Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance: Difference between revisions

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'''The Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance''' (SICSA) is a ‘research pool’ funded by the [[Scottish Funding Council]]. A research pool is a collaboration of Scottish university departments whose broad objective is to improve and maintain the quality of research carried out in Scotland. <ref>[http://www.sfc.ac.uk/research/researchpools/researchpools.aspx Scottish Funding Council: Research Pools] November 2011. </ref>.

{{Use British English|date=December 2011}}

{{primary sources|date=March 2015}}

'''The Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance''' ('''SICSA''') is a ‘research"research pool’pool" funded by the [[Scottish Funding Council]]. A research pool is a collaboration of Scottish university departments whose broad objective is to improvecreate anda maintaincoherent research community that will improve the quality of research carried out in Scotland. in the pool-related discipline.<ref>[http://www.sfc.ac.uk/research/researchpools/researchpools.aspx Research Pools] Scottish Funding Council:, ResearchEdinburgh, Pools]Scotland. 3 November 2011. </ref><ref>[http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=402333 A collective ambition that builds up to a critical mass]. Times Higher Education, 12 June 2008.</ref>

SICSA’sSICSA's goals <ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk SICSA objectives]</ref> are to improve the quality of research in informatics and computer science across universities in Scotland, to promote the transfer of research results to benefit companies and the public sector in Scotland and to create a coherentuniversity community that represents all aspects of Scottish Informatics and Computer Science.<ref>[http://www.sciencescotland.org/feature.php?id=119 The net worth of networks] Science Scotland 10, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. January 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk SICSA's objectives] 3 November 2011.</ref>

SICSA was launched in December 2008 and is funded with an award of £14.5 million from the Scottish Funding Council with SICSA member universities providing matching funding .<ref> [http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/PressReleases_SFCPR382008/sfcpr3808.pdf SFC Press Release] SFCPR/38/08, 5thScottish Funding Council, Edinburgh. 5 December 2008. </ref>. It is managed by the SICSA Executive which is comprisedcomposed of a: Director orof Research (who is also the SICSA Director), the Director of the SICSA Graduate Academy, the Director of Knowledge Transfer andExchange, the Director of Education., the SICSA Executive Officer and the SICSA Executive Assistant.<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/people SICSA people and governance] 3 November 2011.</ref>

== Membership ==

SICSA has adopted an inclusive membership policy and all universities in Scotland that have computer science or informatics departments/schools are eligible to be members of SICSA. {{As of|2011|10|alt=In OctoberApril 20122013|url=http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/about/SICSA_Universities}}, the following departments/schools were members of SICSA members.<ref> [http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/about/SICSA_Universities SICSA members] 17 April 2013.</ref>.

<li>#[[University of Aberdeen]]. Department of Computing Science</li>

<li>#[[University of Abertay]]. School of Computing and Engineering Systems & Institute of Arts, Media and Computer Games </li>

<li>#[[University of Dundee]]. School of Computing </li>

<li>#[[University of Edinburgh]]. School of Informatics </li>

<li>#[[Edinburgh Napier University]]. Institute for Informatics & Digital Innovation </li>

<li>#[[University of Glasgow]]. School of Computing Science </li>

<li>#[[Glasgow Caledonian University]]. School of Engineering and Computing </li>

<li>#[[Heriot-Watt University]]. School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences </li>

<li>#[[The Robert Gordon University]]. School of Computing </li>

<li>#[[University of St Andrews]]. School of Computer Science</li>

<li>#[[University of Stirling]]. Department of Computer Science and Mathematics</li>

<li>#[[University of Strathclyde]]. Department of Computer and Information Sciences</li>

<li>#[[University of the West of Scotland]]. School of Computing</li>

#[[University of the Highlands and Islands]]. School of Computing

SICSA has adopted an inclusive membership policy and all universities in Scotland that have computer science or informatics departments/schools are eligible to be members of SICSA. In October 2012, the following departments/schools were members of SICSA <ref> [http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/about/SICSA_Universities SICSA members]</ref>.

