Why study a master’s in management?

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The global reach of companies means that they increasingly need to be able to function effectively in international and globalised environments; requiring managers who can effectively manage and grow within such an environment.  

The complex and dynamic nature of these environments presents many challenges for managers. These may be practical challenges – such as language barriers, international accounting, intellectual property, and cultural differences – or theoretical challenges such as political threats, foreseeing risks and developing a strategy.  

Knowledge and skills need to be developed across a broad range of disciplines, notably people management, financial literacy, strategic thinking, and business analysis. Not to mention the need to develop good judgement, self-awareness and resilience to obstacles and setbacks.   

Studying for a master’s degree in management can help you to become a better leader and manager, widen your outlook on the world, and support your career with the theories, tools, and techniques to underpin your ambition and effort.  

Here are some of the main reasons why you should consider studying for a master’s in management. 

Overcome your fears of stepping up into leadership 

When people move into leadership positions there can often be an uncomfortable tension between being a professional and being a manager. There is also a big difference between carrying out a tactical plan at a junior level and developing an overarching vision and strategy as a leader.  

Studying management allows you to gain a good understanding of different leadership frameworks, theories, and tools. Through critically reflective exercises, it can help you to explore your assumptions, perceptions and values as you develop your own management and leadership identity. It can also give you a space to consider strategic and organisational issues that you may be facing in your current role and teach you techniques to build a comprehensive strategy and overcome barriers to its implementation. 

Gain expertise in finance and data analysis 

Having a strong grounding in finance and data analysis is essential for managers who wish to make informed business decisions. Studying management can help to develop your understanding of core finance concepts such as being able to interpret financial statements, managing and controlling budgets, understanding how organisations raise finance and how risk management can be approached.  

Furthermore, it can teach you how to conduct an analysis of company performance, appraise potential business projects and support business planning and control. It can help you to better apply financial and data management skills to your own area of business practice, as well as understand the limitations of different techniques and pitfalls that some organisations fall into.  

Learn how entrepreneurship and innovation happen 

Entrepreneurship and innovation are at the forefront of international commerce and it is important for leaders and managers to understand how and why entrepreneurship happens, how innovation contributes to the ongoing viability of companies, and threats can arise when companies fail to innovate and competition moves in to take their market. 

They are also much more than the actions of a solo visionary at the head of a company. Studying management can enable you to better understand the enablers and barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation within firms, how new patterns of innovation are tested and adopted and how intellectual property is managed in an increasingly open world.    

Broaden your outlook of business and its social impact 

The social and environmental impact of business and management practices, and the ethics of managerial decision making, are becoming increasingly important in global business and society. Managers need to be able to navigate ethical frameworks, personal ethics, stakeholder management and corporate social responsibility, alongside their many other duties.  

If you’d like to gain more understanding and confidence in these areas then studying these aspects of management can help you to critically analyse ethical problems, see different perspectives and make more informed decisions. You will be able to study theories and examples across diverse types of organisations operating in different territories and markets, share experiences with fellow students, and apply the topics studied to your own organisational context.  

Develop your research and critical thinking skills 

Being able to research, identify and critically analyse business issues and challenges, and make effective decisions to overcome those challenges is one of the constant demands of a manager. By studying management and becoming familiar with different approaches to research and their application to management inquiry, you can enhance your ability to collect, analyse and interpret information and act making the best use of that understanding.    

You will have an opportunity to enhance your understanding of different types of research data and data collection, statistical techniques to analyse data, and optimal ways to present information back to others. The dissertation that acts as a capstone project to a postgraduate programme in management can also allow you to investigate an issue that is relevant to your own organisation, or another related organisation, and propose solutions and improvements based on evidence. 

Managers in organisations of all sizes, be that national or international, increasingly need to be able to practice competently with international and globalised managerial awareness in order to be effective. By developing good judgement, self-awareness, analytical skills, and knowledge built on experience, you can become one of them. 

If studying for a master’s in management interests you, the University of Liverpool offers a part-time and online course in management that could help you to develop your knowledge and advance your career. To find out more about the course, visit our webpage. 

Our online management courses are developed by our Management School which is accredited by each of the main international accreditation agencies – AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS – and proud to be a world leading centre for management and leadership education and research. 

You can also download a booklet about the programme modules and learning outcomes. 

What discounts are available for online study at Liverpool?

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At the University of Liverpool, we’re excited to offer a number of discount options to enable our online students to learn for less. These discounts, combined with our scholarships, are part of helping students financially with obtaining postgraduate qualifications that can help them carve out a professional future.

Our discounts have different eligibility criteria, with different discounts available for applicants with different backgrounds. In this blog, we’re going to run through some of the discounts we have for our courses, covering who is eligible for each one.

What discounts are available for online study at Liverpool?

We have two main discount schemes available for our postgraduate qualifications, that offer different levels of discount. They are:

Full payment discount

This discount is for those who choose to pay their postgraduate programmes fees up front, instead of paying in instalments. If you opt to pay for your course in this way, you’ll get an extra 5% off the full cost of your programme. Find out more information by getting in touch with our admissions team here.

Alumni discount

The alumni discount is for University of Liverpool students who have completed an undergraduate degree at the university and are moving on to proceed to the postgraduate stage. Any alumni who choose to study an online masters at Liverpool can get a 10% on their full programme fees. Find out more on our discounts webpage.

