Need for study and career counselling in computer science

Abstract

High drop-out rates among undergraduate students of Computer Science (CS) can be explained by low study motivation. One way to increase students' motivation is to support their professional orientation and identity by various study and career counselling methods. A survey of Finnish CS students' awareness of their career choices and evaluation of undergraduate courses from the viewpoint of professional benefit, as well as an analysis of a group counselling module organized for first-year students, indicate that CS education can be improved not only by intensifying the professional aspects of individual courses, but also by including study and career counselling modules as integrating components of the whole CS curriculum.