SFSU Collaboration with University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany

Program for Graduate-Level Academic Exchange Between San Francisco State University and The University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany

We have established a formal bilateral exchange between the Computer Science Departments of San Francisco State University and the University of Applied Sciences in Fulda ( http://www.fh-fulda.de/isu/2005/fh_en.htm). This is the first bilateral agreement within the College of Science and Engineering (COSE). The exchange will be sponsored at SFSU by the Computer Science Department and will have the following features:

• SFSU CS graduate students will take specified classes at the University of Applied Sciences and these will be counted as electives in their graduate program. Courses will be taught in English and will be in subject areas such as electronic business and multimedia systems.
• Graduate students from the University of Applied Sciences will take specified graduate and undergraduate courses in the CS Department that may be counted toward completion of their home degree. Courses will be in subject areas such as distributed systems and multimedia systems.

This agreement has been spearheaded by Prof. A. Puder from SFSU Computer Science Department and Prof. R. Todtenhoefer from Fulda University.

Students interested to participate in this exchange please contact Prof. Puder directly.

The Baroque city of Fulda is located between the Rhön and Vogelsberg mountains in the green geographic center of Germany. The region is home to numerous mechanical, electrical and computer engineering companies and service firms. The historic city of Fulda attracts visitors from around the world. A city of 63,000 inhabitants, Fulda boasts one of Germany’s most picturesque and charming old towns. Fulda, situated in the center of Germany, enjoys ideal transport connections. The city is located along a highway and is served by ICE (Intercity Express), Germany’s high-speed train system. Germany’s principal international airport, Frankfurt, is just an hour away by car or train.

Fulda University of Applied Sciences covers a broad spectrum of academic and professional education. The institution is a practice-orientated university with an international focus, founded in 1974. Today, the university has eight academic departments with over 120 professors and as support staff. Numerous research and development projects are undertaken in cooperation with private business and industry and other institutions in the Fulda region and beyond. The Departments of Applied Computer Sciences, Business Administration, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Food Technology, Household Management, Nutrition and Food Quality, Nursing and Health Sciences, Social and Cultural Studies and Social Studies teach numerous first-degree programs, graduate programs and other educational offerings. Some of the study programs lead to an international bachelor’s or master’s degree, and all are based on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). 10 % of the students come from abroad. The University has a pleasant campus, with attractive buildings grouped around a central plaza. The city center is in walking distance, about 20 minutes away.

The Department of Computer Science was established in 1982 and it offers a program that qualifies students to play leading roles in the computer applications. The department has 18 tenured faculty, 10 researchers and engineers, and 2 departmental secretaries. 800 students are currently enrolled in computer science. Structure of the program: In three semesters of Basic Studies, students gain solid practical and theoretical knowledge. Four semesters of Advanced Studies build on the foundation laid during Basic Studies. Students specialize in one of three areas:

• Multimedia Computer Science: Modern multimedia technologies; Design and development of multimedia systems, applications and services; Audio and video technology; Multimedia project management; Multimedia human computer interaction
• Telecommunications: Assessment of modern communications technologies and systems; Analysis and technical representation of communications systems in public, private and economic life; Planning, implementation and operation of communications systems; Architecture, set-up and administration of telecommunications networks
• Business Computing: Design, implementation and maintenance of corporate computing and IT systems; Configuration and customizing of standard software solutions; Project planning, execution and management

Advanced Studies include an internship semester. The eighth and final semester is devoted to preparation of a graduation thesis. The Department offers its students state-of-the-art computer technology for teaching and learning purposes and for use in individual or group projects. It has labs for audio and video, CAE, multimedia, network technology, software, telecommunications and business computer systems. The Department maintains very close contacts with partner institutions abroad and many Fulda computer science students take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the Department’s study-abroad programs.

In the Fall Semester of 2004, we at SFSU Computer Science Department conducted a SW Engineering class (CSC 640/848) together with students from Fulda University where we explored issues of Global SW Engineering.

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