Open University study portfolio
Learning computing alongside a full-time career.
I'm Lee Haywood. I work as Operations Manager and Company Secretary at the Certified Public Accountants Association, and I'm completing a part-time BSc (Hons) Computing & IT with the Open University.
This site is a record of what I have studied, what the experience has been like, and what I have learned from returning to undergraduate study while working full-time and balancing family commitments.
About me
My first degree was a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Religious Studies at Lancaster University, where I studied from 2010 to 2013. I later qualified with CIMA and was awarded the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation.
In my personal life I like to spend time with my family, both our kids are at school now so I've been finding that I've been getting more free time. I've started following the NFL (GO Jets! - I love an underdog) and the NHL (Olé, Olé, Olé.)
Professionally, I have worked at the Certified Public Accountants Association (CPAA) since 2013. CPAA is a small professional body focused on UK-based accountancy practitioners — think anything from a stay-at-home mum running a part-time practice around the kids, to larger practices employing a few staff members. In 2016, I became Operations Manager and Company Secretary. My role spans organisational strategy, governance, compliance, professional education, member communications, and IT and digital projects.
Since 2019, I have been studying part-time towards a BSc (Hons) Computing & IT with a Computer Science focus through the Open University.
Why Computing & IT at the OU?
I had been interested in computers from a very young age. I remember sitting in front of a CRT monitor playing games
(Impression City Builders, Age of Empires and Black & White), as well as tinkering with the computer itself —
dual-booting into a Linux distro, upgrading the graphics card and adding more RAM. Unfortunately, while I was at school,
IT was largely limited to learning how to use PowerPoint and Publisher. Not being particularly great at maths (don't tell
the other accountants!), I was told I had a "brain for humanities", and so I never really felt able to pursue my interest
in computers academically.
After starting work at CPAA, I quickly realised just how important IT and computer technologies were. In a small organisation,
having a strong knowledge of IT wasn't simply going to be a nice-to-have; it could make a real difference. I had been through
several redevelopments of the CPAA website with various developers, only to see projects overpromised and underdelivered. I
could also see the value in being able to respond quickly to IT issues and, perhaps most importantly, to understand how to
properly protect the large amount of Member data we process digitally.
It was back in 2019 when I finally took the plunge and started my studies. While I'd like to say this was motivated entirely
by my love of technology or my desire to improve things for CPAA Members, the truth is that I started studying during a very
difficult period in my life when I needed something to focus on. Originally, I had planned to study Computing & IT and
Business. However, after completing Stage One and half of Stage Two, I was reading the module description for B209 and couldn't
shake the feeling that it sounded a little like an OU version of The Apprentice — and that really wasn't for me.
Why I chose the Open University
I needed a route that would allow me to continue working full-time while studying computing in a structured way. The Open University's part-time distance learning model made it possible to work towards a full undergraduate degree without stepping away from my career.
Why the OU
The Open University ticked the two main boxes for me: distance learning and part-time study.
Getting to a physical location would have been difficult given my work and family commitments,
and with only limited time to devote to studying — as well as needing to keep my day job —
I needed something that would fit around the rest of my life. The Open University also offered
a modular approach to its degrees, with Computing & IT offering a variety of modules covering
programming, general IT, networking, cybersecurity and AI. That gave me the opportunity to explore
a range of topics without having to pigeonhole myself from the outset.
What is it like studying at the OU
You select a module to study, and each module has a level and credit rating. The level roughly corresponds
to the equivalent year of study at a "traditional" university (Level 1 modules are first year, Level 2 are
second year and Level 3 are third year) and gives a general idea of the complexity and level of academic
ability required. The credit rating — at the time of writing, all the Computing & IT modules are 30 credits
— roughly describes the size of the module. A typical part-time study load involves taking 60 credits at a time,
although you can take 30 credits. I did this with both M250 and M269 because of work and family commitments.
Each module has a website that provides you with a study calendar, normally broken down into individual weeks.
During a typical week, you will normally need to read something — chapters from a textbook, pages on the module
website, or third-party material such as content on CISCO Net Academy — and then you are directed to apply that
knowledge in some way.
You don't have to stick rigidly to the calendar, but it can be very easy to become stuck if you allow yourself
to fall too far behind. The main deadlines relate to assessments. Most assessments are TMAs (Tutor Marked Assessments)
or EMAs (End of Module Assessments) — think coursework — with some modules also having exams.
Time management is key. The OU is highly flexible, but occasionally a deadline will conflict with a work or family
commitment.
Some of the module material has been better than others, and I think the OU could make greater use of audio-visual
material. From my experience, though, this is something they seem to be doing more of.
My studies
Each module below is a 30-credit Open University module. Completed modules are listed first, followed by the two modules I am enrolled on for 2027.
Web, mobile and cloud technologies
Cyber security
Web technologies
Essential mathematics 1
Technologies in practice
Algorithms, data structures and computability
Object-oriented Java programming
Introduction to computing and information technology 2
Introduction to computing and information technology 1
Systems penetration testing
Scheduled to begin in February 2027.
The computing and IT project
Scheduled to begin in February 2027.
What I have learned
The degree has taken me across programming, algorithms, web technologies, cyber security, mathematics, cloud technologies, and artificial intelligence. The value for me is not simply the individual subjects, but how they have gradually built into a broader understanding of computing.
The most important things I have learnt from my studies
- Greater confidence with code
- A strong understanding of how modern webapplications work
- A greater and more technical understanding of modern cybersecurity issues
What supprised me the most?
I normally find that I'm a "bigger picture" kind of person, but I really enjoyed coding.
Something not working properly and then spending hours going through the code to eventually
find a solution was actually one of the most satisfying parts of my studies.
What was the biggest challenge?
Higher-level modules can often be much faster paced than those at Stage One. When juggling
other commitments, this can sometimes mean focusing on learning just enough to keep up with
the module and complete the assessments.
One thing I have found difficult is pulling myself back from going too deeply into areas that are not
directly needed for the assessments. The upside is that it has left me with a long list of topics I want
to explore further.
How has the degree influenced my work at CPAA
The biggest influence has been on how I have been able to support the Board with decisions relating to
IT — from cybersecurity risks and data protection to critical infrastructure decisions, such as moving
from an on-premises server to a cloud-based solution. The degree has also equipped me with the ability
to create short Python scripts to help automate work, and it has given me the underlying knowledge needed
to take on more hands-on IT responsibilities. At the time of writing, for example, I have been creating enrolment
policies and enrolling new MacBooks for CPAA staff into Intune. IT and computer technology are foundational disciplines
for modern businesses, and in a small organisation it really pays to have both high-level conceptual knowledge and practical
technical ability.
Advice for prospective students
Below are the four bits of advice I'd give you.
Time management
Module websites normally open before the official start date, so check them as soon as possible and make a note of any deadlines. If you have work commitments, holidays or other events that might conflict with an assessment deadline, contact your tutor as early as possible.
Workload
Some modules are harder work than others, and this will depend partly on you and your prior knowledge. Be realistic: if you need to slow down and take one 30-credit module at a time, then do it.
Keeping momentum
If you're not enjoying a particular module, or part of a module, or if life is simply getting too much, give yourself a little time to relax. It's OK to have a night off, read a book or watch some TV.
Do some work in advance
This is probably the best advice I can give. I have found it really helpful to read around the subject before starting a module. Make use of free resources online; for example, if you're about to study Web Technologies, get to grips with some basic HTML, CSS and JavaScript beforehand. You won't regret it!
Contact me
If you would like to talk about part-time computing study, my professional work, or this website project, you can get in touch by email or LinkedIn.