Rashmi Perera (PhD in Computing)

PhD Computing at Buckingham: First year experience

Tell us who you are and what do you do?

I am Rashmi Perera, and I am currently studying as a PhD in Computing student at the School of Computing, The University of Buckingham. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Information Technology from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and following two years of experience in the software engineering industry, as well as in academia, I turned my interest towards pursuing a PhD for the advancement of my career in research and in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). I am currently in my second year at The University of Buckingham and my research focuses on exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence in the education sector. I enjoy teaching as well, therefore, I work as a Visiting Lecturer at The University of Buckingham and as a Computer Science teacher at Akeley Wood School, Buckingham.

What is your research focus?

My research broadly looks into the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the education domain and to be more specific, my current research explores how AI can be integrated into the viva-voce examination process in a higher education context. Given that the education sector is one of the leading industries that is at the forefront of adapting and innovating along with the advancement of AI, it is interesting to witness the wide array of possibilities of how academia can be enhanced with the assistance of AI. I hope to contribute to this vast body of knowledge through my research.

What inspired you to pursue this research topic?

Since I have worked in lecturing roles in academia, I believe that there is potential to supplement the current education systems with AI, especially since the advancement of AI and the changing environments due to it calls for shifts in the current education system. Therefore, the topic of AI for Education has been of interest to me, and I have been keeping up with the research done in this field. Moreover, the fact that I enjoy teaching helped keep my interest up as well. I believe that AI can help education become more accessible to many people around the world and that it can help the learners keep up with the fast pace of the evolving technology and the changing world.

How would you summarise your first year of PhD studies in terms of challenges?

Pursuing a PhD in the UK has to be one of the biggest challenges I have taken on so far in my life. Moving to a foreign country, leaving behind a comfort zone in my own country and my family, was in itself a huge hurdle, let alone taking on the challenge of pursuing a doctorate. But I was able to adapt and settle down comfortably thanks to many factors that helped me throughout, including my supervisor, Professor Harin Sellahewa, my personal tutor, Mr. Shiyamalaraj Kandasamy among other staff in The University of Buckingham and a kind group of friends I made in and around the university.

On the other hand, conducting research brought forward its own challenges and there were plenty of times where I felt lost, which I was told (and eventually realised) was quite normal. But the beauty of it all is when you figure your way out and produce good results. Once again, I have many people to thank who guided me through.

What are your academic and personal accomplishments during the first year of studies?

In terms of academics, I have been able to gain a lot of valuable knowledge, experience and opportunities through the university within the period of one year. Apart from being taught and trained on how to conduct proper research at the standard of a Level 8 degree, I have also been able to receive supporting knowledge that I need to conduct my research and guidance from the distinguished lecturers at The University of Buckingham. I personally find this very valuable since doing a PhD involves enhancing existing knowledge and developing expertise in a particular area, so being able to learn from highly knowledgeable and experienced lecturers is a privilege.

Moreover, I have been able to constantly participate in many events such as talks, panel discussions and conferences where I have been able to continuously develop the skills expected from a research student. I participated in the FCLP Artificial Intelligence Seminar Series organised by the Faculty of Computing, Law and Psychology, The University of Buckingham as a speaker and panellist. A highlight of the first year of my PhD was presenting my ongoing research at the Cambridge Generative AI in Education Conference 2024 organised by the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) and the College of Education for the Future at Beijing Normal University and was successfully published in the ‘Booklet of Abstract’. I was also a speaker at the Adstock Science Club which is a community event organised in Buckingham. I have also worked as a teacher and a lecturer which will be a valuable addition to my portfolio.

Towards the end of my first year, I was able to look back and reflect on how much I have learnt and create even better resolutions and goals for the remaining years of my PhD.

How has the support from your advisors and peers contributed to your academic environments and your progress so far?

Every student requires guidance and support, and The University of Buckingham has been an inviting and friendly environment for nurturing growth. As I have mentioned before, my supervisor, personal tutor, other lecturers and admin staff, as well as my peers at the university have been kind and helpful in a lot of aspects. I was awarded the Royal Charter 40th Anniversary (RC40) Scholarship by the University to help me fund my studies, and it has been helpful to lessen the burden a student can face financially while also studying.

Moreover, the school not only guides its students in academia but also provides counsel on career prospects and skills development as well, such that students enter the industry as proficient and skilled individuals. Additionally, the university provides a wide range of resources that their students can make use out of. One of the most beneficial resources for me is the library, which contains a range of books that you can read to enhance your knowledge further and provides access to research databases and online resources such as IEEE Xplore which are necessary when conducting literature reviews.

How have you managed to balance coursework, research, social and personal life during your first year?

I have tried out setting goals and deadlines that I try my best to achieve on time with the highest quality and standard possible. Although it can be difficult to become a perfectly organised individual, I have learnt from my peers to use time management tools and techniques such as Pomodoro, Jira, calendars and to-do lists in order to organise the various tasks that I ought to complete and to stay on top of the work.

I also make sure I separate time for my family and friends and also engage in relaxing and enjoyable activities such as the ones organised by The Friends of the University (Buckinghamshire). Some of my favourite pastimes include crafting, going on walks, having movie nights and unwinding with a call to my parents back home. These activities help keep me motivated and clear minded.

Are there any time-management strategies or lessons learned that you would like to share with fellow PhD students?

We live in a world where there is a lot of pressure and stress on young people and students, as well as many distractions that can easily use up your time. All of these things affect the productivity of students and is something we all battle with. I have learnt that we need to take every step possible to counter these hindrances and these are a few ways I found would be helpful.

• Make use of time management techniques such as Pomodoro that will help you block out any distractions for a certain period of time and then give you a short break to relax and prepare yourself for another round of work.
• Make use of all the software and tools that we have today, such as project management tools such as Jira, which will help you keep track of your workload.
• Find out what works best for you. For example, having a printed calendar where I can write down the most important tasks I have coming ahead help me have a clear idea of the goals and deadlines I need to meet.
• Try to gain extra knowledge along the way and explore the research area that you are working in.

What’s life like in Buckingham town?

Buckingham is a beautiful small town that boasts the beauty of its surrounding nature, the historic elements that can be seen all throughout the town and the peace, quiet and calm. It is a wonderful place to live in and with university premises, such as the libraries and study spaces, scattered around the town, it makes student life much more easy and enjoyable. Come spring and summer, it is lovely to walk around the town and explore the surrounding nature, including, paying visits to fields where sheep and horses graze or taking an evening stroll to Stowe Gardens, which is a famous landscape for being one of the most significant and historic British gardens.

Buckingham is also a short distance away from other historic cities and landmarks such as Oxford, so travelling to Oxford on a long weekend to visit the museums and walk around the city was definitely one of my favourite occasions.

What are the ‘must do’s that you recommend for students?

Make sure you plan out your work and it is okay if you miss out on it or any other tasks because it is never too late to start. Seek guidance and help when necessary and don’t go through difficult times alone. Most importantly, enjoy the work you do, enjoy the company of your peers and try to become a better version of yourself as time goes by. Also, don’t forget to utilise the resources that are provided to you by the university and to make the best use out of it, so that you can walk out the university someday as a skilled and well-versed individual.