The 10% alumni discount is also available for those who have completed a postgraduate qualification at the university, provided the intention is to study a whole postgraduate programme with no exemptions from previous studies.

Each of these discounts are granted based on different terms and conditions. You can learn more about these terms by getting in touch with us on our contact page.

What is the difference between a discount and a scholarship?

While both discounts and scholarships are ways to make postgraduate education more affordable, there are some subtle differences to be aware of.

A discount is an amount of money taken off the overall fees you’ll pay towards a degree. You’ll pay the amount yourself, it’s just that it’ll be less than you’d pay if you were paying the full price of the programme.

A scholarship is a system where an institution, organisation or the university itself will pay all, or part of your programme fees. These scholarships are normally awarded for specific applicants with stringent requirements, such as academic excellence or financial background.

If you want to learn more about the discounts, scholarships or other financial schemes that we have available for our postgraduate online degrees, you can find out more on our discounts and scholarships page.

What are academic transcripts and how do I get them?

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If you want to apply for an online master’s programme with the University of Liverpool, then we will ask you to provide copies of your certificates to evidence your academic achievements. If your certificate does not document your final overall grade or classification, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript to support your application.

When you complete your degree studies at any higher education institution, you will receive formal award documentation to confirm your achievement. There are two types of award documentation issued to students, academic certificates and academic transcripts. 

What is an academic certificate?

Your academic certificate is probably the award that comes to mind first (and probably the document you know where to find). The certificate will usually have the university crest and confirm the title, classification or grade point average (GPA) and date that the award was granted. These certificates are usually given out at a graduation ceremony on successful completion of your studies.

What is an academic transcript?

An academic transcript is a document that records the modules you took, their credit value and the grades you achieved over the duration of your studies. It will be stamped or signed by the registry office of your awarding institution and be on official letter-headed paper. If you are outside the UK, this may be known as an academic record, statement of learning, mark sheet, record of achievement, diploma supplement, or similar.

Why are academic certificates and transcripts important?

If you want to apply for an online master’s programme with the University of Liverpool, then we will ask you to provide copies of your certificates to evidence your academic achievements. If your certificate does not document your final overall grade or classification, you will be required to provide a copy of your transcript to support your application. We do this by asking you to upload copies to our online application form.

Where can I get a copy of my academic transcript?

An academic transcript is typically issued by the registry office or department of the institution you studied with. You will usually be able to find contact details on the website of the institution, or instructions of how to do this through any online system they have in place.

If, for whatever reason, the institution is unable to provide you with a full academic transcript, they should be able to provide a letter confirming the details of the award that you have achieved.

Similarly, if you need a replacement academic certificate, the registry office or department should also be able to issue another copy of this award document to you.

Are certificates and transcripts accepted in any language?

If your academic certificate, academic transcript or other documents are not in English then you must provide an officially certified translation to apply for one of our online master’s programmes.

Your certified translation must be provided by either:

If the translation is not provided by the awarding institution, then it must include:

  • the translator or translation company’s contact details
  • confirmation from the translator or translation company that the translation is accurate from the original document
  • the name and signature of the translator or of an authorised official if using a translation company
  • the date of the translation

If you need any further advice or guidance about obtaining copies of your academic transcripts before submitting your application, or about how to translate documents that are not in English, please contact our admissions team.

If you have everything to hand and are ready to submit your application, you can find our online application form here.

How do I write a good personal statement?

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An important part of the application process for our online master’s programmes is to write a short personal statement about your interest and experience in the subject you are applying for, your reasons for choosing the programme, and how you feel your studies will help you in the future. 

Many applicants find writing a personal statement challenging. Writing about ourselves is not something we do very often. It’s also rare these days to write an essay on any topic, without being a student! 

A postgraduate degree is a big investment in yourself. Your personal statement is your opportunity to reflect on why you want to make the investment and to share this with our admissions team and programme leaders.  

What to think about before starting? 

At the University of Liverpool, we have divided the personal statement in our application form into three sections where we ask you to write between 100 and 200 words per section. We ask you to write in full sentences and in English, which is the language we teach our online programmes in.   

Every student is on a different journey and your personal statement will be unique to your situation and aspirations. Before you begin, you should know which programme you would like to study and have an idea of how you might use your new qualification, knowledge and skills in the future.  

You might find it helpful to ask yourself the following questions when considering what to write for each section of the personal statement. 

Interest and experience in the subject

  • What has stimulated my interest in the subject and motivated me to apply? 
  • What would I like to learn more about within the subject? 
  • What experience of the subject have I obtained so far? 
  • Where and how did I gain my experience – personally, professionally or academically?  

Reasons for choosing the course 

  • What attracts me to the University of Liverpool?  
  • What makes me want to study online and part-time? 
  • What are the things I am hoping to get from the course?  
  • How do I think the course will help me to develop myself? 

Your future plans and how the course connects 

  • What are my plans whilst I’m studying the course? 
  • What are my plans when I’ve completed my studies? 
  • What goals am I setting myself for the future? 
  • How will the course help me to achieve my goals? 

Tips and what to focus on 

Your passion for the subject should shine through in your writing and show that you’ve done your research and that you are aware of the commitment of studying for a postgraduate degree. Highlighting your background, employment, experiences and achievements will help us to understand your fit for the programme.  

