Barriers to Bridges

Respective Studio Pan Campus

Management Level

The initiatives advised and the level of implementation proposed is mainly upto respective studios of faculties and to student council driven initiatives on a campus scale.

Respective Studio - Inculcating interactions and discussions regarding informal networking and perils of social anxiety and device systems within studios

Student Council - Sessions and events planned on a campus scale that help create connections amongst students of faculties.

Social Anxiety Vs Shyness

• Being a socially anxious college student can be difficult. Public speaking, being called on unexpectedly in class, getting to know new people, establishing friendships and working ties, conversing with teachers and lecturers, and many more study-related circumstances all include social interaction. These things on their own can be uncomfortable with social anxiety, the discomfort is increased to the point of fear and dread. They may avoid situations entirely or deal with them in a distressing way because to their extreme dread of receiving a bad grade.

• Although the terms shyness and social anxiety disorder are frequently used interchangeably, they are not the same thing Unfortunately, social anxiety disorder individuals themselves often mistake their symptoms for excessive shyness.

• An extreme fear of being negatively evaluated by others in social circumstances is referred to as social anxiety disorder. While social situations like going to college, talking at gatherings, meeting new people, or being seen in public might make someone who is shy feel uneasy, social anxiety is present when the fear is out of proportion to the circumstance and impairs the capacity to function as a student.

Level of Approach

• The initiatives described is not floated to the management level.

Group 4

M22 | IR2728 : Creative Leadership

Faculty: Satyam Parikh

TA: Dhavlesh Suthar

• The stakeholders in identified are mostly students and deciphering an approach that can be implemented in the same level is essential.The issues of social anxiety and hesitation is best tackled in peer and focus groups.

• Avoiding purposeful interventions of higher authorities unless and until asked for is at best.

Trajectory/Pathway

Informal events Grey space events Formal events

For the buddy project to be most efficient , there needs to be a systematic way to break the ice and bring students together considering pace and comfort levels of a very large group

Informal Events

The category comprises more of low profile events where there is no differentiation between seniors and juniors or between different batches of students. These are necessary to be done to familiarise the students with each other without making anyone anxious Few such events that were mentioned previously are theatre and games exercise; further cooking, jamming and other events can be added.

Grey Space Events

These are the events which is a mixture between completely formal and informal events where there is no differentiation between faculties or batches but an interaction through teaching, learning, story telling, experimentation etc. These events can include workshops, tutorials etc.

Informal Events Fest

• There are lot of people in cept interested in things other than designing like music, dance, drama etc. These people want to collaborate with people interested in same and increase their approach in their other interests too apart from designing.

• Instead of big fests that gets conducted in college where preparation are done from a month, these can be small informal fests conducted within the faculty level where these also act a break for other students who are not performing.

• Even Though these are really small events, there will be need of documentation and management, people who are interested in event photography and management can also pitch in and work together

Basic life skills (cooking)

• Apart from connecting through designing, cultures, game exercises and break sessions there can be fun meetups of people for cooking, gardening, activities like such which are very informal learning and fun too.

• Considering most of the students live far from home, activities like these which they probably do with family will comfort them and also helps them while they are living alone.

• Casual Break Sessions

Formal Events

These are the events which are completely formal where there is a clear distinction between faculties and batches but it won't be that tensed or serious since there has been a slow and steady process taken before through informal activities and grey space area events; due to this everyone might have reached to a level of mental stability where they can be formal without getting anxious These events can include inter-intra faculty competitions, alumni meets, more inclined towards extending the professional reach.

After hectic schedule in studios, casual chai or coffee meetups can be conducted to steam off some heat. A specific place can be decided where snacks can be arranged These can be such events which directly focuses on direct informal communication unlike others where the communication happens through some or the other event.

These conversation can include topics like their professional and hobby interests, their struggles in the academics, experiences, about courses in studios and summer winter schools, basically a basic exchange of ideas where few people might have similar interest and extend their connections.

Grey Space Events Tutorial sessions

• Cept university has such a curriculum which involves learning lot of softwares and various workshop skills. Many times people have to take classes for these from outside which are really expensive.

• Spending of money for such things can be avoided if students from different batches whoever is good in so and so software or in working with materials like wood or metal or clay can conduct tutorial sessions.

