Belko Uses His Computing Degree to Make a Difference
Belko Diallo is a Computing and Systems Development degree student studying at the Ore Valley campus of East Sussex College.
Over the last year, Belko has been using his studies to create digital solutions with real-world impact. Building on his work developing Jam Tan Edu Suite, a system designed to support schools and community programmes in Burkina Faso, Belko is already applying the skills he’s learning in his degree to make a meaningful difference.
Belko joined the degree course after finishing his A-Levels. He was looking for a place to study computer science that offered lower tuition fees as he was applying as an international student.
“After finishing my A-Levels I was looking for a place to study computer science with lower tuition fees as I count as an international student,” said Belko. “I found the computing course at East Sussex College and have really been enjoying it.”
Belko has found the problem-solving approach of the course and the support he’s received from tutors particularly beneficial.
“What I've found most interesting about the course so far is how it shows that all kinds of problems big or small can be solved through abstraction by breaking it down into smaller simpler steps. My tutors have been very supportive throughout my course both in answering my questions by working problems out with me and in encouraging me to improve my work.”
Belko has spent most of his life in Burkina Faso, where his parents run a community support centre called Jam Tan. The centre includes a medical facility, vocational training, a primary school and a children’s club in a village with limited infrastructure.
He has volunteered at the children’s club and seen first-hand the challenges of manual administration systems.
Drawing on the skills he is learning at East Sussex College, Belko is now developing Jam Tan Edu Suite, a digital system designed to improve efficiency in school and community programmes.
“By digitising the school and children's club administration systems I hope that my project will increase the speed and efficiency of tasks, freeing up staff members to focus on the education and support of children and generate insights on data to identify children that need more support and to support better decision making in the future.”
Another project Belko has worked on during his degree was an assignment to develop a booking system for a fictional repair garage.
"It was interesting carrying out research into how repair garages operate, such as the discussion around how parts are considered substitute and original for different vehicles," said Belko. “I combined the knowledge gained from that research with database concepts and theory to design and develop a database system that meets the requirements of the repair garage closely."
He added, “The computing degree at East Sussex College has given me important skills in areas such as programming, programme design, database design and development, web development, network design, cyber security and carrying out research all of which I am using in some way to develop my project.”
Looking ahead, Belko hopes to build a career in technology, with a focus on making a positive impact.
“Looking to the future I hope to work in software engineering and artificial intelligence although I'm not sure exactly which domain I want to work in, only that I wish to make a positive impact.”
Follow Belko’s lead and design systems that can change the world by studying Computing & Systems Development at East Sussex College.