KATHMANDU: Realising the increasing demand for technologies and to fulfil the need of specialised manpower for regulation of various technologies, the Tribhuvan University (TU), since 2001, has been offering Computer Science and Information Technology course in the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels.
The course is about developing the underlying principles of both Computer Science and Information Technology and to show how these principles can be applied to real world
problems.
In the starting phase, the Bachelor’s course was divided into three years annual-based course, while Master’s level course was semester-based for two years. However, looking at the speed of development in technology and need for change, since 2008 (2064 BS) the Bachelor level has also been divided into four-year semester-based course.
Around 22 colleges affiliated to TU offer Bachelor of Computer Science and Information Technology (BSc CSIT) course, while the Central Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, TU is the only one that offers Master of Computer Science and Information Technology (MSc CSIT).
Selection criteria and scholarship
Anyone interested to enroll in BSc CSIT must have completed +2 level from the Science stream scoring at least second division and should attend an entrance exam conducted by the Institute of Science and Technology, TU (ISOT-TU). And you must pass the entrance exam securing at least 35 per cent.
Meanwhile for Master’s level, a degree in BSc CSIT or Bachelor in Engineering (BE) Computer or BE Electronics or BSc in Computer Science from TU, is required to take part in the entrance exam. Only 24 students securing highest marks in the entrance exams are admitted for this course.
And if the students perform well, they are eligible for scholarships.
Shaila Mitra Neupane studying MSc CSIT IVth semester at TU shared, “At MSc CSIT, top three students in each semester get scholarship in tuition fee, where first ranked student gets 75 per cent, second ranked student gets 50 per cent and third ranked student gets 25 per cent discount.”
Besides scholarship, the Central Department of Computer Science and Information Technology also provide Rs 2,100 per month as freeship to chosen seven students of each semester, as per Neupane.
The students studying in Bachelor’s level are also eligible for scholarships. Dipak Pudasaini, Head of Department of Department of Computer Science and Information Technology at Amrit Science Campus (ASCOL) revealed, “One top student from each semester gets scholarship of 50 per cent in tuition fee.”
Pudasaini also claimed the BSc CSIT course as the best of the entire programme in Computer Science and Information Technology ever introduced in Nepal.
Professional venture
As the course is basically research-oriented besides having different applications, Lalita Sthapit, lecturer at TU informed, “Students are capable of working in various fields as IT experts just after completing their Bachelors. Meanwhile the Master’s level is for detailed study and research for various problems solving in the field of computer and making the use of technology easier.”
Pudasaini echoing similar view shared, “After completing their Bachelor’s, students easily get job in various software companies and banks as IT manager, system analyst, data analyst, data base analyst and more.”
Even students seem quite confident about their secure future after studying this course. Prakash Neupane, BSc CSIT VIIIth semester student at ASCOL opined, “One can work in the field of advertising sector and this subject helps to develop software like Wikipedia and more where one can become a global sensation. One is able to build a place in every field where computers and technologies are required.”
Also, one can work as a freelancer using his/her creativity and become an entrepreneur argued Diksha Khadka, a student of MSc CSIT IVth semester further adding, “Outsourcing of software is one such open project to work in the international level.”
The last semester of Bachelor level programme helps a student get specialisation in either database or networking field where Aashish Shrestha, a student of IVth semester at Kathford International College stated, “Specialisation is one main reason which has made the CSIT programme best among others in Nepal.”
The BSc CSIT students are also required to work in different organisations as interns during their final semester. As per Shrestha, it has benefitted the student as “one can experience the real scenario during
internship”.
About the internship Prakash mentioned, “Internship helps one know the kind of technologies required in the market. And there are chances one can get a job while doing internship”.
Challenges
As agreed by all, the course definitely has a wide array of scope. But as it is still a new course, the major challenge is of not getting the required books and professional expertise.
Ganga Ram Rimal, MSc CSIT, IVth semester student complained, “The course is research-oriented and one needs to know a particular subject matter in detail. But in some subjects, we lack experts and our research is limited to thesis only.”
To this Pudasaini assured, “As the subject is new, we do lack the expertise but we are fulfiling that gap by providing various trainings and orientation programmes to our teachers. As for books, the Internet is one of best sources to look for. But we are trying our best to get the books.”
(Published in The Himalayantimes)