Some postgraduate courses, such as our conversion programmes, may not require you to have a first degree in the subject area but we would still like to know what you have done to build up any experience to-date.  

We love to see your personality come through in your personal statement but try to make sure that everything you include is relevant as this is not a biography or CV. Everything should relate to the programme you would like to study and your potential as a student.  

Please don’t copy and paste from a template as your statement will be checked for plagiarism and this could hurt your application. We would recommend using a spelling check to avoid mistakes and it doesn’t hurt to ask a friend or colleague to proofread things too.  

Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses and tell us in your own words why you would like a place on the programme. Even if you don’t have a lot of prior experience, really highlight why you would like to learn something new. 

Ready to write your personal statement? You can find our online form here. Good luck with your application!   

What is the highest paying computer science job?

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A career in computer science in packed with opportunities across all kinds of industries – the ability to develop, program and automate is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after skillsets in the world, and as such, the financial reward for these kind of jobs can be substantial.

As with most other career paths, the pay for computer science jobs sits on an ascending scale, and as computer scientists develop their skills and specialise in certain technological areas, the wages tend to reflect that increased competence.

So, what are the highest paying computer science jobs out there? How much do those jobs pay? In this guide, we’re going to answer questions like these and more around computer science positions and the wages that come with them.

What kind of jobs can you get in computer science?

Computer science can be a very broad field, incorporating all kinds of different IT applications and skill paths. As such, there are a number of roles available for those looking to get into the industry. Here are some of the most common:

Software engineer – Software engineers design, develop, maintain and improve software solutions and systems on behalf of businesses. This role covers the entire computer science spectrum, and can be advertised using other titles, such as systems programmer, web developer or database engineer.

Data analyst – Data analysts (including big data analysts) harness data to keep data records for businesses, provide reports on that data to help those business improve their services, create automated processes to increase efficiency and any other responsibilities that focus on data use.

Machine learning engineer – Machine learning engineers work with businesses to implement AI technology within their processes. This AI technology is software or hardware that seeks to improve the way a business works using machine learning solutions.

Web developer – Web developers are computer science experts who specialise in creating websites and applications that can be accessed and used through the internet. They will work on all aspects of web design, including back end, front end and full-stack processes.

IT teacher – The more we become reliant on technology, the more need there is to fill skills gaps in the computer science sector. As such, IT teachers, lecturers and trainers are very much in demand, teaching a new generation of computer scientists the latest techniques and skills in the field.

These are just some examples of computer science roles that make up the computer science career path – you can find out more with this helpful guide to careers in IT.

What are the best paying jobs in computer science?

With so many different positions available in computer science, it is tough to pin down those roles that pay the most. Many of the best are centred around demand and supply; if there are positions which require more niche specialisations, these will pay more than more generalised opportunities.

One example of a high paying computer science job is a software architect. Software architects are developers and engineers who are hired by businesses to create entire software frameworks for the business’ processes. This software can include anything that the business requires, and software architects head up each software project and make key decisions to answer those requirements.

Another is the role of AI consultant. AI consultants are brought in by businesses to provide recommendations, suggestions and solutions for ways that AI and machine learning can improve the infrastructure and processes of a business. These consultants carry out audits, provide reports and sometimes, even oversee AI implementation in line with an information strategy manager.

The position of research scientist can also be a well paid role on the computer scientist career path. Research scientists are focused on the developmental side of computer science, research and developing new technology to tackle new challenges within the IT sector and in other fields. They can work for both research institutes and private businesses.

As above, these are just some examples of well-paid computer science jobs. The best way to track down the well-paid IT job that’s right for you is to do some research, both online and by talking to those professionals in computer science who’ll be able to point you in the right direction.

How do you get a job in computer science?

Getting a job in computer science is all about accruing invaluable skills, experience and training to ensure you are best equipped to deal with as many software, hardware and technological challenges as you can. While you can self-learn, generally the best way to get started on your path to becoming a computer scientist is to access the right education to learn from the best computer scientist practitioners in the field.

Obtaining a computer science degree in a higher education institute is one of the best first steps you can take on your career path, and the University of Liverpool online masters in computer science is an excellent place to start. This fully-remote course grants an insight into the many technical abilities that make up computer science, and how those abilities can be put into practice in the professional world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do computer science jobs pay well?

Yes – thanks to the importance of technology in just about every part of our lives, businesses are keen to recruit top talent for their computer science positions. Because of this, there is a lot of demand, and since supply is low due to the extensive study needed in the computer science field, there are a number of opportunities for highly-paid roles in well-respected businesses in every industry.

Is computer science hard?

Computer science, as an area of study, is built on an understanding of all kinds of software, so while it may not necessarily be hard, it does require extensive study to be able to access the best jobs in the sector.

Having said that, one of the benefits of computer science is that this understanding is cumulative – the more you study, the easier unfamiliar topics and techniques become to learn. As such, perseverance, hard work and an eagerness to develop your skills are all key factors in any interest in the computer science field.

What computer science job pays the most?

There are a number of computer science jobs that pay well – these include things like:

  • Research scientists
  • Software architects
  • DevOps engineers
  • Mobile developers
  • IT auditors
  • IT project managers
  • Software engineers

To learn more about other roles that pay well within computer science, read this useful guide.

