Scenery and software in Sydney: Inside Khoury College’s Summer 2 Dialogue
Thu 10.24.24 / Meghan Hirsch
Scenery and software in Sydney: Inside Khoury College’s Summer 2 Dialogue
Thu 10.24.24 / Meghan Hirsch
Thu 10.24.24 / Meghan Hirsch
Thu 10.24.24 / Meghan Hirsch
Scenery and software in Sydney: Inside Khoury College’s Summer 2 Dialogue
Thu 10.24.24 / Meghan Hirsch
Scenery and software in Sydney: Inside Khoury College’s Summer 2 Dialogue
Thu 10.24.24 / Meghan Hirsch
Thu 10.24.24 / Meghan Hirsch
Thu 10.24.24 / Meghan Hirsch
This summer, 30 Khoury College undergraduate students and two graduate student teaching assistants journeyed to Sydney, Australia, immersing themselves in software engineering projects and culture while exploring magnificent sites and scenery.
Professor Ian Gorton, director of mobility programs and a professor of the practice, led the program, called “Software Development and Innovation in Sydney.” The dialogue featured two computer science courses: Fundamentals of Software Engineering and a special topics project course, in which Khoury students collaborated with graduate students at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
For Audrey Romanik, a fourth-year computer science and business administration major, the location and courses drew her in and helped her overcome the anxiety of her first trip abroad.
“It had software engineering as an option, and it was a course I needed, so I thought, why not take it abroad? And who doesn’t want to visit Australia once in their life?” Romanik said. “I had a lot of fears going in. I didn’t know anybody, but then everyone was just so great, and we learned so much working on our projects and were able to produce something great.”
Throughout the project-based courses, students worked in groups on prompts and challenges, then presented them to each other.
“Our professor didn’t really lecture us. It was more so we learned parts of the material and then taught it to the other students in the class, which I felt was a good twist to learning,” said Richard Zhao, a third-year computer science and economics major. “The course was designed so we learned the material, then learned from each other, and then applied those concepts to real-world applications.”
The students spent two weeks on each course, first working among themselves on various software engineering projects, then collaborating with professors from UTS.
Adityaa Chandna, a third-year computer engineering major, described his experience during the first few weeks of software engineering.
“It was more about how to get requirements from a client on what they want to build,” Chandna said. “How do you nail it down to figure out what you want to create? And then how would you go about creating that with off-the-shelf stuff?”
Groups executed these goals by designing websites and then presenting them to their classmates.
Rachel Kahn, a fourth-year computer science and political science major, worked on “developing the business model and software architecture behind a company that helps international students apply to Australian universities.” The collaborative, nontraditional environment, coupled with guest speakers presenting to the group, provided context for the coursework, Kahn said.
Following the software development part of the Dialogue, students collaborated with professors at UTS on other projects. Romanik explained that groups joined teams with graduate students and professors at UTS on some of their pre-existing projects, where many of them applied skills learned in their first two weeks.
“My project was about using different tools to capture the tree canopy coverage in different areas of Australia,” Romanik said. “We used a lot of things we learned, like different project management forms and how to work as a team to create tickets, which we covered in software engineering.”
Though the group learned a lot and worked on fascinating projects, the trip covered much more than just academics. This was fostered by Gorton, who, Chandna said, struck a “balance of work hard, play hard.”
Part of that “play hard” mentality meant that days and nights without classes were filled with cultural experiences and expeditions, including a tour of Sydney led by an Aboriginal Australian, an Aboriginal dance performance, Australian barefoot bowling (like bocce ball with bare feet), and visiting the iconic Sydney Opera House.
The group also took a two-hour train ride from the city to spend some time in Australia’s Blue Mountains.
“It was all about nature and hiking, kind of a city getaway, which I appreciated,” Zhao said. “I’m from New York City and I don’t really get the opportunity to go on hikes, so that was a pleasant surprise for me.”
Beyond enjoying nature, Romanik the Blue Mountain trip and all the group’s excursions allowed them to bond on a deeper level.
“That whole weekend was just us in this common area, playing pool, watching movies, and because you’re on the other side of the world, I think it brings people together,” Kahn said.
“The group dynamic was great. Everyone got along well, and interacting with each other was easy,” Chandna added.
