Sahani Witharana
Sri Lanka to South Wales: Building a future in data science
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I left USW with advanced data visualisation skills in Power BI, which I now use every day in my role in the payments industry.
A course built around the future of the industry
I came to USW because of the syllabus. Data science was still a relatively new subject in Sri Lanka in 2020, and I knew that AI, machine learning, and neural networks were going to shape the future of computer science. The support from the team before I even arrived was just as important - due to COVID, my convocation was not until 2022, but USW accepted my application based on my transcript and IELTS, and even offered me a small scholarship towards the course fees.
The highlight of the course for me was my final thesis, which I completed in partnership with the University Health Board of Wales. I went on to develop a dashboard that analysed PDF documents and identified keywords linked to social prescribing. Doing a genuine industrial project alongside my studies was eye-opening and gave me a real taste of what working in the field would look like.
Find your courseTools, techniques, and a team around me
The dashboard development module and the artificial intelligence and machine learning module were two of my favourites, and I was given free access to all the software I needed across the course - SAS, R, Python, and Amazon Web Services among them. The library and computer facilities were excellent too, with fast machines, strong internet, and a secure environment that meant I often stayed until one or two in the morning getting my work done. It was a relaxing, welcoming place to study, and it suited me perfectly.
I came away from USW with advanced data visualisation skills in Power BI, which I now use every day in my role in the payments industry, alongside forecasting and data analysis techniques I had never encountered before the course. I also built lasting friendships - including with my best friend, who I still work with at the same company today. My advice is to find what genuinely interests you within the subject, make the most of every opportunity to interact with lecturers and industry, and start applying for jobs before the course ends - the careers team is there to help you with your CV and they make a real difference.
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