Big Data. AI and Machine Learning. Quantum Computing.
These are just some of the buzzwords dominating the tech world today, and the digital transformation is not yet over. Not by a mile. In the future, technology will be taking over (almost) every aspect of our lives, and we’re only now getting a taster of it. Pop culture has already been giving us a glimpse into what our future may look like in TV series like Black Mirror or Altered Carbon.
While those may seem like they paint technology as a potential menace, the reality is technology is neutral. It’s all about the people who learn to work with it. They will be the ones that build the future.
There’s a reason why so many governments around the world, like Singapore and Australia, are pushing students to take up STEM – because no country wants to be left behind.
The most lucrative and game-changing aspect of the tech industry is in innovation, but simply bringing innovation to the table isn’t that simple – you need the entrepreneurial background to bring it to market. That’s how technopreneurs like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have made it big.
However, even with the current curriculum in tech education, studies suggest that a vast majority of computer science courses do not adequately prepare graduates for future careers as business leaders in tech.
The game-changing degree
Any new degree that aims to bridge the current gap in knowledge has to address both the tech and entrepreneurial aspects of technology. The latest graduate degree to tackle this gap is the Masters of Computer Science and Software Engineering, offered by the Schaffhausen Institute of Technology (SIT), which is a newly-established university in Switzerland created by technopreneurs, quantum physicists, and Nobel laureates.
Schaffhausen Institute of Technology focuses on the convergence of Business and Technology, and the MSc programme’s aim is to tackle the current challenges in the IT, physics, and business industries, focusing primarily on the shortage of future leaders in the software sector.
The course covers in-depth technical learning with advanced computer science and software engineering, with an added technical management stream based on real-world, industry-led problem solving. This ensures that students gain the necessary industry experience they need to fill the C-level positions of the future — for which many job titles don’t even exist yet.
SIT’s Masters of Computer Science and Software Engineering is available in 3 formats:
- Standard – 4 semesters at SIT
- Fast-Track – 3 semesters at SIT
- Double-degree with international partners from Top-10 Computer Science universities – 4 semesters: Year 1 at SIT and Year 2 at partner universities, like Carnegie-Mellon University and National University of Singapore
SIT’s newly developed curriculum is heavily researched and innovation-oriented, with a campus that boasts all new, state-of-the-art facilities. Key partnerships with major global organisations allow students to engage first-hand in developing technology and solutions to real global issues and start their own business by linking with potential investors.
How is SIT different from other tech universities?
For starters, Schaffhausen Institute of Technology has an impressive roster of luminaries in its advisory board, which is led by Nobel Laureate Prof. Sir Kostya Novoselov in cooperation with Oxford Prof. Artur Ekert, University of Geneva Prof. Nicolas Gisin, and Harvard Prof. Mikhail Lukin.
The university is founded by renowned serial tech entrepreneur and quantum physicist, Dr. Serguei Beloussov. Unlike traditional legacy institutions, the entire organisation was purpose-built by both people who live and breathe STEM, as well as successful entrepreneurs.
Just some members of SIT’s advisory board and faculty:
- Sir Kostya Novoselov, Nobel prize winner and Professor of Physics at National University of Singapore
- Rene Bonvanie, Executive VP and CMO at Palo Alto Networks
- Prof. Artur Ekert, Director of Center for Quantum Technologies, Professor at University of Oxford
- Prof. Mikhail Lukin, Professor of Physics at Harvard University
- Prof. Andrea C. Ferrari, Professor of Nanotechnology at Cambridge Graphene Centre
- Prof. Rino Rappuoli, Chief Scientist at GSK Pharmaceutical
- Dmitry Chikhachev, Co-Founder of RUNA Capital, global VC firm
For more information check out Schaffhausen Institute of Technology’s website here.
Why study in Switzerland now?
SIT is located in the quaint 1,000-year-old town of Schaffhausen, along the Rhine River. Schaffhausen is centrally located within Switzerland, and just a short train ride from Zürich – Switzerland’s biggest, wealthiest city – and just a short flight away from major hubs like London, Paris, and Rome.
It may be hard to envision studying overseas at the moment, due to Covid-19’s impact globally, but it’s also important to understand not all countries are impacted equally. We all know that Switzerland is famous for its efficiency, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it had already more or less flattened its curve by mid-May, with zero new cases for several days last month.
Proof of that is Switzerland has already begun relaxing entry restrictions for international students, allowing foreign students (regardless of nationality), to enter the country to start, continue, or finish their studies with effect from 8 June 2020.
The inaugural Master of Science in Computer Science and Software Engineering (MSc CS-SE) programme starts on September 14, 2020.
For those keen to learn more, SIT is hosting an Open House webinar on July 21, 2020 (5pm SG time), hosted by its globally-renowned faculty members and alumni who will share about the university curriculum and MSc Programme. Full SIT scholarships (covering the cost of living and studying in Switzerland for 2 years) and partial SIT scholarships are still available to candidates until August. Register for the Open House event here.
