The demand for software, data and AI skills is pushing learners and employers to rethink how technical education is accessed, funded and applied.

Technology skills are no longer confined to the IT department. Retailers need data teams, manufacturers depend on software systems, financial firms compete through automation and small businesses increasingly rely on digital platforms to reach customers. The result is a labour market in which computer science knowledge has become a practical business asset.

For many people, however, the route into the sector is still difficult. Leaving work to study full-time is not realistic for every learner, while employers cannot always wait for traditional graduate pipelines to meet urgent skills needs. This is why the online Computer Science Degree has become more relevant: it offers a structured academic pathway for students and working professionals who need flexibility without reducing the importance of depth.

The growth of online degrees also reflects a broader change in how businesses think about training. Short courses can solve narrow problems, but complex digital roles require foundations: programming, databases, software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science and artificial intelligence. A degree pathway can provide that broader architecture.

The business case for flexible computer science education

Businesses across the UK are facing a familiar contradiction. They need more digital capability, yet the people who could develop those skills are often already in work, tied to family responsibilities or located far from traditional academic hubs. Flexible online study can widen access and support reskilling without forcing learners to step out of the labour market entirely.

This matters for employers as much as for students. A member of staff who builds technical competence while remaining inside the organisation can apply new knowledge to real workflows. They understand existing processes, customers and constraints. When supported properly, they may become a bridge between business teams and technical specialists.

The value is not only in producing coders. Modern computer science education can strengthen analytical thinking, problem decomposition, systems design and awareness of security and data governance. These are skills that influence decision-making far beyond software development teams.

Why degree structure still matters

The technology training market is crowded. Bootcamps, microcredentials and tutorials can be useful, particularly for specific tools. Yet a degree programme serves a different function. It creates a sequenced learning journey in which concepts build on one another and assessment verifies progress.

Computer science requires this structure because the field is cumulative. Programming is easier to apply when learners understand algorithms, data structures, databases and software engineering principles. Cloud and cybersecurity make more sense when the foundations of systems and networks are clear. Artificial intelligence becomes less of a buzzword when students understand data, statistics and computation.

The OPIT BSc in Computer Science is presented as a 180-credit online programme developed with input from employers, industry experts and academics. Its focus spans programming, software development, databases, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science and AI, which reflects the breadth now expected from graduates entering digital roles.

Employability is more than learning to code

Businesses do not simply need people who can write code in isolation. They need professionals who can work with product managers, understand user needs, document systems, manage technical debt and communicate trade-offs. A technically capable employee who cannot collaborate or explain decisions may struggle to create business value.

This is why online learning needs to go beyond recorded lectures. Interaction, feedback and project work help students develop the habits required in professional environments. Remote collaboration is also increasingly realistic as a training ground, because many technology teams now work across locations and time zones.

For career changers, this combination of technical content and applied practice is particularly important. They may already bring domain knowledge from finance, education, logistics, healthcare or retail. Computer science training can help convert that domain experience into digital capability.

What employers should look for

When assessing online study options for employees or potential hires, businesses should look beyond headline claims. The credibility of a programme depends on academic recognition, curriculum breadth, assessment quality and the extent to which students are exposed to real problem solving.

Useful questions include whether the programme covers both theoretical and practical areas, how students are supported remotely, how collaboration is encouraged and how the curriculum responds to changes in the technology market. Cost and flexibility matter, but they should not be the only criteria.

Employers should also consider how learning will connect with work. If a company sponsors or encourages study, it can create internal projects that allow employees to practise new skills. This makes training more relevant and helps the organisation capture value from the investment.

The role of online degrees in widening access

A major advantage of online education is geographic reach. Learners are no longer limited to institutions within commuting distance, and employers can support development across dispersed teams. This is particularly valuable for smaller firms outside major technology clusters.

