Some of our Graduating students at Swansea’s Grand Theatre Graduation Ceremony. Well done & Congratulations to you all! 🙂
Please click below for more photos 🙂
What was your HE course? BSc Software Engineering
What is your job title and role? Technical Director – My role is to manage the development team, to design and build scalable and secure web applications for Brightseed Ltd. and our clients, with focus on delivering high performance digital products ranging from bespoke applications to eCommerce and CMS applications.
Could you briefly describe the organization you work for? Brightseed Ltd. – We are a small highly skilled team with a strong development and design department. We are building a team that wants to work on some of our industries leading techniques used within software development whilst also keeping a focus on training our team to be recognised leaders in our field.
Which skills learned at University are helpful to you in your job? The degree set me out to cover the core fundamentals of programming and project management. I took these values to earn my first position as a junior developer at a local agency and continued to learn whist moving into a large national corporate.
Do you have a typical day and how would you describe it? Each day varies from working on a large project used by a global insurance company to working with a local SME that would like to develop a new application to help streamline their internal business processes.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy most? When a client goes live with a new site and their business grows from it.
Do you have any advice for students who would like to start a Career? Try to gain valuable and relevant industry experience over several years – then the choice is yours with what you want to do.
Believe in yourself and set no boundaries.
Congratulations to final year student Archie Watt from the B.Sc.(Hons) Computer Networks degree who has successfully published a journal article in the University’s journal of undergraduate research. The main focus of the paper is on security policies for a BYOD network, and the additional challenges that can be faced when developing a security policy for such a network. From the Abstract:
The paper emphasizes the importance of security policies and also studies some of the main factors that can hinder their effectiveness, including insufficient security training for employees. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is also examined in detail, including the various advantages and disadvantages that it can bring to an organization supporting it, and the various factors, such as advances in wireless network technologies and the greatly increased use of mobile computing devices, such as tablets and smartphones, that have led to its growth over the last few years.
“The aim of publication is to promote research at undergraduate level and showcase achievements of all undergraduates across all levels and disciplines of the University. … The journal offers an opportunity for all undergraduates to publish work from all Schools. As a multidisciplinary journal currently it is one of only a few in the UK and the only one in Wales.” (ref)
Archie I was also invited and visited Google’s TC Summit in California earlier this year and was asked to join the Top Contributor (TC) programme.
Technology has and is revolutionising the way we live and work – but believe it or not, it’s just getting started. Technology is getting better and better and in the future – the possibilities are infinite.
Technology is a very exciting area. As new technology emerges and evolves it continues to enrich and enhance our lives, such as:
- Helping us to share and communicate with family friends or work colleagues;
- Empowering us to bring our ideas to life and create in an infinite number of ways;
- Entertain ourselves with music movies games or various social-media platforms.
Computers operated by the mind motion and emotion, wearable technology, environmental technology and advanced medical treatments are among the emerging technologies that will enhance our lives and reshape the future. Some recent developments include:
- The internet of things in which the physical objects around us are connected to the web will make our environment more interactive including such things as Smart Homes Cars, Offices, Cafes, Public and Community Spaces.
- Google Glass that allow us to live in an Augmented Reality, being able to view social media feeds, text, play games, navigate with Google Maps, take photos etc… other tech companies are bound to innovate and create different versions with increasing features and possibilities soon.
- Virtual Reality gaming is here in the form of Oculus Rift – this 3D headset lets you feel that you are actually inside a video game. This is the beginning of the revolution for next-generation gaming.
- 3D printing technology allows us to print our design ideas into a solid real-life product.
- Wearable Computing, recent developments include gadgets with flexible displays, making it possible to wrap a handset around your wrist, turning it into a bracelet that plays your favourite music or displays Social Media updates. Many forecast that flexible electronics will give rise to smart fabrics, making clothing items with built-in music-players, changeable colours and patterns, or heaters (for the colder months) a reality.
- Robotics will see intelligent machines or robots expand beyond manufacturing and enter our lives to assist our working and personal lives. Maybe someday soon, your new robot friend will help you to complete tasks, will help around the house and help you make a delicious meal.
Advances in electronics and nanotechnology will continue to make computers ever smaller, slimmer and multi-functional. Increasing Philanthropic initiatives coupled with low-cost Smartphone’s tablets and communication methods will continue to reach developing parts of the world, providing hard-to-reach community’s access to the Global Connected Community.
The World Economic Forum has compiled a list of the most potentially influential technologies currently being developed. Each innovation was selected for its capacity to have a real and positive impact on the world, according to the WEF’s Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies topping the list is “brain-computer interfaces” which would build on the already available technology which allows people to type by monitoring their electrical activity in their brain. The technology could make it possible for people with disabilities to operate wheelchairs and other equipment using their thoughts. In its report the council stated:
Technology has become perhaps the greatest agent of change in the modern world. While never without risk, positive technological breakthroughs promise innovative solutions to the most pressing global challenges of our time.
The council wants to see governments working with researchers and businesses to promote the emerging technologies which could bring great improvements to many people’s lives. Martina Larkin, senior director and head of the Network of Global Agenda Councils, said: “Close cooperation between governments, industry and academia is essential to harness their potential.” And Noubar Afeyan, chair of the Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies and CEO of Flagship Ventures, said:
“These breakthroughs show the boundless potential for technology to have a positive impact on society.”
Arabian feast 2014
2014
Final Year Degree Students from Saudi Arabia Studying at Swansea’s School of Applied Computing Surprise the Teaching Team with an Arabian feast fit for a King. An offering of thanks for the support they have received during their time at the University. The Team are Very Grateful and would like to thank all those involved in preparing cooking and organising the delicious meal. THANK YOU VERY MUCH x.
