James Hardy
It has been a long time since I sat in a classroom and I was apprehensive, but after a conversation with the course leader, I decided that I could become a mature student.
”James studied a Masters in Computer Networks, and won The School of Computing Prize for Postgraduate Student Achievement.
A change of direction
I have worked in computer networking for many years and was considering taking some of the Cisco training to restart my career but instead I decide to enquire about the Maters in Computer Networking. It has been a long time since I sat in a classroom and I was apprehensive, but after a conversation with the course leader, I decided that I could become a mature student.
An interesting challenge
The academic studies were in the main challenging and interesting. For me, the final stage of the MSc was without doubt the most interesting and satisfying: researching a topic area, experimenting, testing and reporting.
The value of research
The value of the research cannot be overstated, there was encouragement to write and submit academic papers with the support of the lecturers and other students. I still find it incredible to think that a paper written in conjunction with another student has been presented at a conference in Australia, another will be presented in Japan and there may even be a chapter of a book that is being published next year.
Finding the right path
I learnt, or perhaps realised, that I am seriously interested in researching computing and networking and possibly playing some part in the future. I intend to try for a PhD very soon, possibly staying in academia but certainly working in a research and experimentation field.
Inspirational lecturers
Studying was often quite a struggle and at times I questioned why I was putting myself through it but I would not have continued and could not have completed the course without the motivation and inspiration of the other students and lecturers.
