Tomaž Tomažinčič, UP FAMNIT

General

Tomaž Tomažinčič is a software developer at Sugar-Free Software d.o.o..

He completed his undergraduate studies in Computer Science at UP FAMNIT.

Why did you decide to study Computer Science at University of Primorska Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies? What attracted you to studying at the University of Primorska, and why specifically Computer Science and Informatics?

I have to admit that Computer Science was not my first choice of study. The year before, after finishing secondary school at the former Maritime School (today GEPŠ), where I studied as an electrical engineering technician specializing in electronics, I enrolled at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana.

At the time, that seemed like the most logical step considering my secondary-school background and the fact that the University of Primorska did not yet have many natural science faculties, except for FAMNIT, which had only recently been established and offered technical study programmes.

My year in Ljubljana was more student-oriented than study-oriented, and as a result I did not meet the requirements to repeat the year. Initially, I planned to continue in a professional higher education programme, but a friend who was already studying at FAMNIT recommended the Computer Science programme to me.

After gathering more information, I decided to enroll at FAMNIT. My friend’s personal experiences, together with the size and proximity of the faculty, played a significant role in my decision. The number of students enrolled in the programme is considerably smaller, which I see as a positive aspect because the nature of lectures and tutorials is different — more relaxed and more effective.

In lecture halls with more than 300 students, it is easier to lose focus and interaction is usually more limited. From my experience, professors and teaching assistants at FAMNIT are also more approachable, especially if a student wants to participate in projects or needs advice or assistance with their own work.

I had never previously considered Computer Science specifically, but from a technical perspective it was the closest fit for me, and during my studies I became increasingly interested in the field.

You work in the field you studied. Which knowledge and skills acquired during your studies are useful in your current work?

I notice that most of the knowledge I acquired is useful in my work, either directly or indirectly. Of course, this can vary depending on the individual and their area of work.

For example, someone who focuses more on systems analysis will probably not encounter the same technical problems as a software developer, and vice versa. However, both benefit from understanding both areas, because that enables better cooperation, planning, and understanding of the challenges each side faces.

This also varies from project to project, and in practice these areas often overlap, which makes broad knowledge even more important. Nevertheless, at the beginning of one’s professional career, it may sometimes feel otherwise.

This can be the result of a new workplace, a new environment, different workflows, new development tools, and methodologies, which may create the impression that “we never learned this at university.” In a way, that is true — it is impossible to learn everything during university studies.

However, when facing different problems, we often remember examples from our study years. Even if someone does not yet possess all the necessary knowledge at a given moment, the path toward acquiring it becomes much easier and shorter because we already have similar experiences from our studies.

Of course, studies also include courses where students explore specific areas in depth, but the field of computer science is enormous. The primary goal of the programme is therefore to provide knowledge that covers the field as broadly as possible. This enables graduates to apply at least basic knowledge, techniques, tools, and methodologies to specific problems

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Generally speaking, I enjoy the fact that you can create a product or solution practically from nothing — purely from an idea.

On a daily basis, what I appreciate most is the diversity of the work and the constant learning and acquisition of new knowledge, both technical and domain-specific. Continuous learning is also necessary in order to create high-quality products and solutions.

What are your plans for the future?

At the moment, I am not considering continuing with a master’s degree, partly because of scheduling conflicts, as most lectures take place during my working hours. Mostly, however, it is because I want to dedicate my time and energy to other activities.

As far as work is concerned, I currently feel very satisfied, so I do not have any major plans beyond acquiring new knowledge and working on more personal projects.

What would you like to say to secondary school students who are currently deciding what to study?

Just as learning does not begin at university, it also does not end there. No study programme, regardless of the faculty or university, can provide all the knowledge we will ever need. We learn throughout our entire lives. What university does provide is a longer launching platform and easier access to important knowledge beyond regular studies — for example through cooperation with professors and teaching assistants on independent or faculty-related projects.

How far someone ultimately goes depends on the individual.