Date:11/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/11/stories/2008101151080300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Vellore

VIT University to host national symposium on computing

Special Correspondent

To help future IT professionals discuss, share and learn latest technologies

VELLORE: The School of Computing Sciences of VIT University will be organising a national students’ symposium on computing on the university campus here on October 21 and 22.

Titled Phreak’08, the symposium will provide an opportunity for future computing and information technology professionals to discuss, share and learn about the latest and future technologies.

H.R. Vishwakarma of the School of Computing Sciences said in a release that Phreak’08 is special as it commemorates 40 years of software engineering discipline. Software engineering was formally accepted as an independent discipline at a NATO workshop on Software Engineering held in October 1968 in Germany, where the term ‘software engineering’ was coined. It also marks the completion of 15 years of computing education at VIT University.

The history of computing discipline at VIT University dates back to 1993, when the first academic programme in computing - B.Tech. (computer science & engineering) - was offered to meet the demand for well-qualified computer professionals. Today, the School of Computing Sciences offers five undergraduate and five postgraduate programmes, including a 5-year Integrated M.S. (software engineering).

Phreak’08 comprises 30 events (21 technical and nine non-technical events) apart from TechB competitions (paper/poster presentations and project demonstrations), seminars, industry workshops and panel discussions). Phreak’08 descends upon Open Source Revolution and is greatly involved in having its share in the revolution. In the light of the fact that there has been a dramatic growth in the popularity of Free & Open Source Software (FOSS) in all sectors - government, business, academic, research & development as well as education -, Phreak’08 events and competitions are FOSS-centric and aimed at spreading the word of Open Source.

Further details could be sought from phreak2008@gmail.com or theconvenor@phreak08.com, or by visiting www.vit.ac.in/phreak08 or http://www.phreak08.com.