Quantum Software is an emerging field of research, and as such there is no standardized education for students and young researchers. The multi-disciplinary nature of the field poses challenges in arranging and shaping educational programs.
Courses
Members of the QSC have a strong track record in education and in the advising and coaching of students and young researchers. For example, at the level of the MSc education there is a long tradition of advanced courses taught at CWI and at the University of Amsterdam (Buhrman, de Wolf, Schaffner), while Delft has recently launched the QuTech Academy, which caters to students in a variety of MSc programs.
In designing its educational activities, the QSC will rely on the expertise and enthusiasm of its own scientific staff, but it will equally make use of the frequent presence of high-profile visitors, by engaging them for lectures, topical courses, or outreach activities.
The Legal, Ethical and Societal educational courses will not only allow the participants in the QSC to widen their knowledge of legal, regulatory, societal and ethical aspects, but also aim at creating a basis for practical implementation, i.e. at the level of design and procedures.
Online education
To build a broad base for quantum technologies in the Netherlands and beyond, the QSC will also engage in online education at all consortium nodes. At present, QuTech Academy already hosts one edX course, and will feature a course closely aligned with Theme III this fall (edX, “Quantum Cryptography”). This course is a collaboration with IQIM, Caltech, and features contact hours with the students both in Delft and Caltech. The course will start the same time here in the Netherlands as well as at Caltech. We hope this will encourage local students to interact with their peers world-wide.