Open Universities Australia student Casey Farrell, 24, lives in New Norfolk in Tasmania. This year he expects to complete his Bachelor of Technology (Computing Studies) with a minor stream in Psychology. He works part-time as a front-end web developer and runs his own web development and consultancy agency.
How long have you been studying through Open Universities Australia (OUA)?
It’s been five years and I have two units to complete this year. I started several months after finishing secondary school. While friends were applying to interstate universities or enrolling locally, I was impressed by the study options available through OUA. I enrolled in my first unit through OUA in 2006.
Why did you choose to study through OUA rather than on campus?
I live in a small town 40km from the closest university, so I would have been spending a lot of time travelling to lectures or tutorials that might have been only an hour or two long. I was already working in the IT field and I was keen to build a career while studying.
There was no great need for me to be on campus. I find the OUA delivery is the most efficient way of studying. It allows me to choose when to study and to do so from my own home. It has allowed me to continue living my life while studying, and receiving great results.
What appealed about the Bachelor of Technology (Computing Studies)?
Working with technology, computers and other electronic devices comes naturally to me. My OUA degree and core units are taught by RMIT, but I have done some elective units through Monash University, Curtain University, Macquarie University and the University of South Australia.
That is one of the great things about studying through OUA – you can choose electives of interest from different education providers. My bachelor degree covers the essentials of computing knowledge such as programming, technology management and information technology fundamentals. The course structures the work in context with real-world applications, and I have already used a great deal of it in my work.
What have been the benefits of studying through OUA?
Many people seem to pause their lives while they are at university. However I’m advancing my career, building a house, running a small business and studying at university level. During my study I’ve been able to work interstate, travel, and get married. Importantly for me, I’ve also been able to stay in Tasmania while studying with a Melbourne university with an international reputation in my field.
Given that you work and run a business, what have been some of the challenges?
I’m out of bed at 6am, at work at 8am and usually home by 7pm. My study pattern during the week is very light. Most weeks it’s only on the weekend and other days off that I spend time on readings and assignments. My employer is very supportive and colleagues are always interested in what I am studying. They are particularly interested in my take on different web technologies as they find their way into my studies. I have to be disciplined and manage my time well but it has worked out really well for me.
I expected the absence of face-to-face contact with lecturers, tutors and other students to be a challenge, but most units I have studied have excellent communication channels, using web technology to bridge the geographical divide.
How are you paying for your studies?
I’ve paid some of my fees, but deferred others through the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme. The scheme helps eligible students defer paying fees for undergraduate and postgraduate units. FEE-HELP loans are repaid through the Australian Taxation Office once your income reaches the minimum threshold for compulsory repayment. OUA helps organise this for students and it’s a simple and straightforward process.
How do you think your qualification will help you in the future?
My studies through OUA will provide formal recognition of my skills and knowledge in the IT arena. The studies have already contributed significantly to my career achievements in the industry.
In another five or 10 years I’d like to be doing something exciting. I’d like to use all the knowledge I’ve gained through working and studying to be running my own business or developing mobile applications. The IT industry is changing so quickly that all sorts of new opportunities will be available.
I feel very lucky to have found an online course at OUA suited to my study plans, as I don’t believe the past few years of my life could have been anywhere near as fruitful and enjoyable with any other method of study.
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