Game Programming Workshop for High School Students by UPH Faculty of Computer Science

To determine the right choice of major, students first must know well the major they are interested to. Universitas Pelita Harapan facilitated high school students who are intrigued with computer science so that they can get familiar with the lessons as well as its working field.

On Saturday, January 15, 2014, 44 students of grade 12 from high school in Jakarta and Tangerang region participated in the Game Programming computer workshop together with UPH Faculty of Computer Science team. The 3-hours workshop piqued students? curiosities who in general already have the interests to study computer science. Thus, students gathered information about computer science major as much as possible from this event.

This kind of event really helped students before they choose their university because there are already many cases where students are unsure with their choice of major. That doubt will continue until they enter university and cause various hindrances to their studies e.g. plan to move to another major, stress or relatively low scores. Therefore, knowing a major that corresponds to the students? interest and skill has become an important factor.

According to Adrianto Gunawan, Director of Partner Relationship Management of UPH Faculty of Computer Science, explained that Game Programming is one of UPH Faculty of Computer Science?s concentrations. The other two are Medical Informatics and Database & Knowledge Discovery. ?Currently, many prospective students show interest to the Game Programming major. That is why we decided to highlight this topic for the workshop,? said Adrianto.

Students of grade 12 participated in the Game Programming computer workshop

?There are many students who want to be a game programmer as their future profession, but the challenge is how to develop a game that is not only entertaining but also educative, informative, and inspiring,? Adrianto added.   In this Game Programming workshop, participants were introduced to the current technologies that game programmers use to create their game. The participants also got their tools that can be downloaded for free so that they can study it and even create their own game. Not only that, the participants also introduced to various tools for creating multiplatform games and how to upload their creation to the digital market services (Google Playstore, Windows Store).

UPH Faculty of Computer Science teaches the development of game and its tools that are needed in order to be a game programmer. As an application developer, role and creativity, diligence, consistencies as well as team works as a developer (application developer) play important roles aside from the comprehension of tool utilization. 

?Studying IT in order to be a game programmer is like a gateway for self-improvement, which supposed to be better gradually. If a game is failed to inspire the players then we can say that the game is not successful enough. We need to re-consider again the ease of accessibility as well as the choice of the multiplatform (iOS, Android, Windows or other platforms). Even to present the game details such as the eye-catching design, sound engineer, music and many other parts, all of these aspects need to be collaborated by using various kinds of skills,? Adrianto explained.

UPH Faculty of Computer Science is supported by renowned IT companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Cisco and SAS. With their support, UPH Faculty of Computer Science can learn and strive to be better. ?There are not many universities that have a laboratory, specially equipped with the most advanced technology, which is used to facilitate students? study and practice progress at one time,? Adrianto stated. Not stopping there, UPH Faculty of Computer Science also has formed cooperation with PT. Multipolar Technology, Tbk., and various companies from Lippo Group that can provide full time work opportunities for the graduates or internship position for students who are working on their final year assignments.

At the end of the session, Hendra Achmadi, Head of Information System Department and Director of CARES, taught the material technopreneurship to give more insight for the participants. (rh)

UPH Media Relations