COSTAATT ‘Feeling of Community’ Contributes to Success
Tertiary education can often be an alienating experience for many, with the size of campuses and the sheer number of students and faculty seeming overwhelming. That’s why COSTAATT prides itself not only on transforming students’ lives academically and professionally, but also on fostering a strong sense of community that makes them feel as though they’ve found a second family. COSTAATT views that togetherness as a vital component to its students’ mental wellbeing and, ultimately, to their success both at the college and after graduation.
Second year student Nalini Sudama, who is currently pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Journalism at the college, cites this sense of community and support as playing a crucial role in her experience thus far. Nalini draws reference to the strong prevalence of group work at the college, saying it aids in the development of teamwork skills and long-lasting friendships. “Working in groups has allowed me to understand different perspectives and respect others’ opinions,” Nalini said, “Since I’ve started COSTAATT, I’ve built friendships with a lot of classmates, and I can safely say that everyone here looks out for each other and helps in whatever way they can”. To expand on this point, Nalini pointed to the fact that representatives in the Student Council have created WhatsApp group chats for each of the college’s five campuses, something she sees as a really effective way for the college to be able to assist students with anything they might need.
It’s not just camaraderie amongst students, however, as COSTAATT faculty members aim to go above and beyond in support of the students’ success. According to Nalini, all the lecturers she’s met on her journey to this point have been “extremely accommodating and resourceful”. Of course, like anyone else, they value their personal time, however, this doesn’t stop them from responding to any issues as soon as they possibly can. Many lecturers at COSTAATT share their private phone numbers with their students, and they are more than willing to engage outside of class hours. Nalini noted that “most lecturers are very easy to communicate with and reach out to”.
Nalini, who aspires to be a journalist upon graduation, says that each of the college’s many moving cogs successfully come together to make her feel she is being more than adequately prepared for her future goals. Presently, she is doing an internship at AZP News through the college’s mandatory internship programme, and she has nothing but effusive praise for this initiative. “The internship has given me significant experience in a professional environment,” Nalini said, “This is quite effective and commendable on the college’s part, to have placed me in a setting where I can work comfortably and feel confident”.
The key to a successful and thorough tertiary education, beyond the academic aspect, is a sturdy support system that students can rely on. COSTAATT certainly does everything in their power to establish that, leading to a familial bond that maybe doesn’t exist in larger colleges and universities.
Written by Nicholas Bayley.
