SOFTENG 751 : High Performance Computing

Engineering

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced parallel and high performance computing concepts and techniques such as parallel system architecture; parallelisation concepts, algorithms and methodology; parallel programming paradigms and technologies. Core concepts and skills are deepened by a hands-on research project in which a challenging parallel computing problem is analysed and solved.

Course Overview

This course is an elective course for final year bachelor students and taught master students.
It is divided into two parts:

The first part consists of lectures and tutorials given by the lecturer(s), covering the fundamentals of parallel computing, technologies and practical methods. Test 1 will assess the learning of this first part.

Equipped with the knowledge of the first part, students form small groups and each is given an assignment for the second part of the course during which they work largely independent on that topic. There are numerous well selected topics and each group needs to give a presentation on that topic to the class. This induces peer-learning and exposes the class to more advances topics of parallel computing. Test 2 will cover the material presented during the second part of the course.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: COMPSYS 302 or SOFTENG 306

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Select and apply appropriate Architectures of Parallel System for a given problem (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  2. Apply and analyse fundamental steps of parallelisation process: divide a problem or loop into subtasks or iterations; analyse dependences of a simple programs and loops; construct a correct schedule for the subtasks or iterations. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 5.1)
  3. Analyse and predict performance of parallel systems: use parallel computing laws to predict speedup of a program and analyse where improvements need to be made. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
  4. Analyse, apply and integrate Concurrency in programs: identify performance problems in interactive programs; use multithreading to introduce concurrency; write correct and responsive interactive programs; use lock and synchronisation primitives correctly and effectively. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  5. Develop and analyse Parallel Programs: write programs to be executed on a multicore system; analyse simple applications and develop strategy for their parallelisation on shared memory machines; choose and employ different parallelisation technologies, such as OpenMP or task parallelism with Parallel Task. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 5.1)
  6. Collaborate and manage team project on parallel computing topic. (Capability 6.1 and 7.1)
  7. Demonstrate and document developed solution of parallel programming project. (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tests 40% Individual Test
Assignment 40% Group & Individual Coursework
Presentation 20% Group & Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Tests
Assignment
Presentation
1. A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy
2. Late submission policy is as follows:
     a. 10% penalty of achieved marks for up to 24h late submission.
     b. 20% penalty of achieved marks for up to 48h late submission.
     c. 100% penalty (no marks) for more than 48h late submission.

Teaching & Learning Methods

This course uses traditional learning methods in the first part of the course with lectures, demonstrations and tutorial questions.

In the second part of the course, the student will learn by engaging in a group project and through peer-learning, when other student groups present their projects in class.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 20-30 hours of lectures and tutorials, including the presentations given by students, 15-25 hours of  independent study, e.g. reading, reflection, and 80-100 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including lectures, and is required to receive credit for giving and attending student presentations.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including student presentations and tutorials will usually not be available as recordings, but corresponding material will be made available on Canvas, e.g. slides.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Students need to form groups for assignments and the collaboration within groups can require attendance on campus.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Informal feedback and formal feedback from student surveys has regularly adjusted and improved this course in the past. SET 2024 survey for the course was really positive. We will persevere to provide a good course outcome for all students.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.