If you’re thinking of kicking off your career in computer science, the University of Liverpool’s online master’s in computer science can give you the essential skills and understanding you need to excel in the sector. This MSc is the perfect partner for an undergraduate degree, helping you to go on to discover a path in any of the diverse computer science careers available to graduates.

Learn more about the course and how it can help you with our MSc in Computer Science course page.

What jobs are available in online security?

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Since the start of the 21st century, the internet has played a larger and larger role in the lives of people across the world – so much so that today, most of us spend hours at a time on the web, shopping, gaming, working, watching videos, researching and much more.

But with this increased use, the internet presents newer and potentially more dangerous risks in the shape of cybercrime. Cyber criminals are constantly developing new and more intricate ways of preying on victims in all corners of the digital world, and the more advanced software becomes, the more malicious cybercrime can be.

Acting as the first line of defence against cybercrime are the world’s online security experts, who draw from a vast wealth of knowledge to frustrate, overturn and protect against the efforts of cybercriminals to steal from businesses and individuals alike. A cyber security career can see professionals take on the role of making the internet a safer place for everyone.

In this blog we’re going to find out exactly how someone can get started on a cyber security career path, identifying what roles are available and what you can do to get into those roles.

Why is online security so important? [1]

Cybersecurity has an enormous role in keeping you, as both a professional and an individual, safe while you browse the web or work online. Online security keeps you protected from a range of potential cyber attacks that can threaten your:

Privacy – With so much of the admin and communications of our personal lives taking place online, an advanced cybercriminal can be gifted a number of opportunities to steal your data and to find deeply personal information about you that you may not wish to be shared, such as medical history, bank details or text messages between your colleagues or your friends and family. This information can then be sold on to malicious parties for it to be used against you.

Electronic devices – Cyber attacks go beyond just your data and your online identity – they can also target your electronic devices and information technology such as phones, laptops and tablets. Particularly nasty examples of malicious software include things like viruses, trojan horses and worms – the worst of these can significantly slow down your computer, lock your files for a ransom, or completely wipe everything. This can be particularly problematic for businesses because it can upend processes and waste invaluable money, time and IT resources.

Online identity ­– As we saw above, with everything from banking to medical profiles being managed and updated online, a lot of our personal data can end up online, either by our own choosing or through the actions of malicious cybercriminals. One of the problems that can happen when this data gets stolen is where criminals will use your identity to carry out activities against your will and that you more than likely won’t be aware of. These activities can sometimes be illegal, and can be tracked back to you, which can cause very real problems offline.

It is because of threats like these that your online security is exceptionally important – so having the best computer security measures available to protect you, your data and your electronic equipment is paramount.

What jobs are available in online security? [2]

For those looking to take their first steps into online security, the good news is, there are an array of different roles available. These include:

IT security engineer – An IT security engineer is a computer technician working for an organisation. They are in charge of ensuring the organisation’s IT systems are protected from cyberthreats – this includes things like managing antivirus software, running security checks to identify weaknesses, reviewing database network security, creating data backups in the case of an attack and much more.

Information security analysts – Information security analysts oversee the development of cybersecurity systems within an organisation. Unlike a security engineer who manages the day-to-day running of those systems, a security analyst acts like a developer who organises the security measures, sourcing and installing the right software and creating response plans in the event of a cyberattack.

Security software developer – Security software developers are tasked with programming and developing new and more advanced security software to help businesses and individuals stay protected against viruses and malware. As a programmer, these cyber security professionals are also used by organisations to create specific solutions to specific threats.

Penetration testers – Penetration testing roles are a little different to other cyber security positions in that penetration testers actively seek to breach the cyber security systems used by businesses. They are paid by businesses to do this so that they can identify potential breaches before they happen, and they know where to focus their cyber security efforts from the penetration tester’s report.

Those are just some examples of cyber security career paths you can follow if you intend to get into the internet security field. Find out more about these roles with this guide.

How do you get a job to work in online security?

Cyber security is a very knowledge-heavy field which requires specific training, education and experience. This is because online security professionals need to be able to quickly identify security issues and to know exactly how to deal with them when they do come up. These responsibilities need insights that can only be taught by other security specialists.

As the field of cyber security becomes more established, so too do the opportunities to study become more numerous and more accessible. Many online courses can provide the kind of training you need to embark on a career path in the online security field.

One example of these online courses is the University of Liverpool’s Cyber Security MSc, a full master’s degree in cyber security that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the online threats that internet users face today, as well as practical education on how to mitigate those threats with robust cyber security measures and strategies.

The University of Liverpool Cyber Security MSc goes beyond just teaching the technical aspects of online security; it also gives students the problem-solving skills, the international perspective and the guidance to create their own eportfolio to make them more employable in the world of cyber-security and beyond.

Find out more about how this degree can help with your cyber security prospects with the Cyber Security MSc course page.

[1] Info from https://www.techwalla.com/articles/why-is-internet-security-important
[2] Info from https://knowledgetrain.co.uk/cyber-security/jobs-available-cyber-security

What qualifications do you need to teach in higher education?

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For many people across the UK, higher education is, and has been, their path to a fulfilling career, giving them the knowledge and abilities they need to enter their chosen industry and to thrive in their professional and personal lives.

The academics, lecturers, professors and PhD students that teach in higher education institutions help carve out that path for their students, and as such, these professionals are often regarded as the backbone of the academic world.

