'Etuate Cocker first Tongan to receive a PhD in Computer Science Featured
'Etuate Cocker and family graduating from University Technology Sydney. (Photo: Etuate Cocker Facebook Page)
Dedication leads to Tonga’s first Computer Science PhD
By Robbie Mitchell on 16 Aug 2016
Seventeen years ago, the Y2K bug was making headlines around the world as programmers worked frantically to update their systems to prevent a potential crash on 1 January 2000.
It was during this Y2K rush that Etuate Cocker, a network/systems engineer at Spark New Zealand, who originally hails from the Kingdom of Tonga, remembers becoming interested in a career in computer science.
“During that time there were only a few Tongans that held a Computer Science degree and yet no one was able to fully understand the problem of Y2K or whether it could cause chaos for businesses in Tonga,” says Etuate. “Even though the Y2K bug was not a real problem, it was at that moment that I decided to study Computer Science so that one day I could be able to solve future complex problems for Tonga.”
Over the next 11 years, Etuate bounced between IT jobs and university, completing an undergraduate degree in Geographical Information Systems and a Masters degree in Computer Networks. In 2011 he left his role as a Systems Analyst at the Government of Tonga to begin his journey towards a PhD in Computer Science.
“I switched to Computer Science to fulfil my dream of being the first Computer Science PhD graduate from Tonga.”
For the following four years, Etuate worked tirelessly alongside his supervisor, Ulrich Speidel at the University of Auckland, to develop a global platform to collect and archive satellite transmission data for other researchers to perform active measurements on.
“One use of our data is for Internet content providers (e.g. Google or Akamai) to assess the suitability of hosting content servers in Pacific Island countries,” Etuate says.
“Another component of our research looks at solutions for improving good input in the transmission of data across high latency satellite connections. So far, we have established a platform and tested TCP over Network Coding (TCP/NC) in Niue, Tuvalu and in the Cook Islands.” (A project which received support from ISIF Asia and Internet NZ).
Advice to aspiring Computer Science students
In comparison to other Pacific nations, Tonga has one of the highest literacy rates (99%) and claims to produce more PhD’s per capita in the region. However, Etuate recognizes the extent of his achievement and hopes it will foster more Computer Science PhD students from his homeland as well as other Pacific nations.
Etuate offered the following when asked what advice he would offer other young Pacific students considering a degree or PhD in computer science:
“In my opinion starting a PhD is a big decision for Pacific Island students and you may need to consider the following:
There will be endless nights of research for solutions to problems. This can be very stressful and you have to put a lot of effort in. You could end up nowhere, but that’s all part of the process.
It requires lots of focus and dedication and there is always pressure to acquire alternate sources of income to pay for rent and support a family. With regard to the latter, I would like to thank my wife Keti for all the support she provided when I had to travel, while working full time and caring for our three kids (Harry, Luisa, and George).
It may take three to four years of sacrifice. However, it feels good to cross the finish line.
“Overall, this work has taught me to be patient, think critically and never give up despite the difficulties that I encountered along the way, including being away from my family.”
Etuate says there are plenty of opportunities for Pacific Island students wanting to complete a PhD with most New Zealand universities offering scholarships for Pasifika candidates.
-APNIC
8 comments
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malie lahi e taalanga he me'a mahu'inga ni pea koe fifili ma'ulalo pe eni ki ai he 'oku 'ikai ke mahino ki he motu'a ni koe ha 'oku pule'i ai 'ehe software 'a e fokotu'utu'u ngaue 'a e potungaue ako? hange kiate au koe tekinolosiaa koe me'angaue pe ia ke ne fakahoko e ngaue 'oku fokotu'utu'u 'e he potungaue pe pisinisi.. kae 'ikai koe ha'u e saliote ia 'o mu'omu'a he hoosii.. kapau koia pe ta 'oku lakaange pe aa ke tuku e software ia ki he tafa'aki he'e lava pe ia 'o fai manual pe ngauee ia neongo 'e ngali loloa ka e mahalo 'e ma'u ange ai e faka'amu moe palani ngauee... kae hei'ilo
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'Eke atu ange kia sofiuea pelesitiki pe koe ha e me'a 'e hoko ki he sivi he ta'u ni. Ko fe e 'univesiti te ne tali 'etau kau Form 7, he 'oku hangehange ka nau iku hake ki he 'apiako 'a 'Etu mo Sita.
Malo 'Etuate Cocker e ako, pea fielau koe fanau tama koe 'ae Kaute. Kuo ke lava e me'a na'e 'ikai lava 'e Sova, pea kuo ke ta e 'uluafi. 'Alu koe ki muli 'o kumi ha'o mo'ui mo ho famili, 'oua teke foki mai ki Tonga ni he'e heu holo koe 'ehe kau ta'emahino ko eni 'oku nau veuki e ako moe fonua.
Kae kumi mai foki a pive mo sia ke fai ha'ana lau ki he'ena fu'u sistemi sivi 'oku 'ikai tali 'e mamani. -
Faka'ulia atu pe kapau koha mooni. Pe naa nau fepunaki mai mei fe kenau omi kai e kakava e kakai. Kohai kinautolu?
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'Oku ai e pehe ko e tokoni palemia is behind the software deal.
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Ko 'eku lauu he fu'u computer matiketika koena ko Siaosi Sovaleni, koeha e me'a 'oku longo ai he mess koena 'a e Potungaue Ako? Oku fakatupu fifili ia kateau pea 'e faingofua kete hu'uhu'u kita na 'oku 'ai ha monuu ia ku tafenga mai kiai mei he software pelesitiki koena a Piveni ne fakatau 'e he Potungaue Ako.
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Ongo me'a lolonga 'etau talanoa he kau Komipiuta mo'oni kuo mo lelei ma moua he kau komipiuta misinikosi. Fe'unga pe 'a Pi mo Si he software 'ai'ainoa'ia...
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Mo'oni lahi ia Talofa. Kuo fuoloa 'etau ta'efanongo ki he ongo mataotao, Pive mo Sia. Mahalo 'oku na femou'ekina he fakakaukau'i ha toe fo'i loi fo'ou. 'Oku te'eki pe ke nau talamai pe ko e ha ne pehe ai e ola e sivi 'o e 2015 'a ee ne ngaue'aki ki ai e fo'i loi 'a Pive mo 'Akili. Ko eni kuo toe ngaue'aki pe silapa motu'a kae sivi'aki e me'a pelesitiki 'a Pive.
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Si'i 'alu ai pe hotau fonua he ngaahi ola fakafiefia koeni i he mala'e 'o e ako. Kole atu ka Etuate keke ha'u mu'a 'o fakama'opo'opo e mess koeni 'a Piveni mo 'Akilisi mo 'enau polokalama pelesitiki 'oku faka'auha 'aki e system ako.