Some alumni of NUS-ISS Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis (GDipSA) set up a Tutor Club to help their juniors cope better with their studies. Read more about their worthy endeavour.
Having observed many of their peers and juniors from non-IT background struggling to catch up with the curriculum of the Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis (DipSA) programme at the Institute of Systems Science at the NUS (NUS-ISS), Ruly Kurniawan and Lavanya Sudharsanam, graduates of the 35th Intake of DipSA came up with the idea of a Tutor Club to help juniors who were having difficulties in their studies.
Mr Kurniawan and Ms Sudharsanam, at their graduation last year.
It was not an easy task in the beginning though. “We found it challenging to get people to open up and share the difficulties they encounter in the course. Many did not ask questions for fear of appearing silly. We thought that they would be comfortable to share, given that we were students just like them, but that didn’t happen,” shares Mr Kurniawan, currently a Senior Programmer at Accenture Pte Ltd.
“To counter that, we created anonymous forms and set up a Facebook Group so that those who are uncomfortable with revealing their identity can still get their questions answered. Eventually, they opened up to us,” says Ms Sudharsanam.
One of the juniors who benefitted from the Tutor Club is Elizabeth Nang Mo Ngern from the 36th intake. “Tutors from the club have helped me to fully understand the concepts and logics of programming after lectures, as well as on how to tackle assignments and projects. I also got to know many seniors and widened my network in the NUS-ISS DipSA community.”
Set up initially as a platform for academic coaching, the GDipSA Tutor Club ended serving a bigger purpose of connecting past and present students and even as a source of general information on NUS-ISS matters.
“My biggest takeaway from the Tutor Club is the chance to network with and to know some of our juniors personally. My wish that this club will become a community of GDipSA students from different intakes and become a networking platform,” says Mr Kurniawan.
Now that both Mr Kurniawan and Ms Sudharsanam have graduated from NUS-ISS, they hope that the Tutor Club can be passed down to future batches of students. Mr Kurniawan shares his vision for the Tutor Club, “I hope that the Tutor Club can continue to be active for future GDipSA batches, so that other GDipSA students from non-IT background will be able to get the help they need as well.”
“There are plans that we have not been able to be implemented by the time we left, such as creating an internal FAQ for ISS students with regard to student passes, employment, technical questions and accommodation, where every student can contribute their guidance and experience for the common good of all current and future GDipSA students. We hope that our juniors can continue to carry on the spirit which we started the Tutor Club with – a spirit of extending help to our peers,” says Ms Sudharsanam.
Mr Kurniawan and Ms Sudharsanam both agree that they couldn’t have done it without the support of the university . “NUS-ISS provided us with the classroom to conduct the tuition sessions, as well as the channels through which we could reach out to our junior batches,” says Mr Kurniawan.
“As we were graduating, NUS-ISS helped to keep the Tutor Club going by asking for volunteers in our junior batches to take over the running of the Tutor Club,” adds Ms Sudharsanam.
“It is encouraging to see the senior students volunteer their time to help their juniors in the evening and weekends. It helps both groups build a stronger bond and friendship. At the same time, the senior students have a chance to reinforce what they have learnt in school and share what they are doing in the internship. We facilitate by helping to spread the word across different intakes,” shares Megan Wang, Manager of Graduate Programme Recruitment, NUS-ISS. “We hope to nurture an active student life here so that apart from just getting an education, students can leave NUS-ISS with fond memories and good friends too.” She adds.
The Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis programme is designed for graduates who recognise the need to equip themselves with the latest IT knowledge and skills, and wish to advance their careers in their current field. It also provides an opportunity for non-IT graduates in crafting a new career path in the IT industry. The next intake will be in February 2015 and application is now open. For more information, please visit /graduate-programmes/programme/detail/graduate-diploma-in-systems-analysis
Should you be interested in joining the GDipSA Tutor Club, please send your request to https://www.facebook.com/groups/issdipsatutor/ (indicate your full name and batch number).
This article is first published in NUS-ISS quarterly e-newsletter, Issue 7 (Jul-Sep 2014).