The group brought back not only lasting friendships and new knowledge, but also insights into their personal lives and careers. Zhao explained that hearing from his classmates and guest speakers during the Dialogue helped clarify his goals for his next co-op search, where he’ll seek “something more computer science and economics related.” Others, like Chandna, are potentially looking to co-op in Sydney next semester
The bonding didn’t end when the Dialogue did, either. Back in Boston this fall, the group has kept in touch and even held a reunion recently, a reminder of the connections and memories they built together.
“If I told people about my time in Sydney, they’d be like, when did you have time to do all these other things?” Romanik reflected. “It was an amazing experience that honestly is at the top of everything I’ve done in my life.”
This summer, 30 Khoury College undergraduate students and two graduate student teaching assistants journeyed to Sydney, Australia, immersing themselves in software engineering projects and culture while exploring magnificent sites and scenery.
Professor Ian Gorton, director of mobility programs and a professor of the practice, led the program, called “Software Development and Innovation in Sydney.” The dialogue featured two computer science courses: Fundamentals of Software Engineering and a special topics project course, in which Khoury students collaborated with graduate students at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
For Audrey Romanik, a fourth-year computer science and business administration major, the location and courses drew her in and helped her overcome the anxiety of her first trip abroad.
“It had software engineering as an option, and it was a course I needed, so I thought, why not take it abroad? And who doesn’t want to visit Australia once in their life?” Romanik said. “I had a lot of fears going in. I didn’t know anybody, but then everyone was just so great, and we learned so much working on our projects and were able to produce something great.”
Throughout the project-based courses, students worked in groups on prompts and challenges, then presented them to each other.
“Our professor didn’t really lecture us. It was more so we learned parts of the material and then taught it to the other students in the class, which I felt was a good twist to learning,” said Richard Zhao, a third-year computer science and economics major. “The course was designed so we learned the material, then learned from each other, and then applied those concepts to real-world applications.”
The students spent two weeks on each course, first working among themselves on various software engineering projects, then collaborating with professors from UTS.
Adityaa Chandna, a third-year computer engineering major, described his experience during the first few weeks of software engineering.
“It was more about how to get requirements from a client on what they want to build,” Chandna said. “How do you nail it down to figure out what you want to create? And then how would you go about creating that with off-the-shelf stuff?”
Groups executed these goals by designing websites and then presenting them to their classmates.
Rachel Kahn, a fourth-year computer science and political science major, worked on “developing the business model and software architecture behind a company that helps international students apply to Australian universities.” The collaborative, nontraditional environment, coupled with guest speakers presenting to the group, provided context for the coursework, Kahn said.
Following the software development part of the Dialogue, students collaborated with professors at UTS on other projects. Romanik explained that groups joined teams with graduate students and professors at UTS on some of their pre-existing projects, where many of them applied skills learned in their first two weeks.
“My project was about using different tools to capture the tree canopy coverage in different areas of Australia,” Romanik said. “We used a lot of things we learned, like different project management forms and how to work as a team to create tickets, which we covered in software engineering.”
Though the group learned a lot and worked on fascinating projects, the trip covered much more than just academics. This was fostered by Gorton, who, Chandna said, struck a “balance of work hard, play hard.”
Part of that “play hard” mentality meant that days and nights without classes were filled with cultural experiences and expeditions, including a tour of Sydney led by an Aboriginal Australian, an Aboriginal dance performance, Australian barefoot bowling (like bocce ball with bare feet), and visiting the iconic Sydney Opera House.
The group also took a two-hour train ride from the city to spend some time in Australia’s Blue Mountains.
“It was all about nature and hiking, kind of a city getaway, which I appreciated,” Zhao said. “I’m from New York City and I don’t really get the opportunity to go on hikes, so that was a pleasant surprise for me.”
Beyond enjoying nature, Romanik the Blue Mountain trip and all the group’s excursions allowed them to bond on a deeper level.
“That whole weekend was just us in this common area, playing pool, watching movies, and because you’re on the other side of the world, I think it brings people together,” Kahn said.
“The group dynamic was great. Everyone got along well, and interacting with each other was easy,” Chandna added.
The group brought back not only lasting friendships and new knowledge, but also insights into their personal lives and careers. Zhao explained that hearing from his classmates and guest speakers during the Dialogue helped clarify his goals for his next co-op search, where he’ll seek “something more computer science and economics related.” Others, like Chandna, are potentially looking to co-op in Sydney next semester
The bonding didn’t end when the Dialogue did, either. Back in Boston this fall, the group has kept in touch and even held a reunion recently, a reminder of the connections and memories they built together.
