Computing at Aberystwyth:

any use when you want a job?

Computing at Aberystwyth:

any use when you want a job?

Chris PriceProfessor and Head of

Department

Chris PriceProfessor and Head of

Department

Example careers of our students

Example careers of our students

• Sion Wyn• Tavi Murray• Jan Pinkava• Peter Gradwell• Justin Cooke• Steffie Chan

• Sion Wyn• Tavi Murray• Jan Pinkava• Peter Gradwell• Justin Cooke• Steffie Chan

Sion WynSion Wyn• Graduated 1981• Worked for SPL (a software company)

writing process software• Formed company writing quality support

software for drugs companies• Sold company to Glaxo• New company Conformity working with drugs

companies• Awarded this year’s “Professional Achievement

award” by US Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers

• Graduated 1981• Worked for SPL (a software company)

writing process software• Formed company writing quality support

software for drugs companies• Sold company to Glaxo• New company Conformity working with drugs

companies• Awarded this year’s “Professional Achievement

award” by US Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers

Tavi MurrayTavi Murray

• Graduated 1987• Joint Comp Sci / Physics• Did a PhD in Glaciology here• Lecturer in Glaciology in Leeds• Professor of Glaciology in Swansea• This year awarded Polar Medal (as

given to Scott of the Antartic]

• Graduated 1987• Joint Comp Sci / Physics• Did a PhD in Glaciology here• Lecturer in Glaciology in Leeds• Professor of Glaciology in Swansea• This year awarded Polar Medal (as

given to Scott of the Antartic]

Jan PinkavaJan Pinkava

• Graduated 1988• PhD in Robotics 1991• Worked at Pixar from 1994• Oscar for “Geri’s Game” (computer

modelling of clothes)• Worked on Toy Story 2, Bugs Life,

Monsters Inc• Co-directed this year’s Pixar release

“Ratatouille” with Brad Bird

• Graduated 1988• PhD in Robotics 1991• Worked at Pixar from 1994• Oscar for “Geri’s Game” (computer

modelling of clothes)• Worked on Toy Story 2, Bugs Life,

Monsters Inc• Co-directed this year’s Pixar release

“Ratatouille” with Brad Bird

Peter GradwellPeter Gradwell

• Graduated 2002• Did Masters in Software Engineering• Started company [gradwell dot com]

as a student• Company now has 10 employees,

based in Bath• Just been made youngest ever Fellow

of the British Computer Society

• Graduated 2002• Did Masters in Software Engineering• Started company [gradwell dot com]

as a student• Company now has 10 employees,

based in Bath• Just been made youngest ever Fellow

of the British Computer Society

Justin Cooke (2005)Justin Cooke (2005)From: "Justin" <justin@djromesh.com>

To: "Chris Price" <cjp@aber.ac.uk>

Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 16:47:05 -0000

Hi Chris,

I am currently working as an Engagement Manager, shadowing a director

and helping to keep his portfolios in line in case you were wondering. Been

having a good time, but Sussex uni isn't a patch on Aber.

Currently working out my next role too (we have to change every 6 months)

and might be able to convince them to get me certified in ITIL. Which

is a great area to specialize in if you are into IT Service Management.

Hope all is well.

Thanks a lot.

Justin.

From: "Justin" <justin@djromesh.com>

To: "Chris Price" <cjp@aber.ac.uk>

Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 16:47:05 -0000

Hi Chris,

I am currently working as an Engagement Manager, shadowing a director

and helping to keep his portfolios in line in case you were wondering. Been

having a good time, but Sussex uni isn't a patch on Aber.

Currently working out my next role too (we have to change every 6 months)

and might be able to convince them to get me certified in ITIL. Which

is a great area to specialize in if you are into IT Service Management.

Hope all is well.

Thanks a lot.

Justin.

