After 43 years working in the IT and Education sectors, Senior Lecturer Tom Caira has retired from University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
Tom, who started at the then University of Paisley in November 1994, will be well known to numerous former students who studied Business Technology at the University.
“If you were a student of mine, I feel very privileged to, hopefully, have played some small part in helping to shape your career. If you have been an industry mentor or placement provider for any of my students, or if you have been involved in some other way with supporting or guiding my students over the years, you have my eternal gratitude.
“I have been working non-stop (and I mean that literally!) for the last 43 years, and I am very grateful for having had such a rewarding career,” commented Tom.
A Computing Science graduate from University of Glasgow, Tom spent the first twelve years of his career working in industry assisting companies to become more efficient through the use of technology.
Moving into higher education at Paisley in 1994, over the last 30 years he has assisted students to enhance their technical skills, their employability skills, and their all-round knowledge of the industry paths open to them and how to prepare for a graduate career.
Tom continued: “Someone asked me the other day if I was sad that I was leaving at such an exciting time with AI coming to the fore. Little did they know that I was involved in AI research over 40 years ago (1984 to be exact).
“I wrote an expert system that ran on a Sinclair ZX Spectrum and I then ported it to a “new-fangled” business computer called an IBM PC – it had two floppy disk drives and could sit on your desktop and everyone was raving about it – yes I am that old!”
Whilst he is retiring from UWS he is not slowing down and is taking on the Cancer Research UK Race for Life on 18th May to raise funds for cancer research. Donations can be made via his Cancer Research UK Race for Life Giving Page