Online programmes also foster international learning communities. Students from different countries and professional backgrounds can collaborate on projects, exchange perspectives and build lasting professional networks. This global interaction enriches the learning experience and helps participants develop the cross-cultural communication skills that are increasingly valued in today’s workplace.

There is also a financial and practical dimension. Studying online can reduce relocation costs and make it easier to combine education with work. For some students, that flexibility determines whether higher education is possible at all.

However, flexibility should not be confused with informality. The strongest online programmes still require discipline, deadlines and sustained effort. The difference is that the learning environment is designed around accessibility rather than physical attendance.

Computer science as a strategic literacy

The increasing relevance of computer science does not mean every employee must become a developer. It means more people in business need to understand how digital systems are built, where risks arise and what is possible when data and software are used effectively.

Managers with technical literacy can ask better questions, commission better systems and evaluate suppliers more critically. Entrepreneurs can make more informed product decisions. Employees moving into analyst, product, security or operations roles can contribute more confidently to digital projects.

This broader literacy is one reason why degree-level computer science remains important even as tools become easier to use. Low-code platforms and AI assistants may change how work is performed, but they do not remove the need for underlying understanding.

A practical route into the digital economy

For learners, an online degree can provide a pathway into software, data, cybersecurity, cloud or AI-related careers. For employers, it can support retention, reskilling and a more resilient talent strategy. For the wider economy, it can help distribute opportunity beyond established technology centres.

The key is choosing education that combines flexibility with rigour. A successful online computer science programme should not merely replicate a classroom on a screen. It should create a structured, supported and professionally relevant environment for building durable technical capability.

As digital transformation becomes a permanent feature of business life, companies will need more than occasional training days. They will need people with the confidence to understand systems, question assumptions and build solutions. Online degrees are becoming one of the ways to develop that capacity at scale.

This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Antenatal classes cover the birth in great detail. What they tend to gloss over is everything that happens to your body in the weeks and months after the baby arrives. Plenty of these changes are normal, temporary and far more common than anyone admits out loud.

The trouble is that nobody warns you, so when they happen you worry in silence. Once you know what’s going on, the worry usually settles down. Let’s examine the changes that tend to go unmentioned, so you know what’s normal, what’s worth a closer look, and what you can do about each one.

Your Pelvic Floor Takes a Lot of Strain

The pelvic floor is a sling of muscles that supports your bladder, bowel and womb. Pregnancy puts months of steady pressure on it, and a vaginal delivery stretches it further. That’s why so many new mums find they leak a little when they laugh, sneeze or run for the bus.

This is normal in the early weeks, but it shouldn’t be something you simply put up with forever. Pelvic floor exercises help most women, and the NHS recommends starting them as soon as you feel able to after the birth. The NHS has clear guidance on how to do them properly.

Leaking is common early on, but it’s not something you have to live with. If it carries on, or you feel a heaviness or dragging sensation, that’s worth raising with your GP or a women’s health physiotherapist. You don’t need to wait for it to get bad before asking.

Skin Pigmentation and the Line Down Your Bump

A lot of women notice darker patches on their face during pregnancy, often across the cheeks and forehead. This is called melasma, and it’s driven by the surge in hormones telling your skin to produce more pigment. The dark line that appears down the middle of your bump, the linea nigra, comes from the same process.

The good news is that both usually fade on their own once your hormones settle, though it can take several months. Sun exposure makes melasma darker, so a high-factor sunscreen is the simplest thing you can do to help it along.

If patches haven’t faded after a few months, or you’d like to treat them sooner, a GP or dermatologist can talk you through the options. There’s no rush, and there’s nothing wrong with leaving them be.

Postpartum Hair Loss Is More Common Than Anyone Says

Around three to four months after giving birth, a lot of women find clumps of hair coming out in the shower or on the pillow. It can be alarming, especially on top of everything else you’re managing. The condition has a name, telogen effluvium, and it’s one of the most common things to happen to a new mum’s body.