“If I told people about my time in Sydney, they’d be like, when did you have time to do all these other things?” Romanik reflected. “It was an amazing experience that honestly is at the top of everything I’ve done in my life.”
This summer, 30 Khoury College undergraduate students and two graduate student teaching assistants journeyed to Sydney, Australia, immersing themselves in software engineering projects and culture while exploring magnificent sites and scenery.
Professor Ian Gorton, director of mobility programs and a professor of the practice, led the program, called “Software Development and Innovation in Sydney.” The dialogue featured two computer science courses: Fundamentals of Software Engineering and a special topics project course, in which Khoury students collaborated with graduate students at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
For Audrey Romanik, a fourth-year computer science and business administration major, the location and courses drew her in and helped her overcome the anxiety of her first trip abroad.
“It had software engineering as an option, and it was a course I needed, so I thought, why not take it abroad? And who doesn’t want to visit Australia once in their life?” Romanik said. “I had a lot of fears going in. I didn’t know anybody, but then everyone was just so great, and we learned so much working on our projects and were able to produce something great.”
Throughout the project-based courses, students worked in groups on prompts and challenges, then presented them to each other.
“Our professor didn’t really lecture us. It was more so we learned parts of the material and then taught it to the other students in the class, which I felt was a good twist to learning,” said Richard Zhao, a third-year computer science and economics major. “The course was designed so we learned the material, then learned from each other, and then applied those concepts to real-world applications.”
The students spent two weeks on each course, first working among themselves on various software engineering projects, then collaborating with professors from UTS.
Adityaa Chandna, a third-year computer engineering major, described his experience during the first few weeks of software engineering.
“It was more about how to get requirements from a client on what they want to build,” Chandna said. “How do you nail it down to figure out what you want to create? And then how would you go about creating that with off-the-shelf stuff?”
Groups executed these goals by designing websites and then presenting them to their classmates.
Rachel Kahn, a fourth-year computer science and political science major, worked on “developing the business model and software architecture behind a company that helps international students apply to Australian universities.” The collaborative, nontraditional environment, coupled with guest speakers presenting to the group, provided context for the coursework, Kahn said.
Following the software development part of the Dialogue, students collaborated with professors at UTS on other projects. Romanik explained that groups joined teams with graduate students and professors at UTS on some of their pre-existing projects, where many of them applied skills learned in their first two weeks.
“My project was about using different tools to capture the tree canopy coverage in different areas of Australia,” Romanik said. “We used a lot of things we learned, like different project management forms and how to work as a team to create tickets, which we covered in software engineering.”
Though the group learned a lot and worked on fascinating projects, the trip covered much more than just academics. This was fostered by Gorton, who, Chandna said, struck a “balance of work hard, play hard.”
Part of that “play hard” mentality meant that days and nights without classes were filled with cultural experiences and expeditions, including a tour of Sydney led by an Aboriginal Australian, an Aboriginal dance performance, Australian barefoot bowling (like bocce ball with bare feet), and visiting the iconic Sydney Opera House.
The group also took a two-hour train ride from the city to spend some time in Australia’s Blue Mountains.
“It was all about nature and hiking, kind of a city getaway, which I appreciated,” Zhao said. “I’m from New York City and I don’t really get the opportunity to go on hikes, so that was a pleasant surprise for me.”
Beyond enjoying nature, Romanik the Blue Mountain trip and all the group’s excursions allowed them to bond on a deeper level.
“That whole weekend was just us in this common area, playing pool, watching movies, and because you’re on the other side of the world, I think it brings people together,” Kahn said.
“The group dynamic was great. Everyone got along well, and interacting with each other was easy,” Chandna added.
The group brought back not only lasting friendships and new knowledge, but also insights into their personal lives and careers. Zhao explained that hearing from his classmates and guest speakers during the Dialogue helped clarify his goals for his next co-op search, where he’ll seek “something more computer science and economics related.” Others, like Chandna, are potentially looking to co-op in Sydney next semester
The bonding didn’t end when the Dialogue did, either. Back in Boston this fall, the group has kept in touch and even held a reunion recently, a reminder of the connections and memories they built together.
“If I told people about my time in Sydney, they’d be like, when did you have time to do all these other things?” Romanik reflected. “It was an amazing experience that honestly is at the top of everything I’ve done in my life.”
