A passion for programming: UVic computer science degree gives new grad Jae Park a jump-start to his career

June 19, 2023

by Ivan Watson

Jae Park was born in South Korea but moved to Canada, initially to Winnipeg, in his early twenties to work in the service industry sector. After a few years, he was looking for additional personal and professional growth opportunities, and based on the strong reputation of UVic, and the warmer weather in Victoria, he made his way to the west coast to pursue a degree in computer science and software development.

“The reason why I decided to study computer science is that as a kid in South Korea, they had a ‘coding for kids’ program in my elementary school,” he explains. “I remember really liking it, so much so that I didn’t mind getting up early before the regular start of classes to participate. Years later, when I was considering a career change, I thought it would be a good idea to try it out as a profession and I’m glad that I did.”

At UVic, Park was impressed with the small class sizes, the island lifestyle and the care and attention of his professors which added up overall to a top-notch educational experience.

“The whole time here during my degree was really great,” he says. “I didn’t want to just be a number in my classes, and one thing I really liked about UVic was that all of my professors, not only the teaching faculty, but the research professors as well, really cared about teaching the students and supporting our success. Visiting them in office hours, they would not only provide advice on courses and studies, but also really helpful suggestions for career development. I found that amazing!”

During his degree, Park also took advantage of the many opportunities provided by the co-op option.

“The co-op experience was definitely a great opportunity,” he says. “And it led directly to a full-time job offer almost immediately after graduation.”

During his studies, Park completed an eight-month co-op term with James Evans and Associates in Victoria, a local firm that develops pension administration software with many clients in Canada and the U.S., including the provincial and federal governments.

“The same month that I graduated, I received a full-time job offer from them as a developer,” he says. “I’ve just started now and what a great opportunity it has been. I always recommend to people to do a co-op, it really helps with your career!”

During his degree, Park’s emphasis was on web development and computer graphics. Despite some recent challenges in the industry, he expects a bright future ahead for the field of computer science.

“I think if you’re willing to put in the work, it is absolutely an amazing field to work in,” he says. “Everything goes in cycles, but I’d say to anyone considering computer science, to go for it, the UVic experience has been great and the industry is poised for a very strong rebound. If you’re willing to go for it, and enjoy the work and challenges of problem-solving, there will be many rewarding opportunities ahead for you.”

Long term, Park is considering pursuing a PhD and giving back through teaching.

“I’d really love to teach the next generation of computer scientists one day at the post-secondary level,” he says. “My UVic professors really showed that they cared about their students, and that made a big impression on me, demonstrating the power of teaching to change peoples’ lives. In the long run, I’d like to do the same thing, but right now I’m having a great experience working as a developer and I’m excited to see where my career will take me.”

Please visit UVic’s Department of Computer Science website for more information about admissions and program opportunities.