[nata79]

> It sucks, because often the best programmers are not degree-qualified.

I've worked with very good programers that don't have a degree. But, learning the basis to become a good software engineer, is just a lot easier following formal training (like going to University). I find it hard to believe that most competent programmers will not have a degree.

Again, having a degree is not necessary to be a good software engineer. But it's a lot easier to be a good software engineer if you have a degree.

[agentultra]

Most computer science curriculum I know of are far from engineering curriculum. Few students seem to retain any knowledge of predicate calculi or how to apply them to software specifications.

[nata79]

Perhaps. My curriculum (and of most other universities in my country) thought me the basis of OOP, Databases, Software Requirements, Development Processes, Distributed Systems, etc... All these concepts map directly to my day to day to job. Having learned this at college, made my life a lot easier after entering the market. And I still think that holds true after 10 years of professional experience.