Why It Happens and How Long It Lasts

During pregnancy, high hormone levels keep more of your hair in its growing phase, which is why your hair often looks thicker and glossier when you’re expecting. After the birth, those hormone levels drop quickly, and all that hair you held on to enters the resting phase and sheds at once. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the shedding usually lasts less than six months, and most women find their hair regains its fullness by the time their baby turns one.

A few things are worth knowing if you’re going through it:

• It’s shedding, not balding. The hair grows back, though the regrowth can come in finer or with a different texture at first.
• No special treatment is needed for typical postpartum shedding. It resolves on its own.
• Breastfeeding can stretch the process out a little, because hormone levels keep shifting while you nurse.

What you can do is be kind to your hair while it settles. Eat well, keep on top of your iron levels if your midwife has flagged them, and go gentle with tight ponytails or heat styling. The evidence behind miracle supplements is thin, so don’t feel you need to spend money on them unless a doctor has identified a specific deficiency.

When to Get It Checked

There is a point where it’s sensible to get things checked. If the shedding is still going strong beyond six months, or certainly beyond 12 months, or you notice your parting widening or bald patches forming, that can point to something other than ordinary postpartum loss, such as a thyroid issue, low iron or female pattern hair loss being unmasked.

A proper assessment is the only way to know. If you want a professional opinion, some clinics offer assessments aimed specifically at female hair loss, and even offer unshaven hair transplants, giving you a greater level of discretion. Treatment Rooms London is one, and they run virtual consultations, so you don’t have to be in London or travel across the city with a newborn to get checked.

Your Feet Might Be a Whole Size Bigger

This one catches a lot of women out. The hormone relaxin loosens the ligaments in your body to prepare for birth, and that includes the ligaments in your feet. Combined with the extra weight you carry during pregnancy, this can flatten your arches and leave your feet permanently longer or wider.

For some women the change is temporary, but for plenty it’s permanent, and a pre-pregnancy shoe collection that no longer fits is a genuine and slightly bittersweet surprise. It isn’t a sign anything has gone wrong. If your old shoes pinch, it’s fine to size up and let your feet be comfortable.

Pregnancy Can Affect Your Teeth and Gums

Hormonal changes make your gums more prone to swelling and bleeding, a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis. Some women also find morning sickness wears at their tooth enamel because of the acid involved.

You can get free NHS dental care while you’re pregnant and for a year after your baby is born, but it isn’t automatic. You’ll need a Maternity Exemption Certificate, which your midwife, GP or health visitor can apply for, so it’s worth sorting that out and booking a check-up. Brushing gently, rinsing with water after being sick instead of brushing straight away, and keeping up regular dental visits all help protect your teeth through this stretch.

In a Nutshell

Your body has done something extraordinary, and it’s allowed to look and behave a little differently afterwards. Most of these changes are temporary, many are harmless even when they stick around, and almost all of them are far more common than the silence around them suggests.

The real value in knowing about them is that it lets you tell the difference between what’s normal and what deserves a proper look. You’re allowed to ask questions, ask for referrals, and expect to be taken seriously. Knowing what’s happening to your own body is the first step to looking after it.

Piers Morgan’s Uncensored has been valued at $145 million (around £108 million) by investors, just 18 months after the broadcaster took full ownership of the brand, and five years after ITV parted company with him over his refusal to apologise for comments about Meghan Markle.

Morgan confirmed the figure in an interview with Karl Stefanovic on Australia’s Today show, days after closing a $27 million funding round for the business. The raise was led by Raine and Greek media group Antenna, with strategic backers including Elisabeth Murdoch and the billionaire Reuben brothers, Simon and David.

“We announced yesterday we’ve just finished an investor round on Uncensored,” Morgan said. “The investors have valued the business $145 million US.”

The valuation caps a remarkable turnaround for a presenter who walked off the Good Morning Britain set in March 2021 and left ITV shortly afterwards, having refused to apologise for his remarks about the Duchess of Sussex. Set against his reported £1.1 million-a-year ITV salary, the valuation is worth roughly a century of his old pay packet.