A career as a teacher in higher education is a multifaceted career, with plenty of opportunities to try out new challenges and develop new skills. It also allows teachers and lecturers to easily pursue a field that interests them through their chosen subject.

In this blog, we’re going to take a look at what qualifications and skills are needed to teach in higher education, as well as exploring the kinds of roles that are available to those looking to follow a higher education career path.

What roles are available in higher education? [i]

It takes a variety of different approaches to ensure the education a student receives at a higher education institution is as deep and as fully-formed as possible.

To achieve this standard of education, there are a number of teaching positions available that are available in higher education. These include:

Lecturer – Lecturers are academics who give lectures to students, teaching them course materials, giving lectures, holding tutorials, creating assessments and exams, marking those assessments and providing pastoral support where needed. They are chiefly responsible for the education of students and also play key roles in boosting student engagement and wellbeing.

Professor – Professors are the highest level that an academic can achieve within higher education. Professors carry out many of the same roles as lecturers, and their work also includes research within their field and the writing and publication of articles, theses and other scholarly contribution on behalf of their institution.

Head of department – Universities and other higher education institutions are made up of different departments for different degrees and subjects. The head of department is in charge of an individual department, overseeing teaching, enrolment management, modules, and other teaching staff to ensure the quality of education is kept consistently high. They may also assist in admin and pastoral care for students in difficult circumstances, acting as academic advisers to their departments.

What qualifications do you need to teach higher education?

For most careers teaching in higher education, you’ll need to have a good pass – either a 2:1 or a first- in a degree in the subject or field you intend to teach in.

With this degree in place, you’ll need to be studying towards achieving a PhD or master’s degree at the least. For certain degrees, teaching may be part of your studies, and you’ll earn a wage from this as you work.

You’ll stand a better chance if you already have one of these degrees in place, especially if you’ve had your research published in an academic journal. Additionally, a PGCAP, or Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice, can give your application a boost – this teaching qualification, available with the University of Liverpool online PGCAP course, gives you the essential skills you’ll need to effectively teach within a higher education institution.

Where can you gain these qualifications?

The only way you can get these qualifications is by taking a course, either virtually or in person, at a higher education institution that offers a degree in the subject you’re interested in teaching in.

Once you’ve achieved your degree at this institution, you’ll be able to apply for positions in postgraduate courses and master’s degrees – and once you’re on or have completed your postgraduate course, you’ll be able to begin teaching for your organisation.

To help your chances of being accepted as a higher education teacher, and more importantly, to give you the skills and academic practices you’ll need to know to be able to teach efficiently, a postgraduate academic practice course can be a big help, such as this one, provided by the University of Liverpool online. These courses are designed to develop your teaching and to help you ensure that your lecturers, tutorials and seminars are enlightening, engaging and interesting for your students.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a higher education course?

Higher education courses are courses that teach students at level 6 of the education [ii] under the RQF – the Regulated Qualification Framework. This level includes things like bachelor’s degrees, graduate diplomas, degree apprenticeships and more.

Higher education organisations also offer level 7 and level 8 degrees within their higher education courses. Level 7 covers things like master’s degrees, PGCE and level 7 NVQ courses. Level 8 is the highest level of education the RQF has to offer, and includes doctorates and PhDs.

Is PGCAP a degree?

The PGCAP, or Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, is a teaching certificate formed as a Level 7 qualification under the RQF. This places it as a Master’s qualification and it gains students who undertake the programme automatic professional recognition.

The PGCAP is an excellent entry point for students looking to pursue a career in academia, providing them with a full skillset of teaching techniques, methods and insights that they can put to work as lecturers, researchers, PhD students, teachers and other fields within higher education. It goes beyond borders too, helping students gain a wider understanding of what it means to be an educator in the international community.

To find out more about what the University of Liverpool’s Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice can offer you, visit the PGCAP course overview.

[i] Information drawn from – https://career-advice.jobs.ac.uk/academic/working-in-higher-education-faq/

[ii] https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/levels-of-education-what-do-they-mean/

Why artificial intelligence is so important in today’s world

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For much of the 20th century, artificial intelligence and machine learning always seemed from the realm of science fiction, something for the far off future along with flying cars and commercial space travel.

As we move further into the 21st century however, artificial intelligence has already become part of our day-to-day lives, in our homes, workplaces and public spaces. From the recommended content on your social media feeds to rare disease diagnosis in hospitals around the world, we are gradually building our world around machine learning.

So why is artificial so important in tech development, and why are data scientists and engineers so excited about its evolution? In this article, we hope to answer some of those questions and more about the immense potential that AI has to improve our standards of life, the way we work and our development as a species.

What is artificial intelligence?

The concept of machine learning and AI isn’t new, but it is enjoying a major boom as we gradually incorporate it more and more into our lives.

But just exactly what is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence is a scientific idea which refers to the creation and development of computers and machine that can perform, process and make decisions independently of human input or interaction. To put it in simpler terms, an artificial intelligence system is one that can think for itself, even at a very basic level.

To frame this in a different way, a machine with artificial intelligence replicates the way we think as humans. AI systems learn through what we call ‘machine learning’ identifying patterns and trends to make their own decision about how best to succeed with a task. They can receive spoken and written instructions, recognise objects, faces and voices, and learn from their experiences and sensory equipment to carry out any number of tasks.

