From Curiosity to Code - DkIT’s Software Development Degree
Originally from Tamil Nadu in India, 22‑year‑old Elga Jerusha Henry moved to Ireland at 18 to study Software Development at DkIT.
“I was looking for a course that combined strong academic learning with practical, hands-on experience,” says Elga, who was drawn by Ireland’s reputation for education and its thriving technology sector. A lifelong science enthusiast and self‑taught programmer, Elga had already discovered how much she enjoyed building small projects and experimenting with new technologies. What began as curiosity soon became a clear career ambition, fuelled by her love of solving problems and creating things from scratch.
During her studies, Elga embraced every challenge. She earned the prestigious Generation Google Scholarship for women in computer science and even mastered solving twelve different types of Rubik’s cubes, completing the classic cube in under a minute.
What truly shaped her academic journey, however, was the structure of the DkIT programme, a great balance of theory and practice. “We would learn concepts in lectures and then apply them through labs, assignments, and team projects, helping strengthen our understanding of the material while giving us practical experience with technologies used in industry.”
The opportunity to gain real industry experience before graduating through work placement was another huge advantage. Elga completed her third‑year placement as a Software Developer at ABB, working across both frontend and backend development. This exposure helped her understand the broader software development lifecycle and ultimately guided her toward the areas she most enjoyed. The placement also strengthened her technical foundation and gave her insight into professional development practices, version control systems, and modern software methodologies.
Beyond programming and software development skills, Elga developed strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication abilities, with the focus on project work, teaching her how to collaborate effectively with others, manage deadlines, and adapt when challenges arose.
Several modules stood out during her degree, including Internet of Things, Smart Technologies, and the year‑long Collaborative Project. She found the introduction to machine learning and model training particularly fascinating, as it opened her eyes to emerging areas of innovation. The Collaborative Project proved to be the most transformative experience. Working in teams, students were tasked with taking a product from initial planning and design through development and final delivery. The process closely mirrored real‑world software development, requiring teamwork, communication, adaptability, and strong problem‑solving skills. Elga and her team were proud to win Best Project of the Year at the DkIT Expo for their virtual pantry manager app.
Having completed her degree, Elga is set to join Dun & Bradstreet as an Associate Software Engineer. The role will involve working as part of a development team to build and maintain software solutions. The opportunity to learn from experienced engineers is one she is really looking forward to. Long term, she hopes to work on technology that has a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
For anyone considering studying Software Development, her biggest piece of advice would be not to be intimidated by programming. Building a strong portfolio of projects practical to showcase is another tip as this can make a huge difference when applying for placements and graduate roles.
“Stay curious, keep practising, and don't be afraid to make mistakes because that's how you learn and improve.”
