimala, Pertti Panula