Anastasiia Shafir
Student spotlight details
Anastasiia's interest in technical knowledge led her to the online part-time Advanced Diploma in IT Systems Analysis and Design, providing the knowledge she needed to guide her career.
'I am originally from Russia and lived for about 20 years in Khabarovsk which is a city in the Far East near China. At school, I undertook mathematics and languages as my favourite subjects. When I had to decide on what profession to study for, my parents suggested that I should become a translator and I therefore enrolled at university for English and Chinese Linguistics. As a tool languages enable me to understand the world better.
'I discovered a new direction in my career when I started working for Sberbank, the country’s largest bank. I took on different roles through the years and moved from an operational expert to a project leader in customer experience. I concentrated on enhancing services for customers with disabilities in that position. At one point, I was invited to work in Moscow to be part of a team tasked with creating ATM software, which was quite a career step for me.
'I have always had an interest in technical knowledge. In my role at the bank, I worked across various areas, including payment services and solutions for customers with disabilities. I naturally also started exploring these systems to try and understand how they work — the logic, the reasons for errors, and what makes some services hard for users to find. Throughout the years, my goal was always to make the customer experience better.
'I took courses in programming and machine learning and even worked with other learners to build a website for a volunteer organisation. But I realised that without a firm grounding, I would not comprehend much. This led me to search for a programme that would provide me with that all-encompassing knowledge I needed.
'Although I’d never even considered an international education before, I had known that the University of Oxford was one of the best universities in the world. As I had a background in English, I believed I could apply. But I knew how competitive it would be and my only hesitation was that I could not live up to that high standard. However, I took it on and went after the opportunity.
'The most difficult aspect of the programme for me was probably the new style of learning; I wasn’t used to it in my country. It was a completely new process that took some time to master it.
'Another challenge was learning technical subjects in English and academic formats for writing tasks, which was quite a bit of work in the beginning. However, the material provided for this course was comprehensive and this was quite helpful to me. In the course of the study, I was able to learn more about how to arrange my work and present my ideas coherently. Another new experience for me was learning independently. Fortunately, at the beginning of the course, we were provided with a number of suggestions on how to manage this programme. There were some useful guidelines at the beginning of each term and the forum was a good way to exchange ideas and experiences since there was no face-to-face contact.
'Also, because of the political situation in the world and personal circumstances, I had to take a break from my studies. But thanks to the incredible support from the university administration, the Course Director, Dr. Sepideh Chakaveh, and my tutor, Dr. Selvakumar Ramachandran, I was able to return and finish the program. I’m so grateful for that.
'It was an amazing opportunity to study at a world-class university in a programme that was organised by some of the best people in the business. This is why I specifically enjoyed the online seminars that were held by Dr Sepideh Chakaveh, during which we discussed our different points of view and experiences.
'The support from Dr Selvakumar Ramachandran throughout the course was invaluable, providing guidance and encouragement whenever needed. The programme provided a broad overview of the entire system development life cycle, from initial concept to full implementation. I learned how to organise processes and use the appropriate tools, that have proven helpful in my current role. It was also a strong foundation, which helped me focus on the areas I wanted to better develop in my career.
'As a Project Manager in the ATM department, I am leading some key technical projects. My favourite project was to lead the improvement of a monitoring system for assistive ATMs, which enhanced system accuracy and automated the issue-reporting process. This IT systems design course has given me invaluable skills with which I solve complex problems in a clear and organised way that has also improved how I manage projects. From this experience, I have been able to grow and even grow further in the process of IT systems analysis and design. Overall, the programme is transformative – it’s not just technical skills, it’s strategic insight that guides my career.
'I plan to continue developing my skills and gaining practical experience in IT. I'm particularly passionate about digital inclusivity and want to contribute to creating more accessible technologies for all users. In the future, I hope to work on projects that break down digital barriers and promote equal opportunities in the tech world, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can benefit from technological advancements.
'If you’re thinking about taking this course, my advice is to go for it. It’s a challenging program, but the knowledge and skills you gain are absolutely worth it. The course gives you a solid understanding of IT systems design and how to tackle real-world projects, and the support from tutors is fantastic. Don’t be afraid of the challenge – it’s manageable with the resources provided, and you’ll grow so much from it. Plus, you’ll connect with people from all over the world, bringing in different perspectives that really enrich the learning experience.'
