Carolyn Symonds

Why did you choose City St George's?

When Chat GPT was launched, I knew that my next step in my career was studying AI. In 2023, I started my research in finding a master’s. I found around 4-6 universities in London that delivered the degree that I wanted, and in my top 3 was City St George's, University of London. I asked other colleagues who studied AI about the programme at City St George's, and they said that the modules from this one stood out compared to the other programmes.

What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?

I have developed several skills in this master's degree:

-Firstly, general knowledge in the field of AI. The master's is designed with the correct combination of modules, where students can build broad and solid AI skills. These skills not only help students to have a better understanding of what they want to continue studying/working on after the master’s but also give a robust understanding of AI if you are in the tech field already.
-I have 8 years of experience in tech, 5 as a software developer and 3 as a product manager and delivery lead. The knowledge I gained was so important for my career. For the past 3 months, I have been working as a Senior AI Product Manager, and I was able to step into this role thanks to this master’s degree.
-I developed research skills which was a whole new world for me. Reading and understanding a lot of papers to be able to design new models based on them was challenging. The master's contains 2 modules + thesis that were crucial to gain solid skills after the master’s. It prepares students that want to pursue a PhD, and for my case, it gave me the knowledge to understand what’s behind the AI tools that I use, and lead projects more efficiently.

What are your career plans and how has City St George's prepared you for them?

I am already working as an AI Product Manager, and getting this master's was crucial for this job. City St George's prepared me mainly in gaining the correct skillset to be suitable for my job. There is a great difference between my profile, and the other teammates which have not studied AI.

In my work, I use a wide range of tools; Voice AI, build agents, website development, and various AI technologies. Understanding what’s behind these tools and the AI concepts that power them is essential, and the master’s programme provided that foundation

How did you find your experience studying in the UK, and how has it
influenced your professional journey?

The experience of studying in the UK was unique. I grew professionally and personally. Firstly, the quality of the topics within the master's and the lecturers. Many of them have years of experience in their field, have lots of connections, and have worked for amazing companies. Having the opportunity to connect and learn with this level of professionals is not easy to find, mainly in the field of AI.

Personally, experiencing a new culture and a new language was challenging, but I learned so much; I met new people, improved my English, and now have friends from all over the world. This is invaluable in life, because people from different backgrounds bring diverse perspectives, and it’s incredibly enriching to learn from them.

What did a typical week at university look like for you, and how did it prepare you for your current role?

I had four modules per week. I usually started my day by going to the gym, then attending classes, and afterwards studying a bit or spending time with my friends from the programme. On weekends, I generally focused on studying. In my final semester, I began applying for jobs and dedicated a lot of time to it. After about two months, I secured a role before finishing my master’s; I started part-time and then transitioned to full-time.

What advice would you give to someone considering a degree in your subject, based on your experience after graduation?

Connect with the students in your master’s, make new friends, be curious about their lives and careers, build relationships with lecturers, join a club, and try new food. These experiences will enrich your personal life and can also open new professional opportunities. I made an amazing group of friends from different parts of the world, we travelled together, cooked together, studied together, and now, I will be able to travel and explore their countries and culture, along with other unique experiences. In addition, I also have a great relationship with two of my lecturers, who supported me in finding my current job.

What was your favorite module or aspect of your course, and how has it impacted your work or personal development?

My favorite module was Explainable Artificial Intelligence: Ethical and Legal Challenges. It’s an important topic to understand in AI. What I liked most about this module is that it focused on real cases and debates, not just theory. This made the classes engaging, and it helped me learn much more because you’re actively thinking, discussing, and sharing your own point of view.