Lecturer in the spotlight: Avril Hayden

Can you share a bit about your journey leading up to BUas? 

Avril: 'I am originally from Dublin, where I studied Electronic and Computer Engineering. After I graduated, I joined Accenture as a consultant and spent about three and a half years there. During the pandemic, I decided to challenge myself further and completed a part-time Master’s in Computing, specialising in AI. While still working at Accenture, I joined an international data science team to put my new AI skills to use.’    

‘I continued working at Accenture until I found an opportunity here at BUas. I was keen to move to the Netherlands. Teaching was also something I had wanted to try for a while, so I joined BUas last August. It has been quite different from the corporate world, but I really enjoy the change.’  

What sparked your interest in teaching? 

Avril: ‘From early on, my parents were incredibly supportive and encouraged me regardless of what path I decided to take in life. Once I started in university, I was especially interested in initiatives aimed at promoting women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). During my studies, I enjoyed being part of these communities and events. It was always so rewarding to help people understand new concepts and see them grow in confidence. That feeling stuck with me.’ 

What kinds of projects and courses have you worked on at BUas so far?  

Avril: 'Right now, I am mostly focused on first-year students. It is my first year teaching here, so I am still finding my feet, but I have been involved in teaching foundational skills, like dashboarding. At the moment, I play more of a mentoring role. As I settle in, as well as teaching technical skills, I hope to add more value by incorporating business understanding and teaching soft skills, such as how to be a data translator.'  

'One of the projects I have supported students with involves creating dashboards based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has been fascinating to see the topics they are passionate about, such as ocean plastic pollution. Giving them the freedom to choose their focus areas makes the work much more engaging.' 

Why is the Applied Data Science & AI programme so important right now? 

Avril: 'What I like about our programme is how practical it is. During my own studies, I always preferred learning by doing, and this programme offers students plenty of hands-on experience. With AI becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it is essential for students to be well-prepared for the workplace. The best part is that AI is no longer limited to highly technical fields, there are roles for every skill set, and the opportunities are rapidly expanding. Our graduates will be crucial in shaping the future.' 

Have there been any mentors or influences who shaped your career? 

Avril: ‘My parents were a big influence. They instilled a strong work ethic in me and always encouraged me to explore new opportunities. They were very open-minded and supportive. My partner also inspired me, he works in special education and showed me how fulfilling it is to have a job that creates value for others.’  

‘Additionally, I had several mentors throughout my career, especially strong female ones in which is traditionally a quite male dominated field. I also found events like Women in STEM really inspiring. Those experiences made me want to be a mentor for others and support them in their journeys.’ 

What do you find most fulfilling about working at BUas? 

Avril: ‘Helping students and seeing them grow is the best part. When a student overcomes a challenge and is excited about their progress, knowing I helped them along the way is very rewarding.’ 

What advice would you give to students hoping to become data scientists? 

Avril: ‘Keep your options open and explore different roles. There are so many opportunities in data science, and it is not all about programming or technical skills. We need diverse backgrounds and a wide range of skills in data science teams because the solutions we create have to be relevant to all kinds of people. If you enjoy solving problems and love a good challenge, it is definitely the field for you.’ 

Connect with Avril Hayden on LinkedIn.