The Early Years of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire

About the book

This book has been edited by Gordon Bull and Mark Jenkin.

The University of Hertfordshire opened in September 1952 as Hatfield Technical College, the first major post-war project in technical education to be planned in England.

In 2015/16 the University’s School of Computer Science celebrated fifty years of running their BSc in Computer Science. Ten years earlier, prompted by the fortieth anniversary, background research by the author unearthed a wealth of material that was pertinent, not just to the provision of the undergraduate scheme, but also to the development of computing and the computing service in general during the early years at Hatfield. Building on this research, he was able to write a history embracing the period that put Hatfield in the vanguard of computer science education in the 1960s.

More about the book

This book celebrates the rapid growth of higher education in the 1960s and the achievements of the pioneers in computer science at Hatfield whose vision and determination made Hatfield a vibrant centre for teaching, research and service provision. It includes contributions from the early students and recognises the impact that they made on an emerging industry.
The book illustrates how the early years of computer science at Hatfield made its reputation, one that has continued to the present day.
Gordon Bull was Professor of Information Technology and Dean of the IT Faculty at the University of Brighton following a long career in higher education. He retired in 2000 and was accorded the title of Professor Emeritus for his services to the university. His research career spanned some 40 years and he was responsible for a number of innovations including starting one of the first degrees in Computer Science.
Mark Jenkin was Associate Dean of the School of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire.

View the table of contents

	List of illustrations	vi
	Abbreviations	viii
	Foreword	xi
	Preface	xiii
	Introduction	1

1	Background	3
2	Computing education at Hatfield: up to 1965	15
3	Computing education at Hatfield: 1965 onwards	36
4	Computing provision at Hatfield	68
5	Service for other educational establishments	98
6	The people involved	105

	Timelines	121

	Appendix 1: Seminar on the teaching of computational science at University of Liverpool, 1965	131
	Appendix 2: UK government working group report on computer education, 1967	134
	Appendix 3: J.A.P. Hall pamphlet: introducing the Department of Mathematics, 1959	139
	Appendix 4: Conference: ‘The computing laboratory in the technical college’, Hatfield College of Technology 1960	142
	Appendix 5: Hatfield and Elliotts – the relationship	144
	Appendix 6: Proposal to buy or rent a digital computer, 1961	149
	Appendix 7: Opening of digital computer unit 1964	153
	Appendix 8: Scope of operation of the digital computer unit, 1964	155
	Appendix 9: Conference on digital computer education, Hatfield, May 1963	157
	Appendix 10: Proposed Diploma in Technology in Computer Science, 1964	158
	Appendix 11: A first-year exam paper from 1968	162
	Appendix 12: Report on the running of the BSc Computer Science, 1970	165
	Appendix 13: Computing facilities 1963–69	169
	Appendix 14: Proposal for a new computer centre, November 1967	172
	Appendix 15: (Requirements) specification of the multi-access computer system, 1969	174

	Bibliography	177
	Index	179

About the Author/s:

Gordon Brand

Gordon Brand (also known as Gordon Spencer-Brand) graduated with a degree in mathematics from the University of Exeter and subsequently joined Hatfield College of Technology in 1966 as a programmer in the computer unit. He became manager of the Elliott 803 computers and, with the creation of the computer centre, had various roles including computer manager, head of operations and services, then deputy director and, ultimately, director of the computer centre. He served thirty years at Hatfield and took early retirement in 1996.

ISBN: 978-1-909291-89-8 Format: Paperback, 196pp Published: Mar 2016

The Early Years of Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire

The making of a reputation

About the book

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Gordon Brand

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