Staff Spotlight - Lee McIntyre
According to research in the Tech Nation People and Skills Report 2022, tech job opportunities have hit a 10-year high in the UK. In Scotland, it’s as much as 13% of all vacancies available, with hiring 42% higher than in 2021.
Computing courses at UHI Perth will help you to develop the professional skills and experience for a career in computing and technology. In this blog this week, we meet one of our newest computing lecturers, Lee.
Avatar of Lee
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Lee McIntyre and I’m from Auchterarder.
What is your role at UHI Perth? How long have you worked here?
I am a computing lecturer and I started in the summer of 2022.
What’s the best part of your job?
Interacting with the students, hearing their opinions and ideas, and seeing them being put into action as they complete tasks and assignments.
What is a typical day at work like?
Get up at 5.45am, walk the dog, drink a gallon of coffee, come into work, and spend the day with the awesome students we have here studying in the computing department. Go home, eat too much, play too many computer games, and then go to bed two hours after I said I would.
What might people be surprised to know about you?
I have an irrational fear of sponges. The plastic kind, natural ones get a pass!
Do you have any interesting hobbies?
I don’t know if it is considered interesting, but I really enjoy hill walking, and I’m lucky to live in a country which allows me access to so many amazing walks and locations. I also collect old computers, video games and consoles.
Favourite type of food?
Pickled eggs. Strange one, but I eat them by the jar.
Favourite holiday destination, and why?
London - it’s a city where, regardless of the weather or mood you are in, there’s always something new and interesting to explore.
Where would you like to travel next?
I’d really like to visit Nepal and do the trek to Everest basecamp.
Favourite book?
Citizen of the Galaxy, Robert Heinlein.
Favourite TV show or film?
Too many. If I had to pick, Doctor Who and Gattaca. Doctor Who doesn’t really need explained but Gattaca has this whole film noir vibe and cool retro futurism styling that I really appreciate.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An astronaut. Considering I struggle with motion sickness on fairground rides this would be a big ask!
If you were a super-hero, what type of powers would you have?
The ability to fly, the leg room on airlines is not what it used to be, and I’d like to not have to go through the whole airport routine either.
First thing you would do if you won £1 million?
Probably build a swimming pool for my dog and his friends.
Who, or what, inspires you?
Depends on the setting, loud obnoxious electronic dance music really helps inspire me whilst exercising.
And finally, if someone is interested in studying Computing at UHI Perth, what would your advice be to them?
I’d say go for it, they would be studying in a department where the staff are all extremely supportive and fully invested in their academic journey. The course is also set up in a manner which gives students the opportunity to not only focus on specific interests and career pathways, but also explore subjects and concepts which might be unknown to them.
