Mastering the Balance between Software Design Qualities

In academic education of software engineers, equipping students with the skills to navigate trade-offs between competing software qualities, such as usability and security, is essential. However, those skills are mostly trained independently and isolated from each other, which may lead to an overrated perception of the one or the other discipline. Training the ability to find an appropriate level of one software quality due to differing conditions and in relation to other relevant qualities is often crucial to a products' success. Collaborative projects can simulate real-world team dynamics, teaching students to negotiate and reconcile different quality priorities. By embedding these elements into the curriculum, academic institutions can produce software engineers who are adept at making informed decisions that enhance user experience with an adequate level of security. This balanced approach in academic training is crucial for developing resilient, user-friendly, and secure systems, preparing students to meet the evolving demands of the software industry.