Martin Adegbola Traore

I’ve always been curious about how software works, how a few lines of code can solve real problems. That curiosity started during my vocational studies in Spain (microcomputer systems and networks, then a higher technician qualification), and grew when I helped maintain a real-estate website during my internship. Seeing users rely on something I built made my inspiration feel practical and meaningful.

I chose Software Engineering because is the future, a society with so many technologies require many programmers could not function without great programming systems. I enjoy turning ideas into working systems, whether that’s building software with Java as a project at university, a PHP/SQL web app, or improving code quality through testing. Edge Hill offered hands-on learning, an industry placement year, and the chance to build real software exactly what I wanted.

What keeps me interested is impact and improvement, writing reliable code, learning modern tools and practices, and applying them in real settings, like my NHS placement. I’m motivated by a mix of my academic choices and the experiences that shaped who I am today.

I chose Edge Hill because it matches the way I learn, practical, supported, and career-focused. The course offers hands-on projects and a sandwich placement year, which has already helped me step into industry. The teaching style is clear and supportive, lecturers are accessible, give and receive useful feedback, and push you to improve. The modules cover the tools I actually use (Java, PHP, SQL, Git, Agile/JIRA and so many more..), so what I learn in seminars transfers directly to real work.

The campus community is friendly, the facilities are modern, and it’s well located for tech opportunities around Liverpool. Overall, Edge Hill gave me the right mix of theory, practice, and industry links to grow into a professional software engineer.

I have developed my software development technologies skills, including Java/Python, building Java apps and using OOP software. I have also improved my quality and debugging skills, creating Test Script and using Chrome DevTools. Daily stand-ups, JIRA jobs and Bitbucket/Git workflows have helped me to learn Agile methodology.

The most memorable moment of my degree so far was walking into The Walton Centre (NHS) on my first day of placement and seeing how our code supports real patient care. It was the moment when seminars projects became joining daily stand-ups, picking up JIRA jobs, and contributing to EPR (Electronic Patient Record), features that people actually use. It made the purpose of my degree crystal clear.

What I enjoy most is coding, I just love it. It’s fascinating that one problem can be solved in many different ways. When I’m coding, I’m fully focused and creative, time flies and I feel completely “locked in”.

Edge Hill is genuinely career-focused. The University goes above and beyond to help students reach their full potential, through practical support, mentoring, and constant opportunities to connect with industry.

What stands out most to me is the frequency of career events, multiple career fairs (3–4 a year), employer talks, skills sessions, uni clubs and placement briefings. You can feel the tutors commitment, their energy, encouragement, and hands-on help to get students into placements and meaningful roles. As a student actively pursuing a placement, I truly see the value and the effort, tutors who fight for opportunities to students, clear guidance, and a community that pushes you to succeed. That support is the best thing about Edge Hill.

When I graduate I want to start as a software developer, ideally in full-stack or back-end, and keep building the skills I’ve developed at Edge Hill and during my NHS placement. I’m especially keen on Software Quality Assurance, so I plan to work in teams that value testing, reliability, and clean code. Long term, my goal is to grow into a senior engineer, help deliver high-quality software and maybe ending up mentoring others.

To someone considering studying this course at Edge Hill, I would say that you’re choosing one of the most future-focused degrees. Software engineering gives you skills that are useful anywhere you go. My advice is simple ‘go for it’ but be consistent, learn a little everyday. Build your basics early and familiarise with them (Java/Python, SQL, HTML/CSS/JS, Git etc..). Work like a professional from day one, use JIRA/Trello, Version controls, and write clear notes. Use the support at Edge Hill talk to lecturers and tutors, and attend the many career fairs as possible. Aim for a placement year if you can, because that’s the key you will need to unlock may opportunities that come across. If you stay curious and keep showing up, you won’t regret it. Edge Hill has combined academic support, real industry links, and great facilities to help me grow as a software engineer student.