Most artificial intelligence agents are programmed with algorithms by data scientists and engineers which they use to sift through enormous datasets to identify patterns. These patterns help them learn how to respond to the world and carry out their tasks successfully.

What is the importance of AI in our daily lives?

Many of us benefit from AI in our daily lives without even realising it.

With a streaming service like Netflix or Amazon Prime, the recommendations you receive for shows you might enjoy are produced by an AI system which uses data on your viewing habits to decide on what series you might like to see next. A voice recognition service in digital assistants, such as in the case of Amazon’s Alexa, will receive data from its user in the form of spoken language and will translate that data into a text file using an algorithm in order to decide what the user needs it to do. AI in social media helps curate the content in your feeds to be more relevant to you while Google utilising artificial intelligence can sort through millions of search results to find the one that you’re looking for.

On a more complex scale, self-driving cars use a complex network of AI systems to make real-time decisions as they drive to keep the ‘driver’ and passengers safe throughout the journey. These kinds of cars receive data through a range of sensors, with a central computer using machine learning to make decisions based on patterns identified by those sensors, such as proximity to other cars, traffic lights and changes in the weather on the road.

On a more general level, much of our modern healthcare makes use of artificial intelligence to diagnoses and treat diseases and injury. Medical AI systems can receive data from a patient or a doctor and use what it has learnt about diseases through experience to identify miniscule patterns in that data for a more accurate diagnosis.

Why is artificial intelligence important to business?

Modern businesses use data in just about every part of their work. From logistics management to marketing, HR to strategies, companies use data to better inform their processes for a better end result. AI solutions are rapidly becoming more popular for analysing the data on hand and reacting to patterns in that data to help the business make better decisions. This increased popularity has also increased the need for professionals within the field, a demand level met by artificial intelligence courses hosted by many of the top educational institutions around the world.

Here are some examples of AI in business:

Marketing – For retail businesses, getting the products you think your customers will want to buy noticed is integral to improving profits. AI recommendations systems in smart shopping can use customer data to predict what the customer might want to buy, placing that product front and centre on a webpage to secure conversions. AI and CRM is also an integral application within marketing.

Logistics – Logistics is often one of the most complex parts of a business, and AI can help a lot in this sector by doing things like establishing shorter delivery routes with shortest path algorithms and managing things like delivery drones which are set to be a common logistics solution for the future.

Strategies –­ The best businesses out there use data to fuel their strategies and plans for the forthcoming financial year, and AI can help take the data they receive from their sales history and use it to forecast the sales for the future. These insights can help strategist make big decisions for the way the want to take their businesses going forward.

Production – Manufacturers often use AI to establish things like supply and demand for certain products, as well as resource management. If a product is experiencing a spike in demand for example, AI systems can instruct production facilities to increase production on that product to meet demand.

Frequently asked questions

What are the four types of AI?

There are four principle kinds of AI that different systems use to do different things. They are as follows:

  • Reactive Machines ­– Reactive machines are designed to use AI to react to the present. They are unable to use the past to make decisions about the present or future, nor are they able to predict the future from the data they receive. They do not learn new behaviours, they only carry out that which they were explicitly programmed to do.
  • Limited Memory – Limited memory AI machines use their experiences in the past to apply insights to the data they receive. To this extent, limited memory AI operate in the same way humans do when they learn to do something differently based on experience and external input.
  • Theory of Mind – The theory of mind AI concept suggest that some machines may be able to have the level of intelligence and decision-making of a human mind, which theoretically would be evidenced by the ability to carry out a full conversation with a human.The key aspect here would be understanding emotions within the context of decision-making.
  • Self-Awareness – The highest level of AI that we have currently theorised is self-awareness. Self-awareness would see an AI understand that it itself was an entity, with desires and the capacity for understanding its own, and other people’s feelings. A self-aware AI would at the most basic levels have its own thoughts, independent of tasks or goals.

What is the purpose of AI?

The overarching goal of AI systems is to analyse data and harness patterns from that data to better improve their tasks and output. With AI, computers can learn to complete tasks that require more intelligence, and in some cases, do things that humans ourselves can’t do without the calculating power of a computer system.

Who invented AI?

One of the first ever AI programs was created by American Arthur Samuel, who created a draughts playing computer AI program which was taught how to play the game in 1952. His work came off the back of decades of theories and ideas, perhaps the most prominent coming from iconic British mathematician Alan Turing and his leading paper ‘Computing Machinery and Intelligence’ which offered the famous Turing Test as a philosophical concept on the use of AI.

Modern AI is a diverse and endlessly fascinating area of scientific and engineering study, with new and exciting developments being made every year. This expanded usage of AI in products, businesses and services has seen a bigger demand than ever before for data scientists, business analysts and AI engineers, with new career paths opening up all the time.

If a career in artificial intelligence or machine learning is something you’re interested in, the University of Liverpool offers a pioneering and industry-leading MSc online course on artificial intelligence that could well be your first steps onto a machine learning career path. To find out more about the course, visit our webpage here.

What careers are available in machine learning?

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As humans become more reliant on technology, our understanding of what machines and computers can do for our lives grows more with each development.

Machine learning is one of the more recent of those developments, helping our technology to evolve and grow by itself, offering new potential with each iteration. It’s an exceptionally exciting field of study that can help jumpstart the way our computers increase their efficiency and scope in every industry, from medical applications to entertainment.

