Experience with Teaching PDC Topics into Babeş-Bolyai University’s CS Courses

In this paper, we present an analysis of the outcomes of teaching Parallel and Distributed Computing within the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science from Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca. The analysis considers the level of interest of students for different topics as being determinant in achieving the learning outcomes. Our experiences have been greatly influenced by the specific context defined by the fact that the majority of the students are already enrolled into a software company either as interns in an internship program or as employees. The level of interest of students for a specific topic is also determined by the development of the IT industry in the region. The learning activity is in general influenced by this specific context, and a new, high demanding topic as Parallel and Distributed Computing is even more influenced, when is to be taught to the undergraduate level. This analysis further leads to a more general analysis on the appropriateness of introducing PDC topics, or other relatively advanced topics, to all undergraduate students in CS, or to consider newly defined educational degrees.