Swarna (left) explaining concepts to her students in a class
With several years of experience as a software engineer in the industry, NUS-ISS' Chief of Master of Technology in Software Engineering programme, Swarnalatha Ashok, knows first-hand the importance of keeping up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in the field.
Swarna makes it a point to incorporate the latest technologies and trends in her lessons to make them more useful and relevant for the students.
"With the fast changing nature of the IT industry, it is essential to constantly keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in the industry. Otherwise, what I teach may not be relevant to my students," said Swarna.
INNOVATE@ISS speaks to Swarna to find out how she is like inside and outside the classroom.
1. Please tell us about your professional background
After graduating with a Master’s degree in Computer Science, I started my career in the industry as a software engineer. Since then, it has been an amazing journey through architecting, designing and developing many kinds of software, including networking and distributed software. After a while, I realised that my heart lies in imparting my knowledge to the younger generation and hence, I switched over to teaching at Institutions such as the Information Communication Institute of Singapore (ICIS), Nanyang Technological University and now, the Institute of Systems Science, National University of Singapore (NUS-ISS).
2. Could you share more about the modules/courses which you teach at NUS-ISS?
At NUS-ISS, my focus is on teaching graduate programmes and short courses in the area of software design. Besides this, I also teach courses in Java and Agile software development. In the past, I have also taught modules in distributed computing, Web Services, Grid and Cloud Computing, just to name a few.
3. Why did you choose to teach at NUS-ISS?
I chose to teach at NUS-ISS, simply because I have a passion for teaching. I find it personally fulfilling when I see my students putting the right software engineering principles to practice, resulting in robust and maintainable software systems.
4. What do you enjoy most about your work?
The fact that I get to interact with the young and enthusiastic professionals and be in touch with the latest trends in the software industry. It makes me feel young too.
5. How do you keep up with the industry?
That is a tough one. I participate in consulting projects, attend conferences and sign up for courses to upgrade my knowledge. I do read a lot online and keep the course contents up-to-date by creating workshops and assignments that are related to the latest trends in the industry. Close interaction with our students, who are working professionals, keeps me abreast with the industry pain-points as well.
6. What are your favorite activities when you are not working?
I spend a fair bit of my free time studying spiritual texts like the Upanishads and other Hindu Vedantic texts.
7. Tell us something about yourself that very few people know
I feel connected with the exotic stone carvings, the magnificent architecture and the cosmic ambience of the ancient temples. I get absorbed in the spiritual vibrations they seem to emit.
The NUS-ISS Master of Technology in Software Engineering programme is specially designed to help IT professionals and managers gain understanding of advanced technologies and management disciplines. It focuses on the practical application of innovative techniques and on developing the IT professional’s capability for innovation.
Applications is now open for the January 2016 intake. For more information on the programme, please visit our website here.
Click here to read Swarna's article on "Recipe for Successful Agile Software Development"