<ol>

<li>[[University of Aberdeen]]. Department of Computing Science</li>

<li>[[University of Abertay]]. School of Computing and Engineering Systems & Institute of Arts, Media and Computer Games </li>

<li>[[University of Dundee]]. School of Computing </li>

<li>[[University of Edinburgh]]. School of Informatics </li>

<li>[[Edinburgh Napier University]]. Institute for Informatics & Digital Innovation </li>

<li>[[University of Glasgow]]. School of Computing Science </li>

<li>[[Glasgow Caledonian University]]. School of Engineering and Computing </li>

<li>[[Heriot-Watt University]]. School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences </li>

<li>[[Robert Gordon University]]. School of Computing </li>

<li>[[University of St Andrews]]. School of Computer Science</li>

<li>[[University of Stirling]]. Department of Computer Science and Mathematics</li>

<li>[[University of Strathclyde]]. Department of Computer and Information Sciences</li>

<li>[[University of the West of Scotland]]. School of Computing</li>

</ol>

== Research themes ==

SICSA's research activities are organized around four broad research themes<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/themes SICSA research themes] 3 November 2011.</ref>

SICSA’s research activities are organized around four broad research themes*Next-generation Internet<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/themes/next-generation-internet SICSANext-generation researchinternet] themes]8 November 2011</ref>

*Complex Systems Engineering<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/themes/complex-systems-engineering Complex systems engineering] 8 November 2011</ref>

<ul>

*Modelling and Abstraction<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/themes/modelling-and-abstraction Modelling and abstraction] 8 November 2011</ref>

<li>Next-generation Internet</li>

*Multi-modal Interaction<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/themes/multimodal-interaction Multi-modal interaction] 8 November 2011</ref>

Each research theme is managed by a theme leader and organizes workshops and events for the computer science research community across Scotland.

<li>Complex Systems Engineering</li>

<li>Modelling and Abstraction </li>

<li>Multi-modal Interaction </li>

</ul>

Each research theme is managed by a theme leader and organizes workshops and events for the research community across Scotland.

== SICSA staff appointments ==

To help achieve its goal of improving research quality, SICSA has funded the appointment of 30 academic staff across Scottish universities .<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/people/SICSA-Staff SICSA staff appointments] 3 November 2011.</ref>. Appointments have been made in Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde, Abertay and Aberdeen Universities.

To help achieve its goal of improving research quality, SICSA has funded the appointment of 30 academic staff across Scottish universities <ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/people/SICSA-Staff SICSA staff appointments]</ref>. Appointments have been made in Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde, Abertay and Aberdeen Universities.

== The SICSA Graduate Academy ==

The SICSA Graduate Academy (SGA) <ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/graduate-academy SICSA Graduate Academy] 3 November 2011.</ref> is an international graduate school in informatics and computer science. It provides funding for PhD students, supports graduate training and summer schools and runs a Distinguished Visitor scheme which supports visits from distinguished computer scientists to Scotland. The SGA runs an annual conference for all PhD students working in computer science and informatics in Scotland. <ref> [http://www.sicsaconf.org/ SICSA annual conference] 3 November 2011.</ref>

The SICSA Graduate Academy (SGA) <ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/graduate-academy SICSA Graduate Academy]</ref>is an international graduate school in informatics and computer science. It provides funding for PhD students, supports graduate training and summer schools and runs a Distinguished Visitor scheme which supports visits from distinguished computer scientists to Scotland. The SGA runs an annual conference for all PhD students working in computer science and informatics in Scotland. <ref> [http://www.sicsaconf.org/ SICSA annual conference]</ref>

=== SICSA Prize studentships ===

SICSA has offeredmade almostavailable 80 prize studentships for PhD study in Scotland to students from around the world, with the aim of attracting the research leaders of the future to work in Scotland.<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/graduate-academy/prize-studentships SICSA prize studentships] 3 November 2011.</ref>

SICSA has offered almost 80 prize studentships for PhD study in Scotland to students from around the world, with the aim of attracting the research leaders of the future to work in Scotland.

