Prithika Gopinath on Career-Focused Assessment: BSc (Hons) Computer Science
Prithika Gopinath, a BSc (Hons) Computer Science student, is preparing to begin her final year. During her studies, she and her team built a fully functioning virtual learning environment as part of a real-world software development project – one of the many authentic assessments at LSBU designed to mirror the challenges graduates will face in industry. Through hands-on, collaborative projects like this, students develop the technical expertise, teamwork and problem-solving skills employers are looking for.
Tell us about an assessment that felt relevant to the type of work you'll do in your career
In the second semester of my second year, I worked on a team software development project where we built an online VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) designed for students ranging from Reception all the way up to A-Levels. It wasn't just a single feature, it was a full end-to-end system. We built video call meeting functionality, a messaging infrastructure for communication between students and teachers, an assignment submission portal, a timetable system, an exam results graph to track performance over time, an announcement and notification system, and profile settings for personalising user accounts. Building something this comprehensive felt close to the kind of real-world software product I'd be expected to work on as a professional developer, rather than a simplified academic exercise.
How was it different from a traditional essay or exam?
It was a completely different experience compared to a traditional essay or exam. Instead of working alone and writing about a topic from memory or research, this was a live, hands-on build. We had to design the system architecture, plan out features, write actual functioning code, test it, debug it, and make sure everything worked together as one cohesive platform. There was no single "correct answer" like there often is in an exam; instead, we had to make our own decisions on how to structure and implement things, which meant taking ownership of our work in a way an exam never really demands. It also involved constant collaboration and problem-solving as a team, rather than sitting an assessment individually and in isolation.
What practical or professional skills did you develop?
I developed a strong mix of both technical and professional skills through this project. On the technical side, I worked on building and integrating several interconnected features, including the messaging system, notification functionality, and assignment submission workflow, which meant getting hands-on with both front-end and back-end development, as well as thinking about how different parts of a system need to talk to each other. On the professional side, I built up skills in teamwork, communication, delegating tasks fairly, managing my time across a long project timeline, and problemsolving under pressure when things didn't work as expected. I also got better at explaining my technical decisions clearly to teammates, and at giving and receiving constructive feedback within the group, which I think is just as important as the coding itself.
How has this assessment helped prepare you for employment?
This project gave me practical insight into what working as part of a software development team actually feels like - from the initial planning and requirement gathering stages, right through to dividing up tasks, building individual components, and then integrating everyone's work into a single functioning product. It taught me how real software projects are structured, how important clear communication and documentation is within a team, and how to manage competing priorities when multiple features need to come together on a deadline. I also learned the value of testing and quality assurance, since a system this complex needed thorough checking before it could be considered complete. All of this feels directly relevant to how software development works in industry, so I feel more confident and prepared going into a graduate role because of it.
Which assessment are you most proud of, and why?
This is, without a doubt, the assessment I'm most proud of during my time at LSBU. My team and I didn't just build one small, isolated feature, we built a complete, working platform with video calls, messaging, assignment submissions, timetables, exam performance graphs, notifications, and profile settings, all functioning together as one system. Seeing everything come together into a finished, working product by the end gave me a real sense of achievement and pride. It showed me exactly what I'm capable of building, both individually and as part of a team, and it's given me a strong portfolio piece that I can talk about with confidence in job interviews and take forward into my career.