Ethical Issues in Computer Science

Details

05.09.2012

Ifrane, May 9, 2012 – Al Akhawayn School of Science and Engineering organized its second Ethics Conference on May 4, 2012 at Al Akhawayn campus in Ifrane, for the benefit of undergraduate Computer Science students. 

The conference, part of the Computer Programming curriculum, examined different ethical issues in the field of Computer Science through presentations and group discussions led by students mainly on MegaUpload, hacking, types of piracy, ownership of software and licensing, and Turnitin (a plagiarism checker) and student rights. 

Tarik Fadli, IT Architect, Co-founder of Algo Consulting group, and guest speaker at the conference, addressed the students on "Ethics and Morality". Fadli shared his experience on the implementation of principles of ethics while doing business. 

“Students have to be informed of what piracy and intellectual property are, and how bad it is to have unlicensed software on their personal computers,” said Mhammed Chraibi, Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Al Akhawayn University. “The availability of pirated software and the ease of access to illegal copies make it easy for students to participate and encourage piracy without being aware of it. Teaching them ethics is critical in the field of Computer Science.” 

Al Akhawayn Bachelor of Science in Computer Science has earned accreditation from the US-based Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The program is the first of its kind to be accredited by ABET in Morocco, and is the fourth to be accredited in Africa, after South Africa and Egypt.