The spotlight is on Shona Cuthbert, Computing Lecturer, Ayrshire College, Scotland.

Ayrshire is a county in southwest Scotland, located along the shores of the Firth of Clyde, a coastal inlet that opens into the Irish Sea. The firth contains several islands, including the Isle of Arran, Bute, Great Cumbrae, Little Cumbrae, Holy Isle, and Ailsa Craig. Ayrshire is one of Scotland’s most agriculturally fertile regions and is home to well-known Scotch whiskey distilleries.

Ayrshire College is a vocational institution with over 13,000 students enrolled across full-time, part-time, evening, apprenticeship, and work-based learning programs. The college plays a vital role in equipping learners with the skills and confidence to support social and economic development across Ayrshire and beyond, and is committed to empowering people for a changing world. The college prepares students for vocational qualifications including National Certificates (NC), Higher National Certificates (HNC), and Higher National Diplomas (HND), awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). These qualifications support progression into employment or entry into university programs, often into second or third year.

Shona Cuthbert is a computing lecturer who delivers cybersecurity and computer science classes, twin HNC and HND programs that draw on Oracle Academy’s database curriculum. In cybersecurity, she teaches data security, digital forensics, ethical hacking, and how to implement appropriate countermeasures to mitigate a cyberattack. The computer science course focuses on the key areas of software development, computer systems, databases, app development, troubleshooting and e-commerce.

She holds a bachelor’s degree with honours in Information Technology from Glasgow Caledonian University, and teaching qualifications from the University of Aberdeen. She is also an SQA qualification development specialist.

Oracle Academy: Can you tell us about your use of Oracle Academy resources for teaching?

Shona Cuthbert: The college joined as a member and adopted Oracle Academy resources around 10 years ago, initially benefiting from the involvement of a computing lecturer, who is now Vice President of Oracle Academy. I’ve since taken over the database curriculum he established and, for the past six years, have been teaching Database Design and Database Programming with SQL using Oracle APEX as the development environment. I incorporate this into both the Cyber Security and Computer Science programs.

Oracle Academy: What type of students do you have?

Shona Cuthbert: 60 students in three groups attend my in-person and remote classes. Many are school leavers, from 15 upwards, but there’s also a mix of adult learners in their 30s, 40s, even 50s and over, looking to reskill, maybe change from a physical job or for other reasons. Some of the students come from disadvantaged backgrounds and many have no clear idea of what databases are. Many students feel confident with mobile devices and assume they understand computing. However, once they begin the course, some feel like they’ve been thrown in at the deep end, quickly realizing that computing involves much more.

Oracle Academy: So, they get thrown in the deep end…

Shona Cuthbert: It can be a tough course for students coming from secondary schools with little or no computing knowledge. In Ayrshire and other parts of Scotland, in some schools computer education can be quite limited, with only basic instruction provided, sometimes due to a lack of dedicated resources or specialist support. But, thanks to Oracle Academy, I break them in gently by first giving them Solve It with SQL, a fun workshop where students play the role of “superheroes” tasked with solving a series of crimes. Being interactive and gamified, it turns abstract SQL concepts into real life, making it easier to grasp and retain ideas. I use it as a springboard into Database Design and Programming with SQL, which is fully aligned with the SQA credits system.

Oracle Academy: How did you map the courses to the SQA?

Shona Cuthbert: We worked with Scottish Qualification Authority and studied the content of the Oracle Academy curriculum and determined that it maps entirely to the SQA units Database Design Fundamentals; SQL: Introduction; and Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS). The units are written in generic terms, enabling them to be completed using a commercially available RDBMS, so Oracle fits to a tee. This is great because successful completion of my course is equivalent to the first year of university.

Oracle Academy: And you couple Database Programming in SQL with Oracle APEX; why is that?

Shona Cuthbert: Oracle Academy is the environment through which they access all the course materials. And for programming, APEX, a low-code development platform provided by Oracle, allows students to write and run real SQL code for data querying and manipulation and PL/SQL for more advanced logic. So, APEX gives them a good grounding in creating tables, writing queries, joins, functions, and stored procedures. What’s more, it is straightforward and intuitive to use. We use the examples and worksheets provided. The skills they learn are all very transferable and prepare them for the real world.

Oracle Academy: What kind of examples do they work on?

Shona Cuthbert: Oracle Academy has an engaging project to design and implement a scalable hospital database system using Oracle APEX, with SQL used for database creation and data management. Also, I have created a new assessment to simulate a driving school, with tables for cars, drivers, lessons, customers, and so forth. We have great fun with that; it both holds their attention and teaches them database design.

