School cooperation
For over six years, the department has cooperated with upper secondary schools in the Helsinki region in teaching computer science. The department now has a contract with 13 schools. In the spring 2006 entrance exam, 6 pupils participated. They were all accepted into the programme. Of the pupils who had started in previous years, four were accepted to continue at the department.
After passing the entrance exam, pupils in the partner schools may attend basic courses in computer science. This allows them to get to know one branch of academia even before entering university. The programme is also intended to interest and motivate pupils to apply to the department after they finish school. The goal of both university and schools is to smooth out the difference between them and make the transition from one to the other easier. For the pupils, the programme can clarify study interests and future career choices, motivate present-day studies and emphasize the pupils' own responsibilities in their future studies. The schools that participate in the programme can raise their profile, utilize scientific expertise, and promote cooperation between university and upper secondary school teachers.
During academic years 2002-2006, the department was in charge of a national competition called Datatähti (“data star”), arranged in cooperation with the Finnish National Board of Education and the union for teachers in mathematical subjects (MAOL ry, Matemaattisten Aineiden Opettajien Liitto) and aimed at comprehensive and upper secondary schools. The 14 most successful finalists in spring 2006 were invited for coaching during two training camps at the department. After the camps, a national team was elected to represent Finland at the Baltic Olympiad in Informatics (BOI) and the International Olympics in Informatics (IOI).
On 18-21 May 2006, the department arranged the BOI in cooperation with the National Board of Education and the Heinola upper secondary school. The competition was partially funded by the University Rector. The assignments focused on algorithm problems and measured the competitors' programming skills. In this BOI, our national team won one gold medal and three bronze ones, and in the IOI, they won one silver and three bronze medals.
From the start of academic year 2006-2007, the responsibilities for the Datatähti competition and training the national team were transferred to the Tampere University Department of Computer and Information Sciences in accordance with a previous agreement on rotation. However, our department will still be in charge of the practical arrangements for the Datatähti competition, since all finals of the MAOL are set in Helsinki .
Contact persons: Professor Matti Nykänen and Lecturer Arto Wikla
School cooperation : http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/tiedeopetus/