ECS - Researcher Profiles

Senior Tutor in the School of
Electronics and Computer Science

Eric Cooke has a zest for life that shines through him and an energy that is infectious.

It is no surprise that he starts his lectures to each new group of students by putting up a slide of 1 Corinthians which is all about love.

'Why not?' he said. 'Hate destroys, love builds.'

While Eric acknowledges the need for academic qualifications in this modern age, he believes that how we show our love for our fellow man is of far more importance.

Last year, he celebrated 21 years at the University, just a year after he got married for the second time, neither of which he planned.

He believes in 'going with the flow of life' and meeting a need as it presents itself.

During a degree in Physics at a London Polytechnic, followed by a Masters degree in Physiology at University College London (UCL), he found himself developing an interest in computer science.

'This was in the days of the early computers and there was one at UCL and only one academic who knew how it worked. Because everything interests me, before I knew it I had become a self-taught computer programmer.'

After three years doing postgraduate research, Eric spent six years working at the Institute of Psychiatry, London as a Research Physiologist.

'That PhD never did get written up,' he said. 'I spent most of my time fiddling with the computers, because that was what was needed at the time,'

He then went to work for Logica, the computer consultancy, and then taught at South Dorset Technical College. It was during this period, in 1985-86, that Eric inherited £40,000 as a result of his grandfather's successes on the Malaysian property market.

'I asked myself what was I going to do with £40,000 which was a lot of money at that time,' he said. 'I decided I needed to pursue my interest in computer science.'

Eric went to see Professor David Barron at the University of Southampton's Department of Computer Science (this was before the School of Electronics and Computer Science was formed) and discussed the possibility of doing a part-time PhD in Computer Science.

'I stressed to him that I have to deal with people, so if there's any teaching let me do that too,' he said. 'So they used to shove me in to teach.'

Eric's love of teaching meant that once again his PhD never got off the ground, but he continued teaching and he now teaches computer programming to the entire ECS computer science intake and was appointed the School’s first Senior Tutor some years ago.

'My role just grew and grew and grew over the years,' he said. 'People are always banging on my door.'

Eric offers students a lot of support and creates an environment whereby they feel able to come to him if they encounter problems.

'I think of myself as a defence lawyer,' he said. 'I help students who get into difficulty to make a defence. This is important as often they don't know how to defend themselves.

He has been rewarded over the years by seeing an improvement in University procedures regarding mitigating circumstances but also by the satisfaction he gains from working with students.

'They give me good ratings and I'm not always sure if this is anything to do with my teaching,' he said. 'Recently I was on campus and heard a table of students chanting: "We love you, Eric!" - that's the kind of interaction that's real fun for me.

Eric has also been recognised for his international work. He travels two to three times a year around the world on recruitment trips and makes induction speeches for international students. In 2005, he received a Vice-Chancellor's Award for his work in the University.

Just two years from retirement, Eric will miss his interaction with students.

'I am very proud of the huge number of people who love me,' he said. 'I defy anyone to prove that anything in life is worth more,' he said.

While Eric plans his retirement which he will spend with his wife, Susan, pursuing his interests in philosophy, psychology and world religions, and singing in the Fareham Philharmonic Choir, ECS has assembled a Student Support Team to continue his important work.