The spotlight is on David Berko, Computer Science Student, University of Ghana.

The University of Ghana, founded in 1948 in the capital Accra, is the premier university in Ghana, offering 1,100 undergraduate and graduate programs through four colleges and 25 applied learning and research centers. The university has 76,013 students and 6,400 faculty and staff.

David Berko is a year three Computer Science student in the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. As an aspiring software engineer, his Systems Administration classes are based on Oracle Academy curriculum: Database Foundations, Oracle APEX, and the Oracle Academy Cloud Program.

One of David’s course advisers, instructor Mark Mensah, has been previously featured in an Oracle Academy member success story.

Oracle Academy: We hear that you are hands-on with Oracle Cloud. Can you tell us more?

David Berko: Yes. Oracle Cloud is so rich in content that I feel the need to go beyond the classroom and dive deeper from home. Oracle Academy has given me tools and resources that I wouldn’t otherwise have, allowing me to test ideas that require more computational power than my personal laptop could handle.

Through my Oracle Cloud account, I have explored the various elements of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Additionally, I work on personal projects related to AI/ML, web development, and cloud computing to enhance my skills beyond the curriculum. For me, due to the ever-evolving nature of technology, continuous self-learning is essential.

Oracle Academy: Which parts of OCI attract you most?

David Berko: I have been using OCI extensively to create and manage virtual machines and for understanding systems administration concepts such as configuring servers, networking, and managing resources in a cloud environment.

Specifically, I have created Virtual Machines (VMs) running Linux distributions and learned how to configure them for specific tasks. I also have gotten to know how to deliver secure remote access using Secure Shell (SSH) with key-based authentication for added security. In addition, I have worked on implementing security rules and firewall settings to control inbound and outbound traffic, which has deepened my understanding of cloud networking.

With these hands-on experiences, I feel confident about working with real-world scenarios when I join the job market.

Oracle Academy: No doubt about that. Any other observations?

David Berko: I’m just grateful that Oracle Academy has given our university state-of-the-art tools at no cost. My advice to any students would be to master the course basics in class and then exploit the rest of the resources in one’s own time to the maximum. There’s so much to learn. For example, using Oracle Cloud has given me a clearer understanding of industry standards such as the pay-as-you-go model, resource scaling, and the importance of security and monitoring in virtualized environments.

This exposure has made me more comfortable navigating cloud platforms and has given me a head start in understanding technologies that are critical in today’s IT landscape.

Oracle Academy: Great to hear that. What about apps development, have you tried that?

David Berko: Yes, we were introduced to the Oracle APEX platform in the Database Fundamentals class, which has 600 students. APEX is super user-friendly and has allowed me to explore database-backed apps development. I have used it to build an inventory system, not a full-scale stock management system, but a simple solution to track basic stock levels and manage records efficiently. With APEX I can easily add and update inventory items with little coding experience; I’m excited to integrate it into my learning.

Oracle Academy: Super. Wishing you success! Lastly, what are your interests outside of the classroom?

David Berko: Among other things I love sports and books. Personally, I enjoy playing tennis, but when it comes to football, Manchester United is my favorite squad. I also follow Formula 1 and support the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Naturally I keep an eye on Oracle Red Bull Racing!

Reading is a great pleasure. I really like dystopian novels, with George Orwell’s’ Animal Farm and 1984 among my favorites. Other authors include Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. Currently, I am reading The Iliad, a whole other adventure!

Thank you, David Berko, for your passion for technology and Oracle Academy.