Professional software engineer with PhD in Computer Science who can turn you into a great programmer

Find out more about Jean

• Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  I first got into computing when I was 12 years old. Apart from playing games, I soon got interested in writing my first program using the Pascal language. With time I extended my interests to web development, algorithms and data structures, making simple games and building electronic projects such as an irrigation system using low level languages.

• What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  Most likely the rise of artificial intelligence. Even though there is a lot of hype involved with AI at the moment, the potential this technology provides is as big as the Internet was in the 90s, as well as the invention of the computer. AI is progressing with such speed that is getting very difficult to follow all advances that are happening on a daily basis. I think individuals of the future will need to understand how to program computers and use AI efficiently if they will want to stay competitive for the future job market.

• Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  My main expertise is programming - I spent most of my life writing code for fun and living. I've written code, professionally and in spare time, using many languages such as C, C++, Java, Ruby and PHP.
  I am also an expert (by training) in machine learning (part of AI) with application in software engineering for which I received a PhD. I worked as a lecturer at two UK universities and taught many students. Finally, as part of my training as a lecturer I became an associate fellow in higher education academy (AFHEA).
  My interests have always been revolving around learning and teaching. I have an enormous passion transferring knowledge to others as I think this makes me richer as well as my students, bringing joy to both parties.

• Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  I respect people who make great achievements progressing IT field forward, however I don't necessarily think very high of so-called 'visionaries'. Yes, they are usually great business people, but it's their engineers who work for them that make great changes and move the field forward. I prefer to be one of those engineers and try to teach my students to challenge their knowledge and critical thinking so they can build great stuff.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  I vividly remember a university project where we had to build a simple application. After days of frustration over a bug that kept crashing the program, I explained the problem line-by-line to a classmate who knew nothing about coding. Halfway through my explanation, I suddenly saw the logical flaw in my own code—the classic 'rubber duck' moment. That experience taught me two invaluable lessons: first, that teaching is one of the best ways to deepen your own understanding, and second, that perseverance and a fresh perspective (even a non-technical one) are often the keys to solving the toughest problems. I carry this into my teaching by encouraging dialogue and clear communication.

• What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  I'd say, I completely understand that feeling, and you're not alone. IT wasn't designed to be intuitive for everyone. However, you don't need to understand how every component in a car works to drive it effectively. But I'll give my best to be your driving instructor and help you out navigate through this journey.
  
  Let's start with what you want to achieve. Do you want to organise your data or build a web application? We start there, with a clear goal. We'll break it down into small, manageable steps, and you'll be amazed at what you can confidently do in just a short time.

• What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  Outside computing I'm passionate about playing drums. Much like coding, playing an instrument is a skill that requires practice, patience, and celebrating small victories.

• What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  What makes me a Superprof is my ability to translate complexity into clarity and my patient, student-centric focus. I'm not just teaching syntax or software; I'm teaching a growth mindset towards technology. My goal is for students to leave not only with a new skill but with the confidence that they can learn the next one on their own. I measure my success by their 'aha!' moments and their growing independence in tackling digital challenges.