Postgraduate Student Profiles

Yasemin Fanaeian studied the MSc Software Engineering programme after completing her BSc in Computer Engineering in 2007. She is now a senior lecturer at an American University in Cyprus.

"After completing my BSc in Computer Engineering, I really wanted to continue my education and build up my skills in the field. I had developed a strong interest in programming and software development and saw the increasing need for people in this area of work. Having been accepted to several universities, I chose the University of Manchester because it is one of the top universities not only in the UK, but also among the world rankings. The academic staff members were very supportive and understanding during my study in the University of Manchester. I especially appreciated the fact that we were not treated as "students" during the course but as individuals or "colleagues" in the same field, simply there to develop our skills and learn a few more "tricks of the trade".

My MSc project involved the development of an IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) Network Simulation Program developed in Java in the Eclipse Software Environment. The program analyzed the effects on packet transmission in an Ethernet network using the different physical network design standards set by Ethernet in order to compare their performance. My advice for students thinking about their project and dissertation would be to choose a project you are interested in as you will be working on it full time over a few months. You should also choose a project that will be useful for you after you graduate since employers are interested in your graduation project!

Having graduated in 2008, I am currently a Senior Lecturer at an American University in Cyprus. I teach several courses covering computer applications and software programs. Taking this position has also given me the opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge and start my PhD in Management Information Systems (MIS), and I find it very satisfying to be able to pass on knowledge and see students progress and develop valuable skills necessary for today's rapidly growing IT dependent world.

During my MSc degree, I developed my research skills and learned to learn on my own as well as achieve goals under pressure and within a short time frame. The skills that I have developed and gained are the skills I also want to pass on to my students and it has affected the way I teach. I ensure that I assign projects that ensure they develop not only their technical skills but also soft skills - an essential balance to maintain in any work field."