Dileep Marway, a proud Aston University alumni, shares his student journey at Aston University. We learn about his transition from studying Pharmacy to discovering his passion for Computing ...
I chose to study Computer Science at Aston University because of the reputation within Birmingham, where I've lived my entire life.
Family and friends had spoken highly of Aston's ability to prepare students for professional roles, I started studying Pharmacy but quickly transitioned to a more fitting career path in computing.
What did you think of the teaching and academic support on your course and how did it shape your career path?
The teaching and academic support at Aston University was amazing, and it really helped boost my confidence. It also improved my soft skills, which are important for working in the real world. In my recent jobs, I've had to work with top executives and explain technology in simple terms.
I learned this crucial skill while studying computer science at Aston, where we often had to explain technical topics and present to non-technical team members in our group projects.
My tutors also emphasised that quality matters, a mindset I’ve carried into my career. Ensuring that the quality of any product or work is always excellent has been a key principle for me.
I would say Aston University not only instilled in me the technical confidence required for my career roles but also equipped me with well-rounded soft skills. These include teamwork, attention to detail, effective collaboration, and clear, concise communication—all of which continue to be invaluable to this day.
Can you share a memorable project or coursework from your time at Aston that influenced your career direction?
Reflecting, I really enjoyed the course aspects which involved having a high attention to detail - such as data analysis and also Quality assurance (QA). This meant that I started out with my career in a QA remit and these skills have helped me to do roles such as Engineering, Project Delivery, Product analysis, scaling up Engineering centres of excellence from scratch and ultimately skills that are still being used when I collaborate with C-suite executives.
For instance, skills that helped me at The Economist to scale an Engineering centre of excellence from 0 to 100+, and I also formed my own company called Be More Meerkat where I worked as a Fractional CTO for a testing partner.
Most recently I worked with the Football Association and supported them in an interim role in their digital transformation needs. Being a massive football fan this was the ideal product area for me.
What is next for you?
I would like to continue learning new skills, for instance, right now I am increasing my knowledge in the security space around cybersecurity. At the same time, I am working in different sectors to improve my knowledge.
What matters a lot to me is helping others, so I continue to coach, mentor, write blogs, and write podcasts. I have actively supported Aston Alumni by being on the board for TedX Aston and Enactus, also I was lucky enough to teach on the Aston MBA programme. I also won Mentor of the Year in 2019 - which made me very happy!
I am very proud to have graduated at Aston University and as an alumni, I appreciate the fact that I have still been able to contribute to expanding my skillset.
What advice would you give to students who are thinking about studying BSc Computer Science at Aston University?
My advice is to learn as much as possible and always ask "why." Developing problem-solving skills during your degree can significantly improve your performance in a professional role. Additionally, stay curious and push your understanding so you can apply those skills when delivering a product, for instance. Above all, enjoy your time, learn from others, and continuously seek knowledge, even after your studies.