A Professional Software Engineering Concept and its Interpretation for the United Arab Emirates

A study program philosophy for Professional Software Engineers will be outlined oriented towards current deficits and software technical requirements in industry, and considering important aspects of the occupation of future software engineers. In the educational concept the view is taken that the fundamentals of the analysis, modeling, realization and adaptation of software systems are based on the existence of models, technical descriptions and means of expressions. The development of software systems is considered as an overall engineering, model-based process oriented on organizational facts and market needs. Thus by developing software systems a product character is being obtained which has to be reflected in teaching subjects, study programs, technology and knowledge transfer. Since software products cover numerous facets and aspects of complex systems, the training of professional software engineers has to cover overall construction methodologies. To satisfy market needs, professional subjects, software and hardware system labs are defined and described. The Professional Software Engineering (PSEC) merges study complexes and labs into an integrated professional software engineering study program based on international standards. A proposal for specializing professional software engineers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is outlined in the appendix. This draft version recognizes the increasing level of Universities offering Software Engineering Curricila as well as results of charactarization efforts, e.g. [SWEBOK2001]. Related major SCI2002 themes: Position Draft on Information Systems Development (sub section on Software Engineering) Software Engineering as a Professional Engineering Discipline „Software engineering is the application of principles, methods and techniques to the analysis, design, prefabrication, development and adaptation of programs and systems of programs.“ As an interdisciplinary work and research field Professional Software Engineering (PSE) requires extensive knowledge of various disciplines such as formal semantics, logics, security, software architecture, computer hardware, distributed programming, middleware technology, coordination and planning, decision theory and business organization. In addition to its interdisciplinary character and knowledge from various disciplines, the development of complex modern application systems makes great software technical demands on mobility, adaptability, complex and interoperable interactions, open and human-centered systems. Here it becomes obvious that the practical application of modern technologies is ahead of its engineering substantiation. Examples of the existing deficits are • non-uniform, non-standardized means of expressions and descriptions • insufficient technical communication skills • non-uniform, non-standardized definitions, applications of software building blocks and methodologies • non-existing, non-standardized order, abstraction layers of building blocks, systems and interactions • insufficient exploration of approaches and limitations of alternatives for developing systems • insufficient frame works and platforms for powerful, interoperable and secure application systems • insufficient development of tools for the intuitive use and handling of modern application systems • missing concepts of the pre-fabrication and re-use of building blocks, systems and interactions • no predictability of interactions and dependencies between building blocks, systems and organizations • ...