Oracle Academy: What do they get on completion of the classes?

Shona Cuthbert: Upon successful completion of the course, students receive the SQA credits with which Database Design and Programming with SQL is aligned. As an SQA qualification development specialist, I make sure that year on year we are fully mapped. And they receive an official Oracle Academy completion certificate, which gives them an advantage over those who don’t. It provides something extra to add to their CV and shows that they’ve completed an industry-recognized qualification. It motivates them to take the work more seriously because there’s a real-world benefit beyond just passing the unit.

Oracle Academy: What type of work have your students attained?

Shona Cuthbert: In Ayrshire, there are many industry sectors, including engineering and aerospace, digital, construction, well being, and tourism. All of these need people with computing skills. Several of my students progressed to university and then found jobs in computing and cybersecurity. Some recently graduated in Digital Security and Forensics from Glasgow Caledonian University and now work in that field. Last year a student graduated with bachelor’s degree in Computer Games Development from the University of the West of Scotland, and has been hired as a game developer in one of the leaders of that booming industry. Others have found similar jobs in cybersecurity, game development, banking, programming, NHS customer technical support, and other areas.

When I tell this to students they light up: ‘I can do that too!’

I quote to current students emails from former students who’ve expressed how valuable the SQL unit was to them, because they understood SQL injection, which is the malicious exploitation of applications by a cyberattacker. A couple of them said they wouldn’t have secured their current cyber positions without the course, as they had learned to write extensive programming in SQL. Today, they feel comfortable in their roles because of the skills they gained.

Oracle Academy: That’s very positive. Would you say Oracle Academy resources have been beneficial?

Shona Cuthbert: Oracle Academy is a great resource; it covers things very thoroughly and allows me to pick and choose what I need for my classes. It gives me professionally developed courseware that aligns with real world practices. The curriculum maps with SQA qualifications, which helps me streamline assessments and students gain recognized awards.

If there is ever a technical problem, the Oracle Academy team provides responsive support.

The courses I teach prepare students for university-level computing or direct entry into the workforce, and are a valuable asset to the college. Apart from that, the Oracle Academy Member Hub is very useful, and I often share the Oracle Academy Education Bytes with my students — short tutorials for SQL and cloud for example. The Hub allows me to download all the related quizzes and exams onto the college online learning platform, MyLearning, to share with the classes.

Oracle Academy: Great. Do you have any other Oracle Academy resources in mind?

Shona Cuthbert: Oracle Academy has a wealth of materials for all levels. A few years back we taught Java Fundamentals, which introduces beginners to programming through the Alice, Greenfoot, and Eclipse object-oriented programs. A new colleague of mine right now is looking at reincorporating these tools.

Another resource we would like to use is Oracle Primavera P6 Professional Project Management Fundamentals in the HNC Computer Games development course. And lastly, integrating Oracle Cloud into our curriculum is firmly on our roadmap. The great thing is that students with Oracle Cloud accounts have access to it for life, so for those who are interested, it's a fabulous resource. But that’s in the planning.

Oracle Academy: Thank you. And, what are your interests outside of teaching?

Shona Cuthbert: Where to start? I have a passion for travel, history, and discovering new places. I have just returned from a train journey through the Swiss Alps, a trip that started with Eurostar from London to Strasbourg. It was a a truly unforgettable experience.

I love reading and I’m a member in a book club where we meet up once a month with wine and nibbles. The last book we read was There are Rivers in the Sky, by Elif Shafak, who follows a drop of water through the centuries — a truly remarkable, thought-provoking book that left a lasting impression on all of us.

I have three children and now three grandchildren, so spending time and taking care of young children is a big and joyful part of my life. Before COVID, I attended a weekly yoga class, but during the pandemic I moved to online sessions a couple of times a week, mainly Hatha and Vinyasa. I find it good for flexibility, balance, and relaxation, not to mention helping deal with stress.

Walking is a great enjoyment. I’m very fortunate to live right by the coast, which treats us to some stunning sunsets. We often go hiking on weekends, enjoying spectacular views of the Isles of Arran, Bute, and Cumbrae, and even over to Ben Lomond, one of the most popular hill-walks in Scotland.

A few years ago, I walked the West Highland Way for charity, 97 miles from Glasgow to Fort William, and I’ve also taken part in the Kiltwalk and the Rob Roy Mighty Hike, both 26 miles, for charity.

So, with a large circle of friends and engaging in a wide range of activities, I think I achieve a well-balanced work-life balance!

Thank you, Shona Cuthbert, for your passion for Oracle Academy and for preparing your students to make a positive impact.