Computer Science

Name: Wong Chui-man

Age: 21

Course: Bachelor of Computer Science

School: The University of Hong Kong

Year of study: Three

Duration of programme: Three years

Young Post: What courses have you studied?

Wong: In Year One, I learned about fundamentals such as maths, algorithms and computer logic.

In Year Two, I studied computer applications such as database operating systems.

In Year Three, we do a year-long project.

YP: Have you decided on the topic of your final year project?

W: Yes. It's a group project. After discussion with my three teammates, we decided to do a project called 'Context Awareness - Instant Messenger on Mobile Users'. It's about installing an instant messaging service into a mobile phone. We make use of technologies including Bluetooth and Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) to add new features to the service.

YP: You must need to do a lot of computer projects, too. Are they interesting?

W: Yes. I enjoy doing group projects the most. In Year Two, when I studied 2D graphics, I had to take part in a group project about animation techniques. We had to design a video game using 2D graphics. When we presented our design (a game in which the player hits bricks against a wall) to the professor, a virus suddenly attacked the laptop. Luckily, we were able to remove it and carry on with the presentation.

Last year, I also designed a web-based album like Webshots, the online photo gallery. I came up with some new features to make the online album more user friendly.

YP: Computer science students need to deal with endless numbers and difficult computer languages. Do you find them baffling sometimes?

W: Many girls are averse to computers. When computers break down they often look to boys for help, because they are considered more computer savvy. But I have always liked maths, logic and numbers.

I also like to buy hi-tech gadgets. In my leisure time, I read computer magazines and browse information about computer technology on the Web.

So, I don't find computer languages baffling at all.

YP: Does your course include an internship?

W: Yes. In Year Two, I worked as a trainee in the equity IT division of Morgan Stanley for 12 weeks. I earned HK$11,000 a month. I was responsible for the database that stored all the transaction records of clients in the Asia Pacific region.

I got to send information to clients and write reports. Before I worked there, I knew very little about business or finance.

After three months of intense training, I understood how transactions were conducted in the business world and the role that computers play in e-commerce.

Admission

Applicants need to score a Grade E or above in AL Pure Mathematics or Applied Mathematics or a Grade D or above in AS Mathematics & Statistics or Applied Mathematics.

Career prospects

Graduates can work for multinational corporations as IT specialists, systems analysts or network engineers. Those who want to take up posts in the education and training field may work as professional computer forensics examiners or as IT teachers within local schools. They can also start their own IT companies designing software or programs for international corporations.