Python for Every Student from the First Year

THE CODING LANGUAGE WILL BE TAUGHT IN ALL BOCCONI BACHELORS, BECAUSE, AS STEVE JOBS SAID, PROGRAMMING TEACHES YOU HOW TO THINK AND IT IS A SKILL HIGH IN DEMAND IN THE JOB MARKET

Starting in academic year 2017-18, Bocconi will offer a Python programming course to all Bachelor students. "Coding is the new English", Bocconi’s Rector, Gianmario Verona, likes to say and the University intends to grant citizenship in the data-driven economy to all its students.
 
The course will become compulsory at the first year of all Bachelor programs between 2017-18 and the following academic year. "But we are going to offer it also as an elective course", explains Bocconi Undergraduate School’s Director Annalisa Prencipe, "in order to allow all students to take advantage of this opportunity”.
 
Among the most popular programming languages, Python is the fastest-growing one because it's simple, flexible (easily usable in economics, management, finance, statistics, marketing, accounting, etc.), open source, versatile (it communicates with other programming languages) and suitable for collecting data on the Internet, an activity that is increasingly popular in research and business.
 
In addition, in recent years numerous reports by consultants and employers have defined Python programming skills as a strength for new graduates.
 
"Our intention is not to train computer specialists", Prof. Prencipe points out, "but to familiarize students with the logic of coding, which requires a special way of thinking through algorithms, useful in dealing with any complex problem. Steve Jobs once said that everybody should learn how to program, because it teaches you how to think. "
 
The inclusion of Python as a compulsory course at the beginning of the educational path will not remain an isolated initiative. "Because of its usability in Bocconi's disciplines," Prof. Prencipe concludes, "we are planning to include modules requiring Python in some courses of the following years”

by Fabio Todesco