Did you know that there are major industry hubs in Stockholm that have purposely been built together to help advance society as a whole? In all of Sweden, there is a strong focus on research and innovation, making it a great place to study computer science. Hear from Natalia Landázuri Sáenz, program director of Computer Science at DIS Stockholm, about how this new program can benefit students.
DIS: Hi Natalia! Can you tell us a bit about computer science in Sweden?
N: Hello! Sweden is at the forefront of research and innovation in computer science. There are strategic funding programs and alliances with the main goal of supporting and advancing technological development and digital development, and computer science is a big part of that. Also, Sweden has publicly financed education specialized in this area.
I think that in general, the way Sweden has decided to emphasize digital technologies is really impacting the way we live our lives on individual and societal levels.
There’s a lot of support for innovation hubs and industrial hubs, with plenty of computer science advancements going on at the moment. I think that in general, the way Sweden has decided to emphasize digital technologies is really impacting the way we live our lives on individual and societal levels. Major advancements in computer science are pretty visible in daily life as an individual living in Sweden.
DIS: How is this visible in Stockholm?
N: There are major industry hubs in the Stockholm area. They have purposely been built together in particular areas in order to help advance society as a whole based on technological developments.
DIS: What can students expect from the new Computer Science program at DIS Stockholm?
N: Students can expect an academically sound program with a focus on hands-on, active learning. They will learn about the theory and practice of particular computer science topics, and then use that information in order to build their own ideas, projects, or even their own portfolio. Students will visit companies and research groups within different sectors, and witness what’s going on in the field first-hand. They will talk to experts and reflect upon the affordances and limitations of current innovations while exploring and reflecting on what they would like to work with in the future.
DIS: What types of students is the Computer Science program for?
N: The program is targeted to students with a very strong interest in the field of computer science. Students should be willing to explore what’s going on in the field here in Sweden and in Europe in general, and be interested in adding additional perspectives and understanding to their academic development.
DIS: What are some of the highlights of the Computer Science program?
N: The program has a major focus on experiential learning. We want students not only to learn in the classroom, and of course work with their own projects, but also to get the opportunity to go outside of the classroom, talk to experts, learn what’s going on in the field, and witness the latest innovations in Sweden and other European destinations.
The program includes course-integrated travel, which also has a strong experiential learning component. Students travel within Sweden for a week, and later travel to a different location in Europe for a week.
In addition to that, we offer small class sizes where there’s strong interaction between students and teachers, so that there are excellent opportunities for students to explore and have conversations in areas that are of particular interest to them. This is also a way for students to make connections that could influence their future careers.
DIS: Can you describe the Computer Science Core Course, Machine Learning?
N: Machine learning relies on algorithms that utilize existing data, which we call training data, in order to create models that are able to make predictions or decisions. In machine learning, algorithms allow computers to learn from data without being explicitly programmed to do so. That has so many applications in the world we live in today, and it is without a doubt a big and growing area.
The Machine Learning course offers a hands-on approach to the theory and practice of machine learning, with real-world applications. It focuses on training datasets, machine learning approaches, and the fitting and optimization of models.
DIS: How does someone studying computer science benefit from studying abroad?
N: Students who choose to study abroad at DIS Stockholm have the opportunity to learn first-hand about the latest innovations here in Sweden. On Study Tour, they also get the opportunity to see how the field is developing in a different European country. Computer science is, of course, a global field, but there are certain cultural frameworks that may create distinctions, and at DIS, students are able to witness those differences and reflect upon why they would work one way or the other. We also offer vast opportunities for experiential learning at DIS, and that’s not necessarily something students would have been exposed to before their study abroad experience, or not to the extent they are at DIS.
DIS: Do you offer elective courses within the field of computer science?
N: Yes, we now offer a Data Visualization elective and an App Development elective that both supplement the Machine Learning Core Course, and we expect to continue expanding the program with additional courses in the future. Students can also add other electives outside of the Computer Science program to build their semester with us.
DIS: What is it like to study at DIS Stockholm?
N: Compared to DIS Copenhagen, DIS Stockholm is a smaller program where students really get to know each other and create a close community. We run our classes in a beautiful ‘smart’ building that we share with the Royal Academy of Music, and students are very excited about that. Also, with our small class sizes, students have a great opportunity to influence the classes and have their own input and interests really come into play during discussions and while developing projects.
Learn more about Computer Science and DIS Stockholm
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