Robert Gordon University · Aberdeen

For more information about the Robert Gordon University School of Computing or any aspect of the icreate campaign and competition email:
icreate@rgu.ac.uk

The perfect job at Codify

Katherine Rutherford - Computer Science graduate

Katherine is a School of Computing graduate who has found the perfect job for herself at software business solutions specialists, Codify

Originally I thought I was going to be a software developer, which would have suited me as I love IT. But my personality and ability to explain technology mixed with my interest in marketing means that I am now helping Codify grow more through client liaison and business development. My knowledge and understanding of software development means that I can really connect with customers to solve their problems, and this gives me a real buzz.

Graduate nominated as Young Software Engineer of the Year

Alan Gardner - Computer Science graduate

Nominated as Young Software Engineer of the Year 2009 for his outstanding work on his final year project, Alan Gardner recently graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science.

In 2005 Alan was working as a Planning Engineer for Aker Solutions when they offered to fund him through an undergraduate course.

Alan explained: "The University was very flexible when it came to organising my part-time course, allowing me to study each academic year over two calendar years. Having gained experience in software development during my time at Robert Gordon University, I have moved from the planning department into the information systems department, and now work as a software engineer."

IT graduates byte the bullet and start their own consultancy

John Lauder, Stephen Coull, Kieran Hall - Computer Science graduates

Three IT graduates from RGU have taken the leap and started their own computing company called Aberdeen Business Computing Ltd.

John Lauder (52), Stephen Coull (28), both from Aberdeen, and Kieran Hall (26) from Stromness, in Orkney, met at university whilst studying the Business Computing honours degree course.

Stephen said: "At university we felt the mixture of business and computing could be applied to what we perceived as a niche market - IT services for small businesses in the Aberdeen area - and started talking about starting a business when we left university."

John said: "The rapid pace of the IT market means that small businesses aren't capitalising on the advances being made in IT and the high costs of employing a dedicated IT person makes it impossible for most small businesses.

"Our premises are in Albert Place close to the central business district in the west end of Aberdeen which we feel ideally places us to best serve our market and provides maximum coverage for all business areas in Aberdeen."

Aberdeen Business Computing Ltd is self-funded by the three Directors through savings built up since graduating in 2001. They also received invaluable business advice from the Small Business Gateway. Their service portfolio can be broken down into IT support, Networking, Consultancy and Development which will be aimed at small businesses that cannot justify the employment of a dedicated IT team.

Kieran added: "We are all enthused and exited about starting our own business and see it as an opportunity to put to good use the wide range of combined skills learnt at university and gained during work experience. We are looking forward to the challenges this will bring and building a successful business for the future."

xxx

Kendall Harrison - Computer Science graduates

"I live in Los Angeles programming videogames for a company called Neversoft Entertainment, I have worked on a number of exciting projects including: Spiderman, Apocalypse, all the Tony Hawk Pro-Skater games from Tony Hawk 3 onwards, Gun, and all the Guitar Hero games from Guitar Hero 3 onwards.

"Neversoft is a great company to work for; we get royalties paid to us every 3 months which is nice. The amount is unpredictable, sometimes it is zero and sometimes it is more than expected, so it is something to look forward to and an incentive to work hard to make the games as good as possible so that they sell well.

"Neversoft also provides excellent health insurance, free soft drinks, free lunches which get ordered from various establishments near work, an annual summer picnic and an annual Christmas party in Las Vegas, a weekly raffle and various freebies such as T-shirts at random times thoughout the year.

"The Los Angeles climate is very nice! The heat can get quite intense, it can hit around 40 degrees celsius in the Valley quite regularly during summer, but it is generally not humid and everywhere has air conditioning. Overall life is very comfortable here; I have a good balance between work time and family time which is great.

"I really enjoyed studying at Robert Gordon University, I was surprised by the wide variety of people who had chosen to do the course, they came from all sorts of backgrounds and it was really nice to get to know them.

"The C++ programming classes were the classes I found most useful because C++ is what I use in my job every day now. However I found all the parts of the course useful to some extent because they gave me a broad knowledge of lots of aspects of computers and networks."

The coloured chequered board image that you have seen on the card, is a QR (Quick Response) Code and put simply they get you quicker access to interesting stuff on your mobile without the fiddly hassle of thumbing away on your mobile. Just scan the on the card and you will connect to find out how to take part in the iPod touch free prize draw.

To scan the code follow the two simple steps below:

1. Can your mobile read the code? Many phones already have the reader on the phone (or available in phone Apps store) including iPhone and Google phone. If you do not have a reader you can download and install a reader from www.i-nigma.mobi
2. Activate the reader on your phone, hold the phone camera over the QR code as if to take a picture. The reader will automatically reveal what was hidden in the code.

It's that easy!

Terms and Conditions
iPod touch Competition
School of Computing Microsite

1. Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these Terms and Conditions. Entry into this competition is considered acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
2. The iPod touch competition is run by Robert Gordon University.
3. The draw will be made on Friday 26th March 2010. The winner will be drawn at random from all valid entries received and will be notified by email within 7 days of the actual draw date. Robert Gordon University's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
4. There is one prize of an iPod touch. No alternative prize is available and the prize is not transferable.
5. Robert Gordon University reserves the right to cancel the competition or any of these rules at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control.
6. Entrants may be contacted with Robert Gordon University marketing information in the future. Robert Gordon University will ensure that the entrant’s information is kept confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties without consent, except to meet government, legal or other regulatory authority requirements.
7. Robert Gordon reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of the entries and entrants (including their identity) and to disqualify any entrant who submits an entry that is not in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.
8. Current staff of Robert Gordon University and their direct family members are not eligible to win the competition.
9. Entrants are responsible for any costs associated with accessing the promotional website.
10. The winner may be asked to participate in non paid publicity accompanying or resulting from this draw.