Steffi Chan (2006)Steffi Chan (2006)

• Did an industrial year working for Royal Bank of Scotland in their e-Commerce department

• Graduated last summer • Went back to work for RBS and

says she is loving every minute of it

• Did an industrial year working for Royal Bank of Scotland in their e-Commerce department

• Graduated last summer • Went back to work for RBS and

says she is loving every minute of it

Most (but not all) of our students go for Computing

jobs

Most (but not all) of our students go for Computing

jobs

• One of the best careers for employment

• Excellent salaries• Most fun you can have and be paid for

• Challenging• Lots of variety• Opportunities for travel if you want

• More details on computing jobs at: http://www.careersincomputing.org.uk/

• One of the best careers for employment

• Excellent salaries• Most fun you can have and be paid for

• Challenging• Lots of variety• Opportunities for travel if you want

• More details on computing jobs at: http://www.careersincomputing.org.uk/

Work of our undergraduates

(2 years after graduation)

Work of our undergraduates

(2 years after graduation)

• 78 % - Technical jobs. Jobs with titles like “Web developer” or “Software engineer”. Spending most of their time building systems.

• 8% - Further education. Gone on to pursue a further course (MSc, PhD).

• 14% Computing-related. In all cases, the job still had a technical element, e.g. quality assurance or teaching

• 78 % - Technical jobs. Jobs with titles like “Web developer” or “Software engineer”. Spending most of their time building systems.

• 8% - Further education. Gone on to pursue a further course (MSc, PhD).

• 14% Computing-related. In all cases, the job still had a technical element, e.g. quality assurance or teaching

Typical employers of our undergraduates

Typical employers of our undergraduates

• Computer Engineer, Sony• Business Analyst, Hitachi Europe• Analyst Programmer, HSBC • Web Developer, Legal & General Insurance• Systems Programmer, Open World Internet• Systems Engineer, Control Techniques• Support Analyst, UBS Warburg• Computer Programmer, Logica• Systems Analyst, Powys County Council

• Computer Engineer, Sony• Business Analyst, Hitachi Europe• Analyst Programmer, HSBC • Web Developer, Legal & General Insurance• Systems Programmer, Open World Internet• Systems Engineer, Control Techniques• Support Analyst, UBS Warburg• Computer Programmer, Logica• Systems Analyst, Powys County Council

Questions to ask about university computing

courses (1)

Questions to ask about university computing

courses (1)

• Is the course accredited by BCS?• Does course include professional

issues?• How much hardware teaching is there?• How much Maths is there?• How much programming is there?• Is there opportunity for industrial

experience?

• Is the course accredited by BCS?• Does course include professional

issues?• How much hardware teaching is there?• How much Maths is there?• How much programming is there?• Is there opportunity for industrial

experience?

Questions to ask about university computing

courses (2)

Questions to ask about university computing

courses (2)

• Where do course graduates get jobs?• Do the staff have industrial experience?• Do the staff do interesting research?• What is mix of theoretical/practical

teaching?• Does the course include any team

working?• How easy is it to change courses if I

choose wrongly?

• Where do course graduates get jobs?• Do the staff have industrial experience?• Do the staff do interesting research?• What is mix of theoretical/practical

teaching?• Does the course include any team

working?• How easy is it to change courses if I

choose wrongly?

Top 10 things about our undergrad degrees (10 to

6)

Top 10 things about our undergrad degrees (10 to

6)• 10. Wide selection of computing degrees that

you can move freely between. • 9. Staff with significant experience of the

computer industry, able to pass that experience on to students.

• 8. Over £4 million spent on high-powered equipment over the last three years, and more to come.

• 7. Enthusiastic staff willing to help you with your problems

• 6. Aber is a cheap place to be an undergrad

• 10. Wide selection of computing degrees that you can move freely between.

• 9. Staff with significant experience of the computer industry, able to pass that experience on to students.

• 8. Over £4 million spent on high-powered equipment over the last three years, and more to come.

• 7. Enthusiastic staff willing to help you with your problems

• 6. Aber is a cheap place to be an undergrad

Top 10 things about our undergrad degrees (5 to

1)

Top 10 things about our undergrad degrees (5 to

1)

• 5. Aber is a fun, safe place to be an undergrad

• 4. Our practically-oriented degrees make you apply what you learn

• 3. Our students are able to be effective immediately with the skills learned here

• Aber is one of top-rated universities by students

• 1. Our students get good, highly paid jobs in industry

• 5. Aber is a fun, safe place to be an undergrad

• 4. Our practically-oriented degrees make you apply what you learn

• 3. Our students are able to be effective immediately with the skills learned here

• Aber is one of top-rated universities by students

• 1. Our students get good, highly paid jobs in industry