• Such tutorial sessions with different learning can be conducted every week and whoever wants to learn that particular software or shop can participate.

• Through these sessions people from different batches and faculties can meet and extend their connections.

Intra and Inter Tournaments

• Conducting friendly tournaments of sports between faculties and studios of the university will help students socialize and also act as imminent networking opportunities. Moreover such events could act as ice breaker and help create contacts across campus amongst students. Tournaments of Football ,cricket, basketball is being ideated here

LAN games

People who are not interested in sports and are more inclined towards online gaming, The university can hold this LAN Game in their fest. In LAN gaming, you have to compete with other team and beat them for a win. This can be either in a group or between two players There are a series of rounds in which the players with the highest score will be the winner. This can happen in series of levels where its inter faculty and then moves to intra faculty.

Formal Events - Alumni Networking

• CEPT has a very strong community of over 8000+ Alumni across the globe

• A new digital platform called AlmaConnect has been launched to bring these people together in order to be able to Connect, Engage and Network more efficiently with fellow alumni

• CEPT has an alumni office to engage and create a mutually beneficial relationship with the University and its Alumni.The office will help alumni connect with the University and with fellow graduates through a wealth of activities, continuing education programs, online services, and alumni events around the world. People can connect to the CEPT Alumni office from the details given below:

Alumni Office

CEPT University

Kasturbhai Lalbhai Campus

University Road, Navrangpura

Ahmedabad- 380 009

Phone: +91-79-68310000

Fax: +91-79-26302075 to +91-79-68310075

Email: alumni@cept.ac.in

•

• Inter School tournaments provide students the opportunity to develop public speaking and learn new abilities, which boosts their confidence It encourages students to try new things and step beyond of their comfort zones, which not only helps them learn new skills but also builds their confidence

• Additionally crucial to the development of students' communication skills are their social skills. In order for students to develop overall social skills, communication is essential. Such tournaments enables the incorporation of multiple social cooperative learning patterns.

• • Unlike previously mentioned , competitions mainly involve games and play with the motive of socialising and creating topics of conversations in a jovial atmosphere.

Website: http://cept.ac.in

Past Alumni Events

• The Career & Alumni Services(CAS) Office with respective Faculty Alumni Associations organized a welcome event for new students.

• In 2014 there was an alumni exhibition initiated by FAAA (Flight Attendants Association of Australia) followed by guest lectures, presentations, cultural event and alumni dinner

• Discussion on Future of Human Habitat in Post COVID-19 World. This webinar aimed to support young alumni in their professional development, provide career counselling and offer them key insights into their professions in a post Covid world.

Present Students-Alumni Interactions

Since the Alumni of CEPT is so huge and strong, new students can be provided with a chance to network and interact with the alumni as soon as they step in campus.

• This kind of association of future and present alumni will help the students develop a Vision for their future with some clarity.

• It will help them learn and grow in different ways and on a larger scale.

• Students will not have to go around and search for fellow alumni once they pass out as they would already have built a strong network by the time.

Possible Alumni Events

Another interesting way to increase interaction can be events organized by/for CEPT Alumni.these events can include:

• Formal and informal meet-ups.

• Software learning tutorial sessions

• Personality development classes.

• Learn To build a strong position in the industry.

• Celebrating festivals like Navratri, Onam, Diwali, Christmas, New Year, etc. with the same kind of tribe.

• Sessions that teach how to build strong professional connections.

• Establish an alumni association to organize timely events

• A magazine of notable alumni stories and teachings over the fields.

Alumni Benefits

It can be beneficial in many ways such as:

• Learning from their experiences.

• To get to know about the Industry.

• One can get great exposure by working with them.

• Have friendly and lifelong healthy relations with them.

• Helps built and increase professional network and connections.

• To have their help and support whenever needed.

• To get guidance about the future.

• Learn ways that can help gain balance over professional and personal life.

Formal Events Debates

• As part of interacting between the various faculty Departments at CEPT we can have debates to bring in the Exchange of ideas and knowledge between the different Fields.

• The debates between students will also help a few gain confidence and practice for Presenting their ideas, which is an important skill to have.

• Seminars

• Seminars are an interactive way of having discussions and interactions with the professionals.

• The seminars can be held by studio tutors or the

• Student body to gain training or extra knowledge in a specific subject.

