Edward Wakelam

Meet Edward Wakelam who, after a successful 39 year career in industry, has returned to the University of Hertfordshire, where he gained his first degree in Computer Science, to complete a PhD. He is now a Visiting Research Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire.

Early university experience

Edward first experienced university-life at Hertfordshire in 1972 when the University was Hatfield Polytechnic. As part of his degree, he completed two six-month industrial placements at Ford Motor Company and Logica - a top software house. Ed says that his first degree prepared him with invaluable skills and success throughout his career.

‘The combination of what was at the time the top Computer Science degree in Europe and the industrial experience got me five offers of employment, including the one that I really wanted which was to re-join Logica. My sandwich degree prepared me for the success I enjoyed at Logica and beyond.'

Postgraduate experience

Ed retired in 2013 after a 39 year career in the computer industry working at three major computer corporations where he started as a programmer and progressed onto Vice-President roles. Throughout his career he feels he was fortunate to have focused on a career in the computing and consultancy professional services industry and to experience a great deal of international travel.

After retiring, his pursuit of knowledge led him to apply for a PhD in research applications of Artificial Intelligence in learning systems. During his research he has been a visiting lecturer on two modules and has recently accepted a visiting research fellow role which allows him to pursue his research interests further. Ed says that as with his first degree here, the support he has received from the School of Engineering and Computer Science has been outstanding.

Ed has taken full advantage of his new opportunities by ‘taking courses, attending colloquiums and presentations and speaking to colleagues’ from across the University to further expand his knowledge.

And he finally adds, "I met my wife at the Thursday night disco on 3rd May 1973 at about 10.30pm. We've been married 43 years, so another important thing to thank the university for."