After earning my PhD in Computer Science at Swansea University in 2008, working under the direction of Dr. Mark Jones, I joined Google UK. I worked on various mobile projects (such as Google Gears, later ported on Android). I became more involved with Android and the Android browser, and transfered to Google headquarters in California in 2010, where I am now a Senior Software Engineer in charge of the browser's hardware accelerated architecture.

The experience gained during my PhD proved particularly useful at Google (working with mobile platforms, OpenGL, statistics, and performance analysis), as well as soft skills (working independently, investigating, proposing and implementing new ideas and architecture, and prioritizing tasks and deadlines). I am currently working on Ice Cream Sandwich. The picture shows the android statues outside Google HQ.

It is an excellent experience to study Computer Science in Swansea. The department has a very good reputation in research quality and is ranked as world leading for research in the RAE 2008. As well from research, the department also has a very good quality of teaching. All the modules are well-structured and taught by professionals in the area. The content of each module is a combination of theories and their applications, allowing students to have a full picture of the relationship between the underlying concepts and the industrial applications. Swansea has equipped me with the essential knowledge for continuing my career in developing safe and secure systems.

The department has established many links with industry. This enables students to start an industrial-related project. The project I had is about verification of railways. This project was carried out together with the company Invensys. Railways are a safety-critical system, failure of the railway may results in loss of life. In order to be prepared for the project, I had finished an internship in the summer where I learnt the knowledge needed for the project.

Being involved in an industrial-related project has a lot of benefits. The major advantage is to experience how people work in industry. This helps me to adapt to the industrial environment when I graduate. Other advantages include learning the working process of a real world project and learning techniques for presentations.

I highly recommend Swansea to all of you who are interested in safe and secure systems and want to pursuit a career in related areas.

I began a Computer Science degree at Swansea University in 1990 as a mature student, and graduated in 1993 with first class honours. Since graduating I have never been unemployed.

I spent much of the 1990s working as a software developer and was easily able to learn new languages and technologies thanks to the solid grounding in practical programming and in computer science theory that I'd received at Swansea. In 2000 I moved to Oslo to work for Trolltech, creators of the cross-platform C++/Qt GUI framework, as their documentation manager. In 2004 my first coauthored textbook was published; my first solo textbook followed in 2007. I then co-wrote the book "C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4 (second edition)" with a friend and colleague – this was published in 2008 and is the #1-selling Qt book.

I now write a new book (or produce a new edition of an existing book) every couple of years. In 2006, back in the UK, I started my own business, Qtrac Ltd., offering consultancy and training services. Nowadays, I spend my time writing books, teleworking, and providing on-site training and consultancy, all of which are interesting and enjoyable.

The Computer Science degree I did at Swansea significantly improved my life, and continues to be of benefit to me to this day.

Studying at Swansea University has been a fantastic experience. The course brings together the theoretical background necessary to grasp a sound knowledge of Computer Science, as well as practical topics that can be applied directly to the industry. This ideal balance has allowed me to consider all options without being restricted; from further education, to work in almost any career. The course is taught by lecturers from a wide variety of backgrounds that bring their own personal ‘flavour’ to every lecture; which has provided an engaging and exciting learning experience.

The research project gave me an opportunity to develop my skills in independent learning, innovation and critical thought. It allowed me to focus my attention on a topic that fascinated me and put the skills learnt from the taught course into practise. Working specifically in a field that was concerned with safety-critical systems, namely railway systems, helped me realise the importance of my work and the gravity of the choices made with regard to efficient design and accurate implementation. Knowing that errors could lead to catastrophic results motivated me to carefully consider every step in the design and implementation process. The department’s strong links with industry and other academic institutions has also given my dissertation added exposure and opened up opportunities that would have otherwise been missed.

Alongside the academic benefits of studying with the Computer Science department at Swansea University, the city of Swansea itself has contributed a lot to my student experience. Swansea boasts picturesque seaside views across the Gower Peninsula, well worth visiting and exploring in your spare time. There are also a wide range of high quality restaurants and cafes in the city and nearby Mumbles; from Japanese to Indian to Italian. Naturally, no student experience would be complete without the nightlife. Swansea provides an unparallelled clubbing experience – with Wind Street’s rows of bars and clubs and the massive Oceana nightclub, every student is guaranteed a good time.

If you appreciate a strong balance between the theoretical and practical aspects of Computer Science and also crave a dynamic social scene alongside the solid academic experience; then studying at Swansea University is for you. For those who seek to work in the crucial field of safe and secure systems – challenging themselves to think critically and push their boundaries, I highly recommend considering this course.