Meet Harry Hughes, who discovered that learning doesn’t end when the course does – it’s just the beginning.

When Harry Hughes first enrolled in Introduction to Programming with Python at City St George’s, he was simply looking to expand his skillset. What he found was something far more valuable: a pathway to becoming the ‘go-to guy’ for data in his organisation, the confidence to finish his first book in French, and access to a community that’s helping him launch his own business.

Starting with the Essentials

‘I work with data and SQL frequently, but these courses allowed me to transition from a user to a creator,’ Harry explains. After completing both the Python and SQL courses, he quickly put his new skills into practice. ‘During the Python course, I learned how to build lines of code and extract data. I realised I could apply similar logic to Google Sheets, so I returned to work and built complex formulas that helped my entire department extract more value from our data…Processes that used to take my team hours now take minutes thanks to the automation skills I gained.’

But it wasn’t just about learning code – it was about learning how to think differently. ‘The courses didn’t just teach me code; they taught me how to solve problems faster,’ he says. Within months, he’d gone from data user to data creator, transforming his role within his company almost overnight.

A Personal Journey with French

While building his professional expertise, Harry was also pursuing a personal goal. His fiancée speaks French, and after dabbling with Duolingo, he was ready for something more structured. The French Upper Intermediate course proved perfect.

‘Even after the first term, my comprehension improved significantly. I found myself thinking in French, watching French Netflix, and I even finished my first book in the language.’ The course taught him not just vocabulary, but how language evolves: ‘We did exercises where we took root words and examined all their compound relatives. This helped me understand how words evolve, and I’ve continued practicing this on my own. It is so helpful to learn not just what to study, but how to teach yourself.’

Flexibility That Fits Real Life

What makes these courses work for Harry? Flexibility. ‘I travel a lot, and the virtual courses offer a great deal of flexibility. It isn’t a massive time commitment, just one evening a week, which fits easily into my work schedule. These courses mean I don’t have to choose between a career and personal development; the flexibility makes both possible.’

Beyond the Classroom

What Harry didn’t expect was everything else that came with being a short course student. Access to the library and career coaching. Start-up support through CityVentures.  UniDays’ benefits that opened doors to a special start-up incubator reserved for students.

‘I came for a single course, but I stayed for the community, the library, and the incredible start-up support. Since I live near the university, I use the library as a base for my start-up and attend various campus events. I didn’t realise that taking these courses would grant me access to such a huge community until recently, and I’m definitely making the most of it.’

Now, as he transitions from student to founder, Harry sees how City St Georges has invested in his success long after the final class ended. ‘What I value most is the holistic student experience. I initially signed up to learn a specific skill, but I ended up gaining a professional network. Between the career coaching and the library access, I feel like the university is truly invested in my success long after the final class ends. Transitioning from a student to a founder through CityVentures felt like a natural evolution. The university bridges the gap between learning a skill and actually building a business with it.’

What’s Next?

Harry isn’t finished with short courses yet! He’s already attended a Korean taster class (perfect for his neighbourhood’s large Korean community) and a session on Fact-Based Storytelling. taught by Guardian journalist and author Jem Bartholomew, that’s improved his LinkedIn writing.

His advice to others considering a short course? ‘I would definitely recommend any of these courses…they are so engaging, and I really looked forward to seeing the other students and my teacher each week.’

Ready to transform your career – or pursue a passion – one evening a week? Explore our short courses and discover what you might become.