On behalf of the faculty and staff at the Cheriton School of Computer Science, it is my pleasure to welcome our new and returning students.
With more than 4,000 undergraduate and 425 graduate students, we are the largest computer science school in Canada. Despite our size, we are a closely connected and tightly knit community of researchers, scholars and learners.
For four consecutive years, Maclean’s magazine has ranked Waterloo’s computer science program as the best in Canada. And in April 2024, the Quacquarelli Symonds worldwide university rankings placed us 21st internationally, a testament to the exceptional quality and productivity of our students and faculty.
The Cheriton School of Computer Science is home to ten Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, ten Fellows of the Association for Computing Machinery, and seven Fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. These prestigious distinctions among many others reflect the high-calibre research and industrial contributions our faculty have made.
Our students are also truly world-class. Waterloo is the only Canadian university to win the prestigious International Collegiate Programming Contest, the world’s largest university-level algorithmic programming competition. Most recently, in April 2024, a trio of our top students competed at the 47th ICPC World Finals in Luxor, Egypt, earning a silver medal globally and ranking first in North America.
What sets the Cheriton School of Computer Science apart is our commitment to education and research. Our school attracts the brightest minds, creating a virtuous cycle of success. Co-op education that mixes academics with work experience is one well-known ingredient. But another factor in making computer science a success at Waterloo is that we encourage entrepreneurship and facilitate collaboration with industry. These interactions provide students the opportunity to address real-world problems and work with a wide variety of companies, from ambitious start-ups to tech giants.
Since 1967, when computer science was established at Waterloo, our undergraduate and graduate students have gone on to shape the world. Seize the many opportunities that await you. Explore your classes and research with curiosity and determination.
Remember to also take advantage of the many extracurricular, professional development and entrepreneurial opportunities available to you. These experiences will shape not just your career, but who you become as a person.
I look forward to seeing what you will achieve this year and the years ahead.
Raouf Boutaba, University Professor and Director
Cheriton School of Computer Science