Aligning African Computing Disciplines' Graduate Attributes with International Standards

Abstract

This paper explores graduate attributes as is required of students in Computer Science and Information Systems disciplines in Africa in general and in South Africa in particular. Graduate attributes as envisioned by students and employers internationally are discussed to indicate the importance of graduate attributes from both of these groups’ perspective. This discussion is followed by insights specific to computing disciplines in Sub-Saharan African countries. An overview of the graduate attributes required by the South African National Qualifications Framework and the South African Qualifications Authority is compared to the attributes suggested by the Association for Computing Machinery for computing syllabi. It is felt that this may help African and in particular South African computing departments to self-assess their programmes in terms of international standards.