Quotes

WSI is recognised as the global hub of Web Science; we have launched our new Web Science Institute to focus our diverse range of expertise on global challenges

“I have been deeply impressed by the enthusiasm that has been observable within the University community for MOOCs, much of it inspired by a commitment to improve access to world-class learning opportunities to millions around the world who otherwise would have little or no access.” (Professor Don Nutbeam, Vice-Chancellor University of Southampton)

“one of the key features of the cohort is that it replicates the multi-disciplinary aspects of real business challenges. The varying backgrounds of the cohort allows this team approach and creates situations and develops skills which will be very transferrable to the business environment” Thomas Eggar LLP

“Only by understanding the Web will we be in a position to positively impact on its continued evolution.” (Dr Mark Weal, Lecturer in Web and Internet Science, University of Southampton)

“The diverse cohort of interesting, skilled people is a major benefit of the Web Science DTC. This has allowed me to quickly put together teams with the right disciplinary and topic-specific expertise to take on some cutting edge projects at very short notice. Primarily this has meant forming teams to write academic papers and forming a team with five members of the DTC to build the Globe-Town web application which went on to be a winner of the World Bank’s Apps4Climate competition in Washington DC in June 2012”. Jack Townsend, 2010 intake.

“The exciting thing about the MOOC is that you get a taster of web science and access to people who are absolutely the world experts in web science.” (Professor Susan Halford, Head of Sociology and senior academic in Web Science, University of Southampton)

“The training I received from the DTC during my course was particularly attractive to the FCO for the role of First Secretary (Political) in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands. Not only was the technical knowledge of e-Government I had obtained through several of the modules required for the role, but the more strategic understanding I had developed of how policy relating to and impacted by the Internet and its related technologies could be best formulated set me apart from the other applicants. … My Web Science skills, both specifically technical and more generally transferable are highly sought after in the Civil Service and are accordingly being utilised on a regular basis.” Jaymie Caplen, 2010 intake

“We have been particularly impressed with the creative and pro-active way that University of Southampton engages with industry partners, using the power to convene Web Science activity.” (John Seton, Head of University and Regional Partnerships – BT Technology Service and Operations)

“We will help you understand how the Web is changing and shaping the everyday lives of billions of people across the planet.” (Professor Susan Halford, Head of Sociology and senior academic in Web Science, University of Southampton)

“Web Science represents a pretty big next step in the evolution of information. This …is likely to have a lot of influence on the next generation of researchers, scientists and … the next generation of entrepreneurs who will build new companies from this.” (Eric Schmidt, CEO Google Inc.)

“What’s exciting about the Web is that people are building new social systems, new systems of review, new systems of governance. My hope is that those will produce new ways of working together effectively and fairly, which we can use globally to manage ourselves as a planet.” (Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Professor of Computer Science, University of Southampton)

“Working with your own year’s group provides support for shared understanding, mixing of ideas, arguments and approaches, positive conferring and social and moral support. Within a DTC, the benefits are amplified as the higher experience and developed expertise of the upper years can be engaged with in a mutually rewarding way. As well as supporting our academic learning, we gain skills in team-working which anticipate or build on the competencies required in many working environments outside of academia.” Caroline Halcrow, 2012 intake