University of Glasgow graduate named Young Software Engineer of the Year
Published: 3 September 2013
A recent School of Computing Science graduate has scooped first prize in the annual Young Software Engineer of the Year competition.
A recent graduate of the University of Glasgow’s School of Computing Science has scooped first prize in the annual Young Software Engineer of the Year competition.
Ben Callis won first prize at the event on Saturday 31 August for his application for for iPads and iPhones called ‘Interactive Presenter’, which can be used by students and lecturers to share presentations with multiple viewers.
The Young Software Engineer of the Year awards are given to the best undergraduate software projects, drawn from students studying computer science and software engineering in Scotland. Each university nominates the top final year undergraduate software engineering project to be submitted for the awards.
22-year old Ben, from Morecambe, graduated from the University of Glasgow in June with a first-class degree in Mobile Software Engineering.
He said: “I was pleased and proud to be named Young Software Engineer of the Year. Interactive Presenter was the product of my final-year dissertation, and it’s great to have received this prize in addition to my degree.
“Interactive Presenter is particularly valuable for big classes or lectures where one to one interaction is limited, or where students are based in a number of locations. Presenters use their own iPhone or iPad to control the presentation via wi-fi or Bluetooth without any additional hardware.
“The app synchronises across all shared devices and presenters can send out questions to assess audience understanding. Results are automatically collated on the presenter’s device who can choose whether to share the answer and results with the audience. Viewers can also ask questions through the app without disrupting the presenter or revealing their identity.
“"Before coming to University I had never been taught programming. Now, after four years I am able to develop and release my own applications, and seek jobs at large software companies. The job prospects for computing students from the University of Glasgow are second to none. I and all of my colleagues on the course have successfully secured jobs."
Ben starts work with JPMorgan’s Mobile Development team shortly, but plans to launch his own business in due course.
Ben received a cheque for £2500 from prize sponsors Sopra Group, and the Young Software Engineer of the Year trophy given by ScotlandIS. Sopra Group is a major European IT services company with a significant base in Scotland. Sopra and its predecessor Newell & Budge have sponsored the Young Software Engineer of the Year Award for the last 15 years.
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ENDS
For more information contact Ross Barker in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3535 or email ross.barker@glasgow.ac.uk
First published: 3 September 2013
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