University of Canterbury Computer Science & Software Engineering (UCCSSE)

As we celebrate Peter Glassenbury's retirement, we recognise more than four decades of dedicated service to the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering.

Throughout his career, Pete has been the steady hand behind countless systems, solving problems before most of us even knew they existed and helping keep the department running through decades of change.

Reflecting on Pete's contribution, Systems Manager and Developer Joffre Horlor shared:
"Over those forty-odd years the department has faced many challenges: earthquakes, server crashes, computer thefts, pandemics, moving to a new building, viruses and restructurings. Not all of these were Pete's fault.

But no matter what the universe has thrown at us, Pete's calm, unflappable, deeply capable presence has been a steadying influence for us all. Pete has always just been there, quietly fixing stuff and getting stuff done.

On behalf of the department, thanks Pete for everything you have done for us. We wish you a wonderful retirement."

Thank you, Pete, for your decades of dedication, expertise and quiet leadership. You will be greatly missed, and we wish you every happiness in your retirement.

After 38 years at the University of Canterbury, we are farewelling Senior Tutor Yalini Sundralingam as she begins her well-deserved retirement.

For more than three decades, Yalini has coordinated our tutors, supporting generations of students and staff with her knowledge, commitment, and care. Her contribution to the teaching community has been immense, and many across the University have benefited from her dedication.

Yalini is known for her warmth, positivity, and ability to bring people together. Outside of work, colleagues have enjoyed sharing in her passion for cuisine, fine wine, and craft gin, always accompanied by great conversation and plenty of laughs.

Thank you, Yalini, for 38 wonderful years of service, and for the energy and friendship you have brought to CSSE. We wish you all the very best for the next chapter! 🥂

CSEE recently partnered with Software Innovation NZ (SINZ) to host an industry forum exploring the rapidly evolving impact of Artificial Intelligence on software development and Computer Science education.

The forum brought together researchers, academics, and industry leaders to strengthen connections, identify emerging workforce needs, and explore opportunities for future research and collaboration.

The programme featured collaborative working groups, research lightning talks, student research poster presentations, and an engaging industry panel discussing how AI is reshaping software development, and how universities can adapt their teaching to better prepare graduates for the future.

We were privileged to hear insights from industry experts representing Authorised, CyberCure, Westpac New Zealand, Phocas, Plotwise Labs, and Stratos Technology Partners. Their perspectives will help inform future curriculum development, strengthen industry partnerships, and shape collaborative research initiatives.

A key outcome of the forum will be the development of a white paper containing recommendations for New Zealand universities, helping to shape the future of AI education and workforce development.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to a productive day of discussion, knowledge sharing, and partnership.

We’re pleased to welcome Francesco Maiorana, high school teacher and University of Catania Computer Science adjunct professor, to the University of Canterbury.

During his visit as an Erskine Fellow, Professor Maiorana is contributing to DATA301, delivering lectures and engaging with our Computer Science Education Research Group. His work brings an international and interdisciplinary perspective, with a focus on computer science, wellbeing, and holistic development, helping students think critically about data, algorithms, and the digital world they help shape.

Beyond the classroom, his visit opens exciting opportunities, from future teaching collaborations to exploring new courses in quantum computing, to developing data science curricula that connect secondary and tertiary education across New Zealand and Europe.

Reflecting on the opportunity, Professor Maiorana highlights UC’s strong international reputation, particularly its Computer Science Research Group, which has been the focus of his research for the past 15 years.

Recently, we welcomed Erskine Fellow Professor Fabiano Dalpiaz from the Department of Information and Computing Sciences at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Professor Dalpiaz is collaborating with Dr Judith Fuchs from the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, exploring trustworthy software and investigating the foundations of trust as artificial intelligence becomes an essential component of modern software systems.

He is also co-teaching SENG404, focusing on software requirements and architectures. Professor Dalpiaz is actively exposing students to generative AI, encouraging them to learn through experience, identifying where GenAI can support their work, as well as recognising its limitations. His approach emphasises the importance of critical thinking to ensure the software they build meets stakeholder needs and is grounded in strong foundations that support software longevity.

Reflecting on his time in Christchurch, Professor Dalpiaz shared that he has felt at home since day one, thanks to the kindness, friendliness, and openness of the people. “The beautiful campus, surrounded by nature, is an ideal place for discussing research and life with colleagues and students.”

At the start of the semester, our department hosted the annual Software Engineering Final Year Project Meet & Greet, a key moment where study meets industry in a very real way.

With 15 industry representatives in the room and 18 approved project proposals on offer, students had the opportunity to explore a diverse range of real-world software engineering challenges. More importantly, they were able to have genuine conversations with industry partners and academics about project scope, expectations, and the context behind each idea.

These connections are what make capstone projects so powerful, grounding academic learning in real problems, real stakeholders, and real impact. It was fantastic to see such strong engagement and to continue building meaningful partnerships with industry.

We are delighted to announce that Ehsan Bojnordi had a successful PhD oral examination, with the work accepted subject to minor amendments.

Thesis Title: Enhancing Social Learning in Active Video Watching via Adaptive Comment Recommendations

Supervisors: Tanja Mitrovic, Matthias Galster, Sanna Malinen

A slightly belated update from the CSSE Department. We are delighted to share that Gus Ellerm successfully completed his PhD oral examination, with the thesis accepted subject to minor amendments.

Thesis: LivePublication: A Framework for Enabling Rich and Evolving Publication Containers with Maturing eScience Technologies

Congratulations to Gus on this outstanding achievement, and also to supervisors Ben Adams and Mark Gahegan for their guidance and support throughout the journey.

Yesterday, Professor Richard Green hosted a morning tea in celebration of Ada Lovelace’s birthday, on behalf of the UC AI Research Group. Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (née Byron), was an English mathematician and is widely recognised as the world’s first computer programmer for her pioneering work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine.

AI researchers from CSSE and across the wider University joined Professor Diane Proudfoot (Philosophy), who delivered an engaging and thoughtful talk on Ada Lovelace and the early roots of Artificial Intelligence. We then enjoyed a chocolate cake designed by Professor Proudfoot and Professor Jack Copeland (Philosophy).

More information about the UC AI research group can be found at ucai.org.nz