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In Germany we have two different kinds of universities, the normal ones and the universities of applied sciences. After spending two semesters at a university (

In Germany we have two different kinds of universities, the normal ones and the universities of applied sciences. After spending two semesters at a university (with fairly good grades) I switched to the uni of applied sciences. It was far too theoretical, and I'm not talking about the algorithms and data structures kind of theoretical. More like prove that a nondeterministic fa is not "mightier" / able to compute more than a DFA. That was not what I wanted and I'm quite happy at the uni of applied sciences now, and since most of our profs have an industry background (and a Dr.) we learn a lot of practical things. E.g. Git, build management, agile development, a module about usability and user experience, networks, applied algorithms and data structures, some math (proofs where a side note though) etc On the other hand, some of my fellow students ... Well, one task last semester was to program some really easy program with java, connect to a database with jdbc, do something with the data and write it back. We didn't know about jdbc until then. After a module is finished we have the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire about it and at least half of the class wrote that it was not ok to demand something like this. It boggles the mind.

rocqua 9y ago
We should have something like that in the Netherlands. We do have 'university' and 'technical university' but I just looked at the curriculum for CS at a technical university and it is similarly theoretical. You really need to go to HBO (höhere Berufsbildung, Higher Professional Education) to get that practical approach. This is sadly considered as plain easier than university. It probably is as well, but that leaves a gap for professional training at a higher level. It sounds like the 'Technische universitat' in Germany nicely fills that gap, or is that still considered as easier than normal university?
- kbwt 9y ago
  > 'Technische Universität' That's just what the Universities which focus more on STEM as opposed to Literature/Law/Psychology call themselves.

rocqua 9y ago

We should have something like that in the Netherlands. We do have 'university' and 'technical university' but I just looked at the curriculum for CS at a technical university and it is similarly theoretical. You really need to go to HBO (höhere Berufsbildung, Higher Professional Education) to get that practical approach. This is sadly considered as plain easier than university. It probably is as well, but that leaves a gap for professional training at a higher level. It sounds like the 'Technische universitat' in Germany nicely fills that gap, or is that still considered as easier than normal university?

kbwt 9y ago
> 'Technische Universität' That's just what the Universities which focus more on STEM as opposed to Literature/Law/Psychology call themselves.