This summer, 30 Khoury College undergraduate students and two graduate student teaching assistants journeyed to Sydney, Australia, immersing themselves in software engineering projects and culture while exploring magnificent sites and scenery.
Professor Ian Gorton, director of mobility programs and a professor of the practice, led the program, called “Software Development and Innovation in Sydney.” The dialogue featured two computer science courses: Fundamentals of Software Engineering and a special topics project course, in which Khoury students collaborated with graduate students at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
For Audrey Romanik, a fourth-year computer science and business administration major, the location and courses drew her in and helped her overcome the anxiety of her first trip abroad.
“It had software engineering as an option, and it was a course I needed, so I thought, why not take it abroad? And who doesn’t want to visit Australia once in their life?” Romanik said. “I had a lot of fears going in. I didn’t know anybody, but then everyone was just so great, and we learned so much working on our projects and were able to produce something great.”
Throughout the project-based courses, students worked in groups on prompts and challenges, then presented them to each other.
“Our professor didn’t really lecture us. It was more so we learned parts of the material and then taught it to the other students in the class, which I felt was a good twist to learning,” said Richard Zhao, a third-year computer science and economics major. “The course was designed so we learned the material, then learned from each other, and then applied those concepts to real-world applications.”
The students spent two weeks on each course, first working among themselves on various software engineering projects, then collaborating with professors from UTS.
Adityaa Chandna, a third-year computer engineering major, described his experience during the first few weeks of software engineering.
“It was more about how to get requirements from a client on what they want to build,” Chandna said. “How do you nail it down to figure out what you want to create? And then how would you go about creating that with off-the-shelf stuff?”
Groups executed these goals by designing websites and then presenting them to their classmates.
Rachel Kahn, a fourth-year computer science and political science major, worked on “developing the business model and software architecture behind a company that helps international students apply to Australian universities.” The collaborative, nontraditional environment, coupled with guest speakers presenting to the group, provided context for the coursework, Kahn said.
Following the software development part of the Dialogue, students collaborated with professors at UTS on other projects. Romanik explained that groups joined teams with graduate students and professors at UTS on some of their pre-existing projects, where many of them applied skills learned in their first two weeks.
“My project was about using different tools to capture the tree canopy coverage in different areas of Australia,” Romanik said. “We used a lot of things we learned, like different project management forms and how to work as a team to create tickets, which we covered in software engineering.”
Though the group learned a lot and worked on fascinating projects, the trip covered much more than just academics. This was fostered by Gorton, who, Chandna said, struck a “balance of work hard, play hard.”
Part of that “play hard” mentality meant that days and nights without classes were filled with cultural experiences and expeditions, including a tour of Sydney led by an Aboriginal Australian, an Aboriginal dance performance, Australian barefoot bowling (like bocce ball with bare feet), and visiting the iconic Sydney Opera House.
The group also took a two-hour train ride from the city to spend some time in Australia’s Blue Mountains.
“It was all about nature and hiking, kind of a city getaway, which I appreciated,” Zhao said. “I’m from New York City and I don’t really get the opportunity to go on hikes, so that was a pleasant surprise for me.”
Beyond enjoying nature, Romanik the Blue Mountain trip and all the group’s excursions allowed them to bond on a deeper level.
“That whole weekend was just us in this common area, playing pool, watching movies, and because you’re on the other side of the world, I think it brings people together,” Kahn said.
“The group dynamic was great. Everyone got along well, and interacting with each other was easy,” Chandna added.
The group brought back not only lasting friendships and new knowledge, but also insights into their personal lives and careers. Zhao explained that hearing from his classmates and guest speakers during the Dialogue helped clarify his goals for his next co-op search, where he’ll seek “something more computer science and economics related.” Others, like Chandna, are potentially looking to co-op in Sydney next semester
The bonding didn’t end when the Dialogue did, either. Back in Boston this fall, the group has kept in touch and even held a reunion recently, a reminder of the connections and memories they built together.
“If I told people about my time in Sydney, they’d be like, when did you have time to do all these other things?” Romanik reflected. “It was an amazing experience that honestly is at the top of everything I’ve done in my life.”
Khoury Social
Contact Khoury
Khoury Social
Contact Khoury
Khoury Social
Contact Khoury
Khoury Social
Contact Khoury