Sílvia Rocha holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's Specialization in Computer Science, Systems and Networks branch. She is currently VP of Engineering at OutSystems.
It is about her experience as a student at DCC-FCUP that she shares her testimony.
"I was admitted to my first choice, Computer Science, with a full scholarship. My family made many sacrifices to allow me to attend university. I worked hard to honor this effort and achieved my goal, becoming the first person in my family to go to university.
The Bachelor's degree in Computer Science had an ambitious and innovative curriculum in several areas such as Programming, Operating Systems, Compilers, Databases, Graphical Interfaces, Networks and Distributed Systems, Artificial Intelligence, … In retrospect, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to study at the University of Porto.
At the Department of Computer Science (DCC) I found a place where students were treated as adults from the beginning. As a young adult, this was a catalyst. The community of professors and students was formidable, marked by a very strong spirit of respect and collaboration — I made several lifelong friends there! Our professors were inspiring; while actively collaborating in the international scientific community, they were very approachable and dedicated to their students.
The DCC laboratories had excellent investment levels with many top-of-the-line machines, like I had never seen before. During my degree, I had the opportunity to work part-time with the Systems Administration team, and although intimidated, I didn’t think twice. This was my first professional experience, another very important leap for my development.
Working at DCC during my degree allowed me to apply in practice much of what I learned in class, and go further into topics such as Operating Systems management, Hardware, Project Management, ... I evolved immensely, learning from highly capable and knowledgeable people in a fantastic work environment. We provided helpdesk support to professors and students, maintained the laboratory infrastructure, and I especially remember one of the first Linux Installation Parties we held, as part of a broader public event called “DCC ao Rubro.”
Dreaming higher, and believing in my abilities, I took the risk of doing my final internship in a technology that was new to me. It was worth the risk — I completed the internship with a grade of 19 (out of 20) and received a job offer. At DCC, more than being taught how to use tools, we are taught how to think, to abstract problems, to adapt, and to overcome challenges — to surpass ourselves.
After completing my degree, I applied for a European research project at DCC, where I had the opportunity to collaborate with top European universities and technology companies to define the 3G mobile network standard. I took part in a large-scale organization, where our work stream fit into many others, like a piece in a much bigger machine. This unique experience helped me stand out in the job market and gave me the ability to see the forest from the trees, both from a technical and organizational perspective. In parallel, I completed a postgraduate degree in Systems and Networks to deepen topics such as Security, Systems Architecture, and Artificial Intelligence.
Today, after 25 years of professional experience, I recognize that I could not have been better prepared for the job market. After having worked in multiple companies of national and international prominence, across various industries, in almost all of them I quickly rose to positions of high responsibility from early on.
I will never forget DCC and how it encouraged me to reach my full potential. I hold those precious years of education close to my heart, for what they meant to me as a professional and, above all, as a person. A huge thank you!"
(October 2025)