Teaching DevOps and Cloud Based Software Engineering in University Curricula

This paper presents recommendations on the design and pilot implementation of the DevOps and Cloud based Software Development curricula for Computer Science and Software Engineering masters. The central part of proposed approach is the Body of Knowledge in the DevOps technologies for Software Engineering (DevOpsSE BoK) that defines a set Knowledge Areas and Knowledge Units required for SE professionals to work efficiently as DevOps engineer or application developer. Defining DevOpsSE-BoK provides a basis for defining required professional competences and skills and allows consistent curricula structuring and profiling. The paper also reports on the experience of the first course run on 2018/2019 academic year at the University of Amsterdam. The paper presents the structure of the course and explains what instructional methodologies have been used for course development, such as project based learning that facilitates the students' team based skills both in mastering Agile development process and skills sharing. The paper provides a short summary of the generally used DevOps definitions, concepts, models and tools, specifically focusing on the cloud based DevOps tools for software development, deployment and operation that allows the main DevOps principle of continuous development and continuous improvement which are critical for modern agile data driven companies.