Dr. Frank Heckel has been appointed Professor of Web Engineering in the Department of Computer Science and Languages at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. He sees his background, which has been shaped by everything from the Fraunhofer Institute for Medical Image Computing to a management position at Dataport, as an advantage for potential collaborations or projects at the university. In this interview, Professor Heckel shares his visions for teaching and how he intends to combine methodological expertise and specialist knowledge in order to best prepare students for the challenges of the future.
Prof. Heckel, welcome to Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. Before we talk about your new area of responsibility, let's take a brief look back. What did you study - and where?
I studied Applied Computer Science with a specialization in Media Informatics at Chemnitz University of Technology. It was an exciting time, although my fellow students and I had to acquire a lot of practical content through time spent independently studying due to the more theoretical structures at the university. The main difference to a university is the direct practical relevance, which is often more pronounced at universities - a clear advantage at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed my studies. I chose computer science because computers fascinate me and I wanted to be able to program.
What were your most important professional stations afterwards?
Immediately after my studies, I worked at the Fraunhofer Institute for Medical Image Computing MEVIS in Bremen, which is now known as the Institute for Digital Medicine. I spent ten years there until 2017, a very varied period characterized by industrial projects, application-oriented research and software development. This then led to a doctorate. After a brief stint in industry, I then spent more than five years as a manager at Dataport, the IT service provider for the North German state administrations and Saxony-Anhalt. I successfully built up a software development group there for Halle and Magdeburg, we had 40 employees at our peak. I still maintain good contacts today, which I would like to use for possible collaborations, as a practical partner for dual degree programs or projects at the university.
You were appointed professor in the field of web engineering. What fascinates you about your field?
I am fascinated by the constant change and further development of applications. With web applications and technologies, we have an incredible range of tools at our disposal to solve all kinds of problems. This makes web technologies an important cross-sectional area in IT - whether for office or multimedia platforms. Nowadays, many applications run via web applications, which also changes the requirements, for example with regard to mobile use, accessibility or offline functionality. These types of use are now standard for web applications. At the same time, a holistic approach is required to keep these applications up to date in the long term - from planning and development to deployment, further development and maintenance. Another important topic in this context is data protection and data security. As a computer scientist, it is crucial to keep this aspect in mind, and students must also internalize this. These web applications must be constantly improved during operation. A good example of this is Amazon, which continuously provides new versions of its services without interrupting operations. This continuous improvement and innovation makes web engineering very fascinating for me.
What technological trends and developments do you currently see in the field of web engineering, and how do these trends influence your research and teaching?
This is an exciting question, because an incredible amount has happened in the field of communication and collaboration with web applications, especially in the last two to three years. The coronavirus pandemic has made video conferencing the new normal. Personally, I also like using whiteboard applications like Miro. Ideas such as Meta's that we will work together in a virtual world in the future are not yet fully developed. However, generative AIs such as ChatGPT will certainly have a strong influence. Changes are also taking place in society; the way we consume information, news and entertainment has already changed significantly in recent years and will continue to evolve.
I plan to integrate these aspects into my teaching, for example by incorporating digital tools such as whiteboard applications into lessons. At the same time, I believe it is crucial to lay the foundations for a holistic approach as early as the Bachelor's degree. Topics such as data security and data protection are important building blocks for prospective computer scientists to start their careers with sound knowledge. This also includes an understanding of what happens to the data that is stored in the cloud and where exactly this data is located. Media skills are essential these days and should be learned by everyone.
Can you briefly tell us about some of the areas you want to focus on in teaching?
Of course. In addition to teaching the basic tools of computer science and software and web development, it is particularly important to me that students acquire methodological skills. In view of the rapid changes in computer science in general and in web development in particular, it is crucial that our graduates not only have solid specialist knowledge, but also the ability to adapt quickly to new methods and technologies. Therefore, the focus of our teaching is to prepare students optimally for these challenges by placing a strong emphasis on teaching methodological skills and at the same time providing a solid foundation of specialist knowledge. To achieve this, I want to make teaching as practice-oriented as possible.
In your opinion, what is a particularly important skill that students should take away from their studies for their professional future?
As already mentioned, computer science is changing constantly and at an ever-increasing speed. Flexibility and lifelong learning are therefore two key skills in professional life. Students must later be able to quickly familiarize themselves with new technologies and subject areas.
It is also important that our students learn to work together in a team and that we teach them the ability to communicate in an appreciative manner. Software development always involves several people and a large number of interfaces with other people and disciplines. Communication is therefore a key skill for successfully developing software products. After all, developing software is no longer something that individual people do.
Prof. Heckel, thank you very much for the interview.