• Seminars can help gain perspective on the professional side of the field.

• The seminars can be open for all student pan CEPT, as a very similar topic is tackled by students from respective faculties at various scales.

Forums

• Forums are formal events that can invite people from other design universities to showcase their work and process.

• Forums can help the students gain a new perspective to a subject or the process in general. Opening up interactions with the other universities can broaden ones vision and also open up multiple future opportunities of collaboration

• The forums also gives the students a chance to interact with

• very well known professionals as well as senior faculty members

• Lastly the process of holding such events inbuilts in the students teamwork and collaboration.

Guest Lectures

• This can be an initiative organised by students monthly bases to invite professionals, faculty members or senior students to showcase their work or experiences to the students.

• The lectures can help open up broader visions and subjects of interests of each individuals. An interaction with the faculty or the lecturer can help students create connections in the professional world.

• Also the process of inviting and talking to a multiple people can help can confidence and better understanding of collaboration

Importance of networking

Networking is an important skill that can be helpful in multiple ways, the above methods and ways can individuals, student and other members of the profession to grow and widen their perspective and ideas

Time Management

• As we come up with new ideas for making the academic and campus life more productive, fun and interactive, it becomes necessary for one to spare and manage time effectively to accommodate multiple activities in schedule

• It is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.

• Time Management is a method to declutter ones schedule and set priorities straight.

• Adopting time effective measures help one to achieve set goals more easily.

• Few ways you can improve your time management skills:

• Learn to say no to unnecessary things.

• Prioritize your work wisely.

• Take enough rest.

• Spare minimal time in unproductive things.

• Set deadlines for yourself.

• Get enough sleep.

• Set small goals to gradually achieve the bigger ones.

• Plan out your next day everyday before you go to sleep.

• Keep your mind at peace and stay organized.

Costing

While planning and initiating such networking events it is important to understand the area of expenses that can come and prioritize as per requirement.

Work Breakdown

U21225-Aneri Thakkar- Formal Events - Alumni Networking/ Time Management/Ideation

PCR 22039-Anjana M S- Level of Approach/ Grey Space Events/ Costing/Shyness Vs Cost Analysis/

Proofreading

UG180349-Meher Shah- Formal Events/ Costing/Ideation

Catering

Cost Analysis

While planning the formal events it is important to understand and keep in mind its areas of expense

• The setting up of the events, Tables, chairs, and audio visual equipments

• The transport cost of the presenters invited to the events

• The cost to bring in a professional or a senior faculty member to give in their time.

• Logistical cost that includes printing, food, decoration, cleaning and repairs

• Things need to be taken care of

While conducting these events, it happens sometimes that few people get left out, it is important that all the events from informal to grey space to formal is carefully curated where no one is left out. Also taking care about the schedule of everyone's studios and juries and submissions. It's never possible that these events can be of benefit for everyone or the campus wide initiative can work for everyone but these events does help majority of people to move out of their comfort zone and socialise and expand their opportunities.

UIR20263-Rishitha Tayyuru- Trajectory path/ Informal Events/ Grey Space Events/Ideation

CHALLENGES:

Anjana M Sasikumar (PCR 22039)

Formulation of level of approach to get a better understanding of the reach of the initiatives proposed. We came to a deficit of topics and required repeated brainstorming with my teammates to develop a new division/pathway to proceed with the topic.

Aneri Thakkar (U21225)

We were on the right track until week 7 but after that we faced a creative blockage and couldn’t come up with new ideas. Satyam Sir at that time helped us with coming up with new topics like costing, level of approach and more. After that we were back on the track and started working collaboratively within our group as well as individually.

Meher Shah (UG180349)

The issues faced after mid sem were the ideation of newer solutions and events that can connect people on a campus wide scale. How to integrate the idea of formal keeping in mind our main focus on interaction and networking. Satyam sir helped us segregate our ideas and channelise our thoughts in a correct direction.I would like to thank him for his guidance and mentorship.

Rishitha Tayyuru (UIR20263)

After midsem, one issue we had was extending our ideation and taking our topic to campus level. This required lots of discussions, brainstorming and research which pushed us off schedule. Considering it was after mid sem it was really hard for all of us to meet up and discuss for even few minutes.