Q. What was your HE course?
BSc (Hons) Business Information Technology
Q. What is your job title and role?
Multiple business owner: My role is to lead businesses, as an MD Managing Director at Costcutters supermarket and as a Principal at Swansea sixth form College. This involves many different areas including leadership, teacher evaluation, student discipline, staff discipline, accounting and several others.
Q. Could you briefly describe the organization you work for?
Swansea Sixth-form College (SSC) offer a wide range of practical English language courses. SSC offer high quality teaching with flexible study options, in a beautiful environment designed to develop our students confidence and increase motivation. Whether your goal is to improve your job prospects, get a place at university, pass an English language exam, live and work abroad, improve your English for business purposes, adapt to life in the UK or travel and see the world, we have a course to suit you.
Q. Which skills learned at University are helpful to you in your job?
My 3 years at Swansea Met were life changing. The environment excelled my development as a student. The skills that I developed while studying have had a positive influence on my role, personally, my involvement in the community and professionally. Commitment, self-motivation and confidence, all of which are highly valued skills which I gained from my course have helped me in my role as a Principal.
The following two skills which have been vital for my role, which I gained in my course through research, planning and assignments:
1. Knowledge and understanding – Gaining specific knowledge related to a particular subject, for example historical or scientific data
2. Cognitive skills – Thinking skills, such as problem solving, analysis, research.
Q. Do you have a typical day and how would you describe it?
My typical day, as much I would like to say planned and calm, it is as hectic and sometimes unpredictable. There are no two days the same. I still feel I am learning something new everyday. My day can range from staff meetings, student inductions, class monitoring, teaching assessments and auditing. We also take pride in our diverse culture and at the same time our city, and reach out exertions and show off our heritage.
Q. What aspects of your job do you enjoy most?
My job role highly motivates me, I do enjoy all aspects of my job.
It’s a huge responsibility being part of such a successful college and to be responsible for so many different people. I love learning and meeting people.
Q. Do you have any advice for students who would like to start a Career?
Your whole life is a learning curve, the biggest challenge is in within yourself. Always take issues/problems as a challenge, remove all barriers.
Set high goals, you should never be able to accomplish your goal, you should get nearer and nearer each time. If you think you have reached it, then you haven’t set a high enough goal, the sky is the limit.
Commitment, reliability, humbleness and honesty to yourself and your job is your key ingredient for success.
What was your HE course?
The course that I did was BSc (Hons) Web Development.
What is your job title and role?
My job title is web developer/technical auditor at the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC). My role varies to include design and development of small SME websites, Mobile Apps, technical auditing, accessibility testing and reporting on larger websites including clients such as Channel 4, Money Advice Service, HMRC, Lloyds, Santander and many more.
Could you briefly describe the organization you work for?
The organisation I work for deals with the accessibility testing of digital products to WCAG 2.0 standards. We have a team of expert testers that have a range of disabilities and use various Assistive technologies to ensure that these products are accessible and inclusive to all.
Which skills learned at University are helpful to you in your job?
The skills that I learnt at University that I have found help me are web design and development skills, report writing, how to research and meet deadlines and the final project that I undertook relating to accessibility and accessibility guidelines.
Do you have a typical day and how would you describe it?
I can be involved in any part or all of the process depending on how many audits are on-going. I could be working with the testers where I analyse code as they find accessibility issues with a website or mobile app in relation to their assistive technologies. I will then find the reason for the problem and offer companies a solution for fixing it.
I will then complete a technical audit and compile a report. This process is then followed up with a conference call with project managers and developers/designers to discuss a way forward for compliance.
I have also been involved in training developers, designers and project managers in creating accessible products, selling the service to clients and presentations.
A colleague and I also developed the Accessibility ‘hub’ for Virgin Media’s website.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy most?
I do enjoy getting out of the office and visiting companies all over the UK and seeing how they work. I have recently been to HMRC offices after being involved in a piece of work for them, along with Channel 4, ITV and Virgin. But the part that I like is the analysing of code, finding the reason why a screen reader for example is not working with the code and finding a way of fixing it. It is also nice to see the fixes that I have suggested being implemented and no longer causing my blind colleagues an issue.
Do you have any advice for students who would like to start a Career?
Yes, work hard and stay focussed, if you’re determined you’ll get there.
IT and Business Development jobs in Swansea Caerphilly Cardiff and London:
There has been very positive news this year regarding job creation in the Technology sector. As the extracts from the Financial Times article ‘UK technology job creation‘ indicate “Rates of job creation at UK technology companies have outpaced the private sector as a whole for the past four years.”
This is likely to do with the natural refresh cycle of the Tech sector that occurs every 5 years, making the Technology sector a lot more resilient to economic downturns, e.g. that occurred between 2008 and 2013.
The article continues “The number of jobs in the sector now exceeds 1m out of a total of 28m employees across all UK sectors, compared with 915,000 out of 27m in 2010, confirming that technology is a significant employer in Britain… Jobs in the tech sector rose 4.3 per cent year on year in the first half of 2013 compared with 0.9 per cent jobs growth for the private sector as a whole… The report finds that business activity growth at UK tech companies is the fastest since May 2010. It says: “The figures show that UK tech company output rebounded strongly after the global financial crisis . . . and has now expanded throughout much of the past four years.”
To read the full article please click-here.
UWTSD Applied Computing Blog 
Written by jameswilliams
Comments Off on CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES OF 2014