CSC News
Department Welcomes Venezuelan Summer Practicum for Seventh Year
For the seventh time since 2007, the NC State Computer Science Department hosted a team of 16 undergraduate students from the Universidad Católica Andres Bello (UCAB), Caracas Venezuela, for a two-week summer practicum.The summer practicum began 2007 after Dr. Daniel Saloni, Assistant Professor of Forest Biomaterials at NC State, and alumnus of UCAB, initiated the connection between NC State and UCAB. Summer programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Civil Engineering have been in place for several years. Professor Susana Garcia, Coordinator of the Department of Informatics at UCAB, worked with Dr. Mladen Vouk, head of the Computer Science Department, and Dr. Robert Fornaro, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, to develop a short course for the summer practicum in Computer Science.
The 2014 computer science practicum focused on software development for embedded sensor systems. Students attended lectures and lab sessions daily and designed a project of their choice. They also had an opportunity to develop applications using Microsoft’s Gadgeteer platform. At the end of the two-week session, students demonstrated what they had learned to computer science faculty, staff, and students.
The students were also able to experience some American culture outside of the classroom with visits to area attractions including shopping malls and various Raleigh landmarks.
“We enjoy seeing the exchange of cultures and observing the students’ approach to learning, says Dr. Fornaro. We’re always impressed by their spirit of adventure – they’re coming to a different country, many for the first time, sometimes struggling with language, but always dedicated to learning.”
A special thank you to the following computer science faculty, staff and students who made this summer practicum a success: Mr. Ignacio Domínguez (an alumnus of the 2008 Practicum), Dr. Robert Fornaro, and Ms. Margaret Heil.
~coates~
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