But what exactly does machine learning entail? What role do humans have in developing machine learning intelligence and how can you get into a career that’s based around one of the most intriguing and progressive areas of technological discovery? In this blog, we’re going to try and answer those questions and more, diving into the world of artificial intelligence to learn more about the careers and career paths that pave the way for better and more refined machine learning.

What is machine learning?

Machine learning is all about creating and coding computers and other forms of technology that can learn and improve their processes by themselves with little or no input from humans.

These machines learn by picking out patterns in significant amounts of data and using those patterns and that data analysis to make decisions about completing a process or providing information. this is done with minimal human intervention, with computers carrying out activity without being specifically told or coded to that activity – all through using machine learning algorithms.

A much used example of machine learning is speech recognition, in which a computer or machine receives the words someone says as audio and recognises patterns within the audio which are translate into text. The machine uses the text file to make a decision on what the user requires and then delivers that service. Household examples of this include things like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri.

What careers are available in machine learning?

While at first glance, it might seem that machine learning is all about significantly reducing human interaction with programming machines, there are a lot of careers surrounding the field – especially because companies of all sizes and industries are keen to use the technology to improve the way they work. As such, a big question for those interested in AI and data is the question of how to get into machine learning.

Pursuing a machine learning career path is engaging, interesting and full of potential, positioning professionals at the beating heart of AI and robotics development. Though there might be a lot to learn and pick up, a mid-career switch to machine learning is also entirely possible, especially considering the number of machine learning online courses there are in the field.

Here are some examples of careers in machine learning:

  • Machine Learning Engineer – While much of the onus in machine learning is placed on the machine learning by itself, it still needs a human to code in the algorithms and programmes that it will use to enact the process of learning. A machine learning engineer does just that, providing the machine or computer with the tools that it needs to learn.

  • Data Scientist – With a big push in the technological community for better machine learning, we need more and higher-quality datasets than ever before. Data scientists help to source, analyse and create data models which engineers then program into computers to enable them to engage in machine learning.

  • Business intelligence developer – The applications of machine learning are many, and it’s the role of a business intelligence developer within a business to identify how these applications can improve the way their company works.  They also work closely with data, identifying patterns in the same way that machine learning technology does to identify patterns and trends.

How to start your path to a career in machine learning

Because the area of machine learning and artificial intelligence is an exceptionally technical one, the best way to get started on your machine learning career path is with education and training.

There are a wealth of artificial intelligence course options available to those interested in getting started in the field. These programmes are designed to give you a full understanding of the mechanics, science and technology behind machine learning and artificial intelligence, and should be your first step towards carving a career out of the industry.

You can find a range of artificial intelligence courses at the University of Liverpool including the online MSc course in Artificial Intelligence.

Frequently asked questions

What are the four types of machine learning?

With each piece of machine learning technology, there are four types of machine learning that computers and machines operate from – supervised learning, un-supervised learning, semi-supervised learning and reinforcement learning:[1]

Supervised learning sees the data engineers provide the machine with a fully labelled set of data which the machine can use for reference while training a learning algorithm.

Un-supervised learning sees the machine learning model presented with an unlabelled dataset without telling the model what to do with the data. The model must find trends and patterns within the dataset to establish a purpose for the data.

Semi-supervised learning is halfway between supervised and un-supervised, with the machine learning computer given a labelled and an unlabelled dataset to extract and compare features and patterns from.

Reinforcement learning is the process of training a machine learning model the best way to complete a task. With each correct move the model makes towards the overall goal, it gets a ‘reward’, with every new move requiring the model to use what it has learnt to progress.

What is machine learning used for?

Machine learning has enormous potential for a full range of applications, both in our professional and personal lives. From recommendations on a video streaming service to military threat monitoring, the uses of artificial intelligence are near limitless and as we learn more about the field, we can expect to see more machine learning used in our day-to-day lives with every technological cycle.

You can discover more examples of machine learning with this comprehensive article.

How can I start to learn machine learning?

Learning more about machine learning and how you can find a career in AI starts with training and education. There are a number of elements in maths and computer programming that can help, such as coding, linear algebra, calculus – and personal research and AI projects are always a bonus – but the best way to get started is to take a course in machine learning.

The University of Liverpool has developed a proactive and in-depth artificial intelligence course , designed to give you the skills and technical abilities to create, maintain and evaluate AI learning models for computers and machines. You can find out more about the course here – and to learn more about the benefits and advantages of studying online with the University of Liverpool, visit our website here.

[1] https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2018/08/02/supervised-unsupervised-learning/

How to improve as a lecturer

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Within academic fields, lecturing plays an integral role in creating the next generation of academics and professionals, granting the skills, abilities and knowledge to get them started on their chosen career.

Lectures remain to be the most effective way of teaching in a higher education setting, and while the core idea behind lecturing remains the same, new technologies and new approaches to learning have changed the teaching landscape.

Some of the best lecturers in universities and colleges are constantly evolving the way they teach with these new developments in mind in order to ensure their students get access to the best education possible.

But continually improving as a lecturer is a challenge in itself – how does one become a better lecturer? What qualities and characteristics make for a good teacher? In this article, we’re going to take a look at how lecturing can be improved to give a better higher education experience for students of all levels.

What is the responsibility of a lecturer in higher education?

