Dr. Ajay Shrestha’s interest in computer science began at an early age as he saw firsthand the impact technology had on individuals and communities. Shrestha, a VIU Computer Science Professor, joined VIU in 2022 as a sessional instructor and became a full-time professor within the year. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
“I strive to inspire and guide students, sharing my passion for technology and fostering their growth in the ever-evolving field of computer science,” he said.
Everyone deserves equal access to education, yet barriers remain for some learners.
Amber Thomas ran into challenges when she wanted to take a computer science course at her university in Alberta. The accessibility tools available there would not work for her computer science course because it needed specialized tools. Amber is blind and uses a screen reader to complete her courses.
Madelaine Jones says students should enrol in VIU’s Co-operative Education program because they can gain work experience that could help them land a good job after graduation.
She is currently completing an eight-month work term for the Federal Government of Canada doing software development and loves it. For the first half of her work term, Madelaine worked remotely. For the second half she moved to Ottawa, Ontario. One of the great things about co-ops is you can discover which jobs are the right fit for you, says Madelaine.
The best way to find out if you are truly passionate about something is to try it out for a while.
That’s just what fourth-year Computer Science student Nina Gill did with her recent co-operative education experience. After taking a course on cyber security, the 25-year-old wanted to explore whether a career in this area was for her.
by Annette Lucas