From one-man show to media network

Morgan bought the Uncensored brand outright from Rupert Murdoch’s News UK in early 2025, abandoning linear television for a YouTube-first model. “I’ve only owned it a year and a half,” he told Stefanovic. “We’ve got a business worth nearly $150 million in 18 months.”

The channel now has around 4.4 million subscribers and, according to Morgan, “generates a lot of cash from advertising and sponsorships”, all without a marketing budget. “We don’t pay anyone to market our content. We do it all ourselves,” he said.

Crucially for investors, Morgan has been deliberate about building a business that can outlive its founder’s on-screen presence. “I knew I had to build a business which would actually in the end become much less reliant on me. So I decided to take Uncensored as the brand of the business,” he said.

That strategy is already visible in the company’s expanding slate. Uncensored has struck partnerships with Paramount UK and Channel 5 to bring its shows to broadcast television, alongside a long-form interview series co-produced with Time Studios. Its newest vertical, World Cup Uncensored, has been an immediate hit.

“We’ve just done World Cup Uncensored, and that’s blown up as well,” Morgan said. “We’re doing bigger numbers than Gary Lineker’s show, which Netflix paid $14 million for,” a reference to The Rest Is Football, which the streamer is reportedly paying around £14 million to run daily throughout the tournament.

The economics of walking away

The round confirms the trajectory first reported in December, when Business Matters revealed Uncensored was closing in on a £100 million valuation with Raine’s backing. At the time, insiders said the ambition was to build a billion-dollar company within a few years.

For all the showmanship, the underlying lesson is one any business owner will recognise: ownership of the asset, not salary from an employer, is where value compounds. Morgan spent decades as highly paid talent for other people’s businesses. It took just 18 months of owning his own for his equity to dwarf everything that came before, a pattern now pulling television’s biggest names towards YouTube and away from the traditional broadcasters that once employed them.

“I think the sky’s the limit for this stuff,” Morgan said. On the evidence of the past 18 months, few investors would bet against him.

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Bitcoin is trading close to the $62,000 mark, recovering from around $58,000 a week ago. Despite the rebound, investors remain cautious as inflation, Middle East geopolitical tensions, energy prices and ETF flows continue to shape market sentiment.

In the past 24 hours, Bitcoin was up 1.37% and Ethereum was up 2.30% to trade at $1,754 mark. Among the major altcoins, BNB, XRP, Solana, Tron, Hyperliquid, Dogecoin and Cardano gained upto 6.83%.

Also Read | Why is Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund still a top recommendation despite underperformance? Expert explains The global crypto market capitalisation was up 1.38% to $2.17 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap.

Nischal Shetty, Founder, WazirX said the prospect of a more accommodative Federal Reserve policy helped improve sentiment across risk assets, allowing Bitcoin to recover above the $60,000 mark, while Ethereum also benefited from renewed institutional interest as spot ETFs recorded fresh inflows.

Shetty further said that from a technical perspective, Bitcoin continues to hold the $60,000-$61,000 support zone, with $63,000-$64,000 emerging as the next key resistance. For Ethereum, traders are watching $1,650-$1,680 as immediate support, while $1,750-$1,800 remains the next major resistance area.
In the past week, Bitcoin and Ethereum were up 3.62% and 11.05%. Among the major altcoins, BNB, XRP, Solana, Tron, Hyperliquid, Dogecoin and Cardano rallied upto 19.16%.Harish Vatnani, Head of Trade, ZebPay said Bitcoin rebounded after finding support at its recent double-bottom formation near $58,000 last week. Despite the recovery, the daily RSI remains below the 50 level, indicating that the broader momentum is still negative.

“Ethereum found support at its double-bottom formation near the $1,505 level and has rebounded sharply. The daily RSI has crossed above the 50 mark, reflecting improving bullish momentum”

Also Read | 11 equity mutual funds multiply lumpsum investments by 4x in 7 years. Do you own any in your portfolio?

