CONESTOGA COLLEGE
First graduating class of new Bachelor of Computer Science degree joins IT Demo Day

Students from Conestoga's Computer Applications Development, Mobile Solutions Development and Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) programs shared real-world projects that support their hands-on learning.

The IT Demo Day showcase held on August 7 at the Waterloo campus was the inaugural appearance of the first, soon-to-graduate class of students from the Bachelor of Computer Science degree program.

"The Bachelor of Computer Science program embraces an innovative approach to education, preparing graduates for the dynamic field of Information and Communication Technology," said Pejman Salehi, executive dean of the School of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology and School of Creative Industries.

"It introduces students to cutting-edge technologies and specialized streams like cybersecurity and big data, ensuring that graduates have a competitive edge and are ready to tackle the latest technological advancements and embark on exciting careers."

The top projects earned a spot in the Tech Showcase with other final semester student projects from the School of Engineering & Technology and the School of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology. The winner of Tech Showcase receives the college's prestigious Mastercraft Award, recognizing excellence in program-related skills.

The leading teams chosen from each program:

Mobile Solutions Development - Sanjaya Adhikari, Evelyn de Cassia Felix Araujo Silveira, Thomaz Ozatski and Shobhna Verma created a web application for beauty studios and makeup artists that provides an interactive catalogue that allows customers to select details of what they'd like from multiple options during the booking process. Clients get a preview and beauty professionals can prepare ahead of the appointment.

Computer Applications Development - Deep Limbachiya, Rajvi Yadav and Sushmita Rimal created the Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) System designed to help farmers by integrating real-time weather information, soil moisture levels, crop management and irrigation scheduling to enhance farm management practices comprehensively.

Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) - Gavin Abeele, Thomas Horvath and Lisa Nguyen created Dwellow to simplify property management needs. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools to handle maintenance requests and manage tenants, properties, contacts and more. Tenants can download a companion app to submit requests and find information.

"With a strong emphasis on project-based learning, the program offers students hands-on experience that simulates real-world challenges," Salehi said of the Bachelor of Computer Science. "This approach not only equips students with practical skills, but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities - the essential ingredients for success in the tech industry."

Another project of the many on display was CommuniShare, which sends reminders when grocery items in the user's home are about to expire and creates a market where those items could be shared with someone else who can use them to reduce food waste.

Force Work is a platform to raise donations, recruit volunteers and spread awareness about social ventures, and Recycle Design Space is a marketplace to buy and sell ecofriendly products made with upcycled materials.

Conestoga's School of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology offers a 21st-century education that prepares graduates for exciting careers in the innovative world of information and communications technology. Project-based and work-integrated learning enables students to solve real-world problems and engage in new technologies that empower a professional journey in a rapidly growing sector.