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Deepak Kumar Karna

The spotlight is on Deepak Kumar Karna, Computer Science & Software Engineering, Patan College for Professional Studies, Nepal

Patan College for Professional Studies (PCPS) was established in 1998 as the first IT College in Nepal. Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia which shares its borders with China and India. The college is situated in Lalitpur, which is the third largest city in Nepal and is best known for its rich cultural heritage.

PCPS was founded to provide citizens of Nepal and neighboring countries with exposure to globally accredited degrees. As universities in the United Kingdom are recognized all over the world, PCPS staff conducted extensive research on universities within the UK and chose Bedfordshire University to be its academic partner.

As an academic partner of University of Bedfordshire, Patan College for Professional Studies has been permitted by the Ministry of Education, Nepal Government to offer Bachelor of Science (Hons) degrees in Computer Science and Software Engineering and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degrees in Business Administration.

Deepak Kumar Karna, head of Computer Science and Software Engineering, holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from MNNIT University, India. His teaching career began at NAMI Vocational College in Kathmandu, Nepal, which delivers courses from the University of Northampton, UK. At NAMI and at PCPS, he incorporated the Oracle Academy curriculum into his teaching.

Oracle Academy: How did you get involved with Oracle Academy?

Deepak Kumar Karna: I got to know Oracle in various jobs following my postgraduate studies, and loved the technology. After a few years in industry I decided to share my experience through teaching and joined first NAMI and then PCPS. When looking into teaching resources I discovered Oracle Academy and, with colleagues, took the online Java and database training. Later on, I sat the exam to become an Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer.

Oracle Academy: What do you teach at PCPS?

 

Oracle APEX is brilliant in that it simplifies apps development. We can apply our logic directly and the APEX App Builder frees students from manual coding so they can focus on the data.

Deepak Kumar Karna: We have two programs in our Bachelor's and Master’s courses. One is systems development and modern database practices; the other is computer systems structure. They cover object-oriented programming, systems design and development, web programming, mobile application development, and databases. For these subjects, I incorporate the Oracle Academy Java and database materials as well as the low code development environment of Oracle Application Express (APEX).

Oracle Academy: Can you tell us about your use of Oracle APEX?

Deepak Kumar Karna: The university has a specific database course which recommends the use of Oracle APEX for practical work and for final year projects. Oracle APEX is brilliant in that it simplifies apps development. We can apply our logic directly and the APEX App Builder frees students from manual coding so they can focus on the data.

I requested APEX accounts for my students through the Oracle Academy Member Hub, a wonderful interface.

Oracle Academy: In what ways do you use the Oracle Academy Member Hub?

Deepak Kumar Karna: We use the Oracle Academy Member Hub to create a learning channel for our students. We add Oracle Academy courses like Oracle APEX, Java, Primavera, Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning in Java, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Foundations related to our studies. We also add materials they might require for gaining wider knowledge, such as content from the Oracle Academy Education Bytes, namely data science, database, Java and Cloud Services.

In the case of Oracle APEX, the accounts connect us to a dedicated instance which students use for hands-on apps development practice in the cloud. In the past each student would connect through Oracle public cloud or faculty would install Oracle APEX on the local system. But the APEX account makes it all much easier and also allows me to manage and keep track of their work.

Oracle Academy: What parts of the Oracle Academy Cloud Program are you planning to use?

Deepak Kumar Karna: We already have some idea of cloud computing and have of course been using Oracle APEX in the cloud. So, our next step is to have final year students use the cloud-based Oracle Autonomous Database for their projects. This will introduce them to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure as well. Full adoption of the Oracle Cloud Free Tier through the Oracle Academy Cloud Program will begin in 2022.

We also will explore the Autonomous Datawarehouse and how to apply Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning and data science-related concepts.

 

I encourage others to benefit from these amazing and free resources. I visit other institutions, explore their requirements and desires, and explain what’s available and how to get started with Oracle Academy.

Oracle Academy: In what way will you teach Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning?

Deepak Kumar Karna: PCPS believes that graduates with artificial intelligence and machine learning skills for software development will stand out from the pack and get better job offers. Industries nowadays demand these skills and any software created today must link to artificial intelligence.

We recommend Oracle Academy resources to our associated government colleges by explaining the benefits and some level of usage to their students. We make the government organizations aware of the cloud technology so they come to know the skills of our students whom they can chose or recommend for their future workforce. Some of our students with PL/SQL skills along with artificial intelligence and machine learning skills are in demand in private industries. I have recommended using the Oracle Academy Cloud Program, since it provides the high-end core libraries for creating complex AI/ML applications without having to build anything from scratch.

And students who have learned object-oriented programming through the Oracle Academy Java Curriculum have a smooth pathway into the Oracle Academy Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning in Java course.

Oracle Academy: Do other departments also require Computer Science input?

Deepak Kumar Karna: Yes. The BBA Business Administration course teaches a range of business models, ideas, and managerial techniques, including information systems and data management. One of its modules covers Project Management, and for this area I recommended using the Oracle Primavera P6 Professional Project Management Fundamentals course provided by Oracle Academy. Students in that program also learn the basics of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), for which Oracle Academy also has resources.

Oracle Academy: We also have heard that you spread the word to other colleges in Nepal…

Deepak Kumar Karna: Indeed, I encourage others to benefit from these amazing and free resources. I visit other institutions, explore their requirements and desires, and explain what’s available and how to get started with Oracle Academy. Once the world returns to normal, I’m planning to tour the country presenting the teacher training program, the curriculum, and the requirements for becoming members.

Oracle Academy: Brilliant! Lastly, what activities do you enjoy outside of the classroom?

Deepak Kumar Karna: I love to relax to music, to read, and to get connected with friends and family.

I also continuously stay up to date with technology. At university and later on, I specialized in the Internet of Things. In the future, information technology will be an even closer-knit interaction between software and hardware – ‘engineered to work together’, as Oracle puts it. One of my objectives is to combine the teaching of IoT with AI/ML.

Oracle Academy is doing a great job helping people around the world in expanding the frontiers of knowledge.

Thank you, Mr. Deepak Kumar Karna, for your passion for Oracle Academy and for preparing your students to make a positive impact.

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