Vatnani further said that Ethereum and Solana investment products continued to attract inflows, while Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of more than $290 million, reflecting a shift in institutional investor sentiment.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

For many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), recent market volatility has raised an important question: Should they continue allocating capital to India when global markets, particularly the US, have delivered stronger returns over the past couple of years?

The debate has gained traction amid the AI-driven rally in US equities, a weaker rupee against the dollar and a temporary slowdown in corporate earnings.

For dollar-based investors, currency movement is another key consideration, with many assuming that rupee depreciation significantly erodes returns.

However, wealth managers argue that these concerns stem largely from short-term market cycles rather than a deterioration in India’s long-term fundamentals.

Historically, the rupee has depreciated at a much slower pace than commonly perceived, allowing strong rupee-denominated returns to translate into healthy dollar returns over longer investment horizons. More importantly, they say, India’s structural growth drivers remain intact despite periodic corrections.

Structural growth story remains intact

According to Feroze Azeez, Joint CEO at Anand Rathi Wealth, India’s biggest strength lies in where it stands in its economic journey.

Unlike several developed economies that are entering a phase of slower structural growth, India continues to benefit from favourable demographics, rising domestic consumption, manufacturing expansion and policy reforms. With nominal GDP expected to grow in double digits over the long term, the country offers a supportive backdrop for sustained corporate earnings growth, he said.
Azeez added that macroeconomic stability, supported by moderate inflation, prudent fiscal management and healthy foreign exchange reserves, provides greater visibility on earnings and valuations. “The investment case for India is based on long-term structural growth and compounding, rather than short-term market movements,” he said.

Domestic investors are becoming the market’s anchor

Another key change over the past decade has been the growing influence of domestic investors.Domestic institutional ownership has now overtaken foreign portfolio ownership for the first time in modern market history, aided by record SIP inflows that continue to provide a steady source of long-term capital. This has made Indian equities less vulnerable to swings in global risk appetite.

Shiv Gupta, Founder and CEO of Sanctum Wealth, believes this transition is one of the most underappreciated developments in Indian markets.

According to him, India’s growth is increasingly being funded by its own households through rising savings, domestic consumption and expanding capital markets. “A market supported by its own savers is more resilient than one dependent on foreign flows,” he said, noting that this explains why Indian markets now tend to recover faster from bouts of global volatility.

He also points out that the broader investment case remains anchored in long-term drivers such as rising incomes, financialisation of savings, infrastructure spending and a significantly healthier banking system than a decade ago.

Earnings, valuations support the long-term case

While earnings growth has moderated in the recent past, analysts expect corporate profitability to improve over the next two financial years. Combined with improving balance sheets and easing valuations, many wealth advisors believe the current environment offers an attractive entry point for patient investors.

Tarun Birani, Founder and CEO of TBNG Capital Advisors, says India’s appeal lies in its ability to deliver earnings compounding over long periods rather than quarter-to-quarter performance.

He notes that banks are well-capitalised, corporate balance sheets are among the strongest seen in over a decade and government-led capital expenditure continues to support economic activity. At the same time, valuations have moderated, even as corporate return on equity has room to improve, creating favourable conditions for long-term investors.

Birani also highlights the rapid rise in household participation in equities and mutual funds over the past decade, describing it as a structural “domestic capital flywheel” that helps cushion market corrections.

For NRIs, he believes India offers a unique combination of long-term wealth creation and alignment with future financial goals in rupee terms. “You’re participating in a long-run compounding story that also maps to your family, property and eventual return to India,” he said.

What Should NRI Investors Do?

For wealth managers, the message is clear: while short-term performance may influence sentiment, India’s investment case continues to rest on structural growth, improving corporate fundamentals and the increasing resilience of its domestic capital markets—factors that are likely to play out over years rather than quarters.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.