Looking back at the past four months since I came to Warwick Business School, I can say for sure that this has been an extremely enriching and challenging experience.
The University of Warwick is located in Coventry and is among the top five universities in the United Kingdom. Not only does the university support its students with excellent facilities, it also provides opportunities to earn your pocket money and engage in a variety of academic and co-academic activities.
After an intensive selection process, I was chosen to be a Student Progression Ambassador. The aim of the SP Team initiative is to raise aspirations and attainment amongst school students in Coventry and Warwickshire who have the potential to enter higher education and come from non-traditional university backgrounds. This also includes those whose families are from lower socio-economic backgrounds. I currently mentor students of Year 9 at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School. This experience has been an absolute eye opener for me and I have gotten to understand the values and culture that shape the lives of young students in the U.K.
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I am also a part of the Student Caller Team. The position involves tele-contacting alumni, friends and associates of Warwick students for a variety of causes. The main goals of these campaigns are to build and maintain strong relationships with the individuals, inform them about the university’s current philanthropic projects and inspire them to support these causes which play a positive role in the local and global community.
The campus here is enormous and also offers many innovative programmes which take place on a regular basis. A favourite is the ‘Dog De-stress Day’ which involves 4-5 therapy dogs who are trained to be emotionally responsive.
Students can book 10-minute sessions to spend some time playing with them. This has a huge impact on students who are stressed especially around exam time.
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Another unique opportunity offered by Warwick is the ‘Host U.K. Programme’. This programme pairs international students with local British families in various parts of the U.K. The students are matched with families based on their personalities and preferences after which students travel to stay with them for 2 -3 days. I had an amazing experience staying with a British lady and her blind dog in a small town called Shropshire last weekend. Concepts such as this provide great exposure to students and encourage them to explore and experience the world beyond the campus.
Each student is also allotted to a personal tutor whom the student can approach at any point of time regarding any issues they face. Interaction with the tutor is private and remains confidential. This is an amazing way to ensure that students have access to a trained professional if they are having a tough time away from home.
Although the pricey tuition fee is a drawback while considering study in the U.K., it definitely offers a comprehensive global educational experience. Apart from focus on academics, it encompasses a flexible academic schedule integrated with overall character development.
The writer is pursuing Master's in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations at Warwick Business School, Coventry, U.K.