TEACHING OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH

Teaching operational research (OR) at universities is often aimed at developing mathematical models, using optimization software and correct interpretation of obtained results. Students can mostly use algorithms and methods, presented in specialized courses relating to OR disciplines, in manual way of their application. Although the manual calculations ensure perfect understanding of the algorithm, students have troubles with programming the same procedure in any programming language. If the real instance does not correspond to known scenario that could be analyzed in familiar software, students will not be able to manage the problem due to lack. of programming skills. The paper is aimed at the analysis of programming skills of students of quantitative fields at the University of Economics Prague. Because the Department of Econometrics intends to introduce programming techniques into existing courses, students' interests are included in the analysis. In addition, results of the analysis can help the department in decision making to introduce the special course Programming of Quantitative Methods.