Description

Software engineering is a central area of study and research. Though, classes often do not exceed topics like requirements engineering, software design, implementation, testing, and project management. In brief, the topics focus on developing the software. However, software engineers have to tackle more obstacles in order to operate software. This seminar introduces students to software engineering activities, problems, and practices that go beyond the topics taught in classes.

Seminar Concept

While this seminar also teaches students how to write a scientific paper and present it, the main goal of this seminar is to bring students closer to research. Consequently, the addressed topics are emerging questions in current research that will be tackled by students and supervisors. Moreover, this seminar will be conducted in a conference-like style. In the process, students will learn to search for literature, gasp a research problem, use a popular conference management tool, review papers of fellow students, and prepare a good and straight-to-the-point presentation.

1. Kick-off meeting: First meeting to discuss the research question, direction, and strategy
2. Research and find your topic
3. Discuss topic, literature, etc. with supervisor
4. Narrow your research question
5. Discuss outline and related work with supervisor
6. Submit an abstract to a conference management system
7. Submit a draft version of a paper to your supervisor
8. Submit first version to the conference management system
9. Review two other papers
10. Polish your paper and submit final version to the conference management system
11. Create, review with supervisor, and submit a presentation for the paper
12. Present your paper at the end

Dates

Here are the preliminary dates and deadlines:

• 10.10.2017 13:00 -14:00 Kick-off meeting in room 5052
• 11-13.10.2017 Appointment with supervisor: Discuss topic, literature, etc.
• 23-17.10.2017 Appointment with supervisor: Discuss outline and related work
• 10.11.2017 Deadline: Submit abstract to EasyChair
• 27.11.2017 Deadline: Email draft version of your paper to your supervisor
• 4-8.12.2017 Appointment with supervisor: Feedback on draft version
• 22.12.2017 Deadline: Submit first version of your paper to EasyChair
• 12.1.2018 Deadline: Submit reviews to EasyChair
• 15.1.2018 10:00 Academic Presenting (part 1) in room 9U10
• 19.1.2018 Deadline: Submit final version of your paper to EasyChair
• 21.1.2018 Deadline: Email draft presentation to your supervisor
• 22.1.2018 10:00 Academic Presenting (part 2) in room 9U10
• 22-26.1.2018 Appointment with supervisor: Feedback on presentation draft
• 5.2.2018 Deadline: Submit final presentation to EasyChair
• 7.2.2018 10:00 -16:00 Presentations in room 9222

Note that all appointments, i.e., the kick-off meeting (in the beginning), the academic presenting workshop, the presentation days (in the end), and your appointments with your supervisor are mandatory!

Prerequisites

• Application: A brief motivation (instead of courses and grades)
• Strong interest in software engineering
• Strong interest in research
• Basic LaTeX knowledge
• Write and talk in English

Requirements

• 1 research vision (short abstract in English)
• 6-pages paper on a research topic (in English)
• 2 reviews of 2 follow students’ papers (in English)
• 1 presentation (in English)
• 2 discussion questions (for 2 presentations)
• Attend kick-off meeting
• Attend all appointments with the supervisor
• Attend Academic Presenting I+II
• Attend all presentations

Contact

Simon Hacks, M. Sc. seminar@swc.rwth-aachen.de