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About the European Computer Science Summit

In all European countries, teaching and research in information technology are facing constant challenges, some shared with our colleagues in other regions, some more specific. The heads of CS departments are in a unique position to appreciate the issues and to look for solutions.

The purpose of the first European Computer Science Summit is:

To bring together the heads (who may also go by the title of "dean", "chair", "president" depending on the country and institution) of departments (or "schools", "faculties") of computer science or equivalent ("Informatique/Informatik/Informatica/Informatics", "Information Technology", "Electrical Engineering and Computer Science") in PhD-granting universities in the European region.
To provide them with a forum for discussion of common issues and search for joint solutions.
To examine ways in which department heads can work together to improve teaching and research, implement the Bologna process, influence the policies of universities, governments and the EU. (A typical example of an open issue is the current efforts of university managers to establish quantitative criteria for assessment, based e.g. on publication and citation measures, often poorly adapted to our discipline.)
To offer workshops, panels and other interactive sessions for discussion of problems and proposals.
To provide a liaison with other groups pursuing relevant interests, such as the CRA in the US.
To examine the opportunity of setting up a permanent collaboration structure and of turning the Summit into a regular event.

This is not a traditional scientific conference; the emphasis will be on discussion. The conference will include a keynote by a founder of the Snowbird meeting.

The organization will rely on our departments' resources, enabling us not to charge any registration fee. Participants will be expected to cover their own travel expenses, although we may be able to secure some funding for participants from emerging countries.

Attendance at the conference is limited to heads of CS departments, as defined above, in the European region; deputy heads may be acceptable if their deputy position is permanent, but no other substitution will be permitted. In addition, we will invite a number of observers from industry (research labs and entrepreneurial companies), governments (national and EU) and university administration. Attendees are welcome to suggest observers.

To tell us of your interest please fill in the registration form.