Robotics and AI as a motivator for the attraction and retention of computer science undergraduates in Canada

John Anderson*, Jacky Baltes

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Since the burst of the dot-com bubble in 2000, computer science has seen a significant decrease in enrollment in universities across North America. While this has been well-publicized in the media in the United States, Canada's numbers in this regard have been significantly worse. Within Canada, however, the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba has been relatively fortunate: while a noticeable decrease has occurred, it is statistically much less than has occurred across Canada and the U.S. There are a number of reasons for this, one of which is the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics in particular, as a tool for student recruitment and retention. In this paper, we examine enrollment trends of our university compared to the rest of the continent, discuss some of the reasons behind these trends, and describe how we use AI, and robotics in particular, as tools to attract and retain computer science students.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUsing AI to Motivate Greater Participation in Computer Science - Papers from the AAAI Spring Symposium, Technical Report
Pages2-7
Number of pages6
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
Event2008 AAAI Spring Symposium - Stanford, CA, United States
Duration: 2008 Mar 262008 Mar 28

Publication series

NameAAAI Spring Symposium - Technical Report
VolumeSS-08-08

Other

Other2008 AAAI Spring Symposium
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityStanford, CA
Period2008/03/262008/03/28

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Artificial Intelligence

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