=== SICSA summer schools ===

SICSA provides support for PhD students in Scotland to attend international summer school and sponsors up to 3 international summer schools per year for PhD students in Scotland. Nine summer schools have been sponsored in Scottish universities between June 2009 and September 2011August 2012.<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/graduate-academy/sponsored-summer-schools SICSA-sponsored summer schools] 17 April 2013.</ref>

SICSA provides support for PhD students in Scotland to attend international summer school and sponsors up to 3 international summer schools per year for PhD students in Scotland. Nine summer schools have been sponsored in Scottish universities between June 2009 and September 2011 <ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/graduate-academy/sponsored-summer-schools SICSA-sponsored summer schools]</ref>

=== SICSA Distinguished Visitor Scheme ===

The aim of the SICSA Distinguished Visitor scheme is to provide support for excellent researchers from around the world to interact with the Scottish Computer Science and Informatics research community.

== Interaction with industry ==

SICSA interacts extensively with local industry in Scotland with a view to transferring technology and informing the industrial community of informatics and computer science research in Scotland .<ref>[http://www.sciencescotland.org/feature.php?id=118 Commercialisation: From Blue Sky to Real World] Science Scotland 10, Royal Society of Edinburgh, January 2011. </ref>. An annual ‘Demofest’"Demofest" is organized that showcases Scottish University research.<ref>[http://www.informatics-ventures.com/connect/demofest SICSA demofest] 8 November 2011</ref> Specific projects with industry includeare workconcerned onwith Smart Tourismsmart tourism<ref>[http://www.smarttourism.org/ Smart Tourism] 3 November 2011.</ref> and Cloudmigrating Computinghigh-value software services to the cloud.<ref>[http://www.servicestothecloud.com/ Services to the Cloud] 3 November 2011.</ref>.

In 2013, SICSA developed a portfolio of funding mechanisms which have the specific aim of increasing exchanges between academics and industry.<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/industry/ SICSA Industry] 17 April 2013.</ref> These mechanisms include: SICSA Postgraduate Industry Internship Program; SICSA Early Career Industry Fellowship; SICSA Distinguished Industrial Visitors Fellowship; SICSA Elevate - Incubator Program; SICSA Proof of Concept Program; SICSA Team Based Industrial Placements Program.

SICSA interacts extensively with local industry in Scotland with a view to transferring technology and informing the industrial community of informatics and computer science research in Scotland <ref>[http://www.sciencescotland.org/feature.php?id=118 Commercialisation: From Blue Sky to Real World] Science Scotland 10, Royal Society of Edinburgh, January 2011. </ref>. An annual ‘Demofest’ is organized that showcases Scottish University research. Specific projects with industry include work on Smart Tourism <ref>[http://www.smarttourism.org/ Smart Tourism]</ref> and Cloud Computing <ref>[http://www.servicestothecloud.com/ Services to the Cloud]</ref>.

== Computer science education ==

Uniquely amongst the SFC research pools, SICSA has extended its remit to include education as well as research. <ref>[http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/CNP_CouncilMeeting2September2011_02092011/SFC11_64_CEO_items_to_report.pdf Scottish Funding Council: Chief Executive's Report] SFC/11/64. 2ndScottish SeptemberFunding Council, Edinburgh, 2012Scotland. 2 September 2011.</ref> The aim of this move is to allow SICSA to become the single representative body for all aspects of university informatics/computer science research and informaticseducation in Scotland.

SICSA maintains information about undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses in Scotland for potential students and provides information for industry on opportunities for graduate recruitment.<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/sicsanew/education SICSA education] 3 November 2011. </ref>

Uniquely amongst the SFC research pools, SICSA has extended its remit to include education as well as research. <ref>[http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/CNP_CouncilMeeting2September2011_02092011/SFC11_64_CEO_items_to_report.pdf Scottish Funding Council: Chief Executive's Report] SFC/11/64. 2nd September 2012. </ref> The aim of this move is to allow SICSA to become the single representative body for all aspects of university computer science and informatics in Scotland.

SICSA maintains information about undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses in Scotland for potential students and provides information for industry on opportunities for graduate recruitment.<ref>[http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/sicsanew/education SICSA education] November 2011. </ref>

== References ==

{{ Reflist }}

==External links==

* [http://www.sicsa.ac.uk/ Official SICSA Web site]

[[Category:Academia in Scotland]]

[[Category:Academic organisations based in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:College and university associations and consortia in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Computer science education in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Computer science organizations]]

[[Category:Information science organizations]]

[[Category:Information technology organisations based in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Research institutes in Scotland]]

[[Category:2008 establishments in Scotland]]

[[Category:Scientific organizations established in 2008]]