The traditional role of a lecturer within a higher education setting is to deliver education to students on their course, teaching course materials within their field to help their students get the most out of their degrees. This can include things like:

  • Giving lectures on course topics
  • Course preparation and lecture planning
  • Holding seminars and tutorials for more interactive learning
  • Writing and marking assessment exams
  • Writing and designing teaching materials for students

Beyond those core responsibilities, modern lecturers are also expected to:

  • Assist PhD and Master students with their research activities
  • Embark on personal research projects as a research university lecturer
  • Write academic papers
  • Act as mentors and provide pastoral care for students
  • Contribute to the activities organised by their school

There are many more duties that lecturers have within their jobs and careers – you can learn more about what lecturers do with this helpful guide.

What are the qualities of a good lecturer?

The first step to improving as a lecturer is to understand the kind of qualities that make for a good lecturer. These can include things like:

  • Being engaging ­– Having a lecturer who is switched on, always ready to spark discussion and communication, and always open to finding new ways to engage students is key to keeping things fresh and interesting.
  • Being compassionate ­– All students are human beings with their own personal lives. Being understanding when things happen in these personal lives is essential for supporting your students to be the best learners they can be.
  • Being enthusiastic – Enthusiasm as a lecturer will keep you interested in everything you have to teach, and that passion for your subject will come through in your teaching and higher education skills, gifting your students with an enthusiasm for learning.
  • Being proactive – Taking an active interest in your students will make them feel valued as part of the education institution. Check in with your students regularly to ensure your teaching is doing its job and that all class members are able to keep up.
  • Being approachable – Having a lecturer who’s hard to approach as a student can quickly derail progress on a module. Try to ensure you’re as welcoming to everyone in your college or university as you can be to ensure a positive lecturer-student academic relationship.

How to improve as a lecturer

So now we come to the crux of the question – how exactly does one improve as a lecturer? How does one thrive in university lecturer jobs? Let’s look at three ways you can become a better lecturer:

Our first tip is helping your students understand how to process your feedback. Negative and positive feedback are key building blocks for a student’s understanding of a subject, so them being able to learn and adapt from that feedback is essential. One way to do this is by requiring your students to send you a draft of any coursework for you as a lecturer to look through and provide feedback for. Once you’ve checked it over, arrange a meeting where you both go over the feedback you’ve provided so that lessons can be learned and a deeper understanding gained. This interactive element added to the course will help you improve as a teacher and help the student earn better grades.

Our second tip is to consider asking one of your peers in your institution to sit in on one of your lectures. It can be hard to get feedback from your students on the quality of your lecturers because they may not be as willing as other academics are to talk about what needs improving. Asking a peer is a great move, especially if they’re older and more experienced, because they’ll know what works and what doesn’t. They’ll know what it’s like to be up in front of a lecture hall full of students so they’ll be best placed to let you know what’s going well and what’ll need a bit of improvement. Write these suggestions down and create your own action plan to ensure you’re incorporating the feedback in your lecturing.

Our third and final tip is use student questions as a basis for creating your lecture. The questions your students ask you are generally indicative of the areas of your course that are tougher or less clear than others. By answering questions wherever they crop up, whether in the lecture hall or after teaching is finished, you’re directly addressing the toughest parts of the curriculum as you go. If you get a question from a student by email about a certain segment, write the question down and bring it to your next lecture to answer – this way, you’ll be answering the question for students who don’t have the confidence to raise the query in person or by email. It’ll make life much easier for both and your students in the long run.

All of these are higher education skills that can be learnt on the job, but for those who want to reach their full potential as a lecturer, a PGCAP (Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice) course can be just the thing for those looking to improve their university lectures online and in person.

Frequently asked questions

What does a higher education lecturer do?

Higher education lecturers are academics who are hired by universities, colleges and other academic organisations to lead courses, teach students and carry out research in their chosen field on behalf of their institution.

They perform an essential role in universities that goes beyond the above duties, assisting with administrative work, providing pastoral care for students, organising events within their faculty and much more to ensure that the students in their school have as rewarding and as fulfilling a higher education experience as they possibly can.

You can learn more about what it means to be a higher education lecturer here.

What is expected of a lecturer?

Lecturers are expected to provide students with a positive learning and higher education experience, through teaching, assessment, pastoral care and administrative support. They are also expected to contribute to their institution’s research profile by carrying out research and writing papers on their area of expertise.

Each institution will have its own expectations of what lecturers should do, but they all stems from the above ideas about higher education lecturing.

What qualifications do you need to be a higher education lecturer?

Becoming a higher education lecturer is the start of a rewarding career path that helps you develop as a person and as a professional academic.

In terms of the degrees you’ll need to become a higher education lecturer, you’ll need to have at the very least a higher education degree within your field of study – however, for almost every faculty and discipline, you’ll need a PhD to be considered for a lecturer role. Other certificates from other academic-focused degree courses, such as a PGCAP, can also help you stand out from your competitors.

For many lecturers, teaching is the major responsibility in their day-to-day work, so getting to be the best lecturer is an important career objective.

One of the best ways to improve as a lecturer is to complete a course that provides you with the higher education skills you’ll need to refine the way you teach and how you support your students. The University of Liverpool’s Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice is one of these courses, designed to give lecturers a better understanding of teaching, creating course materials, online lecturing, teacher-student academic relationships and more.

Find out more about how the PGCAP can help you succeed as a higher education lecturer here.