Learning and Development activities for students outside the classroom

CMR University, true to its motto of nurturing creative thinkers to drive positive global change lays significant emphasis on Co-Curricular as well as Extra-Curricular Activities. The University has set up a dedicated Office of Student Affairs (OSA) that offers Learning, and Development activities for students at CMR University, by establishing student-centric learning environments, co-curricular activities, diverse opportunities for community building and leadership experiences to understand themselves and navigate the world around.

OUR MISSION

• Learning: to provide students with skills, tools and resources to ensure that they thrive and grow at the university and beyond
• Engagement: to promote an environment where students learn to support each other and build communities that uplift people and spaces
• Advancement: to support students as they develop a deeper understanding of themselves and inculcate consistent reflective practices to improve their wellbeing

Our Principles

We believe that all students should have a plethora of learning opportunities, skill enhancement workshops and transformative experiences during their time at CMR University. To ensure that all students have a safe and dynamic space to lead, engage, achieve and participate, the Learning and Development activities for students are structured around the following key principles of the institution.

• Preparing for Success: students will be able to prepare for a successful and fulfilling careers.
• Knowing Self & Community: students will be able to understand themselves better and engage with issues across the globe.
• Contributing to Society: students will be able to develop and apply their skills, knowledge and resources for the greater community.

Our Offerings
Learning, and Development programmes, for students, are offered across 6 streams:

• Interdisciplinary Education & Innovation

○ Learning from each other and working independently on passion projects
○ To build a learning environment that is not confined to a particular discipline, rather focuses on the interconnections between different subject areas.

• Leadership, Mentorship & Training

○ Developing leadership and mentorship skills and exposing students to various opportunities to improve their adaptability & flexibility in unfamiliar environments.

• Communication & Writing. Developing communication skills and programmes that support student creativity and dialogue.
• CMRUxCommunity

○ Building networks and creating a sense of community on campus amongst students across disciplines.
○ Looking at all the different identity pieces to create a socially aware and inclusive campus.

• Community & Social Impact

○ Building social awareness through action to strengthen communities outside the university and develop a deeper understanding of the world we are living in.

• Step One

○ Building a supportive community and accessible learning environment to ensure that students thrive.

 
Our Programmes

• CMRUxCourses: CMRUxCourses provide students with workshops, courses and skill-building seminars across disciplines and fields of interest. Students will not require any prerequisites to sign up for these courses.
• Faculty Chats: Faculty Chats are conversations between faculty and students across and within disciplines to develop spaces for interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking. The conversations and spaces for informal chats are necessary components of these events, they are incorporated to create an environment where students and faculty can engage with each other outside a traditional classroom environment, and discuss topics that are not confined to the syllabus.
• CMRU Roundtable: CMRU Roundtable is a monthly event organised by faculty and students at CMRU. Speakers from various disciplines, experiences and career trajectories are invited to speak at a panel. The panel will be followed by an informal hour where students and faculty can interact with the speakers.
• Interdisciplinary Symposium: The Interdisciplinary Symposium provides a chance for students and faculty across all disciplines to come together for a day of talks, presentations, performances, display and discussions about intersecting or new areas of interest.
• Student Voice: Student Voice provides students an opportunity to discuss their topics of interest, share their passions, host student speakers and connect with other students in the community to have fruitful discussion and conversations. This space is run by peer leaders and academic leaders that offer students with opportunities to reach out for support, resources and guidance regarding their academic and personal life.
• CMRU Lead: Leadership Bootcamp & Summit: The CMRU LEAD program aspires to build competent, empathetic and inclusive leaders by providing them with training opportunities and other resources. Students will be stepping into various leadership roles on campus, and the LEAD program will support their journey as they navigate their understanding of leadership and community on campus.
• Leadership Bootcamp : The leadership boot camp is a 2-day training event for all student leaders to develop and reflect on existing leadership skills and principles, and deepen their understanding of leadership impact and facilitation while managing groups of young people. Students will explore the questions regarding what it means to lead. How do I organise inclusive events? What does it mean to be an empathetic and passionate leader?
• Student Officer Leadership Summit : The Student Leadership Officer Summit offers a platform for student leaders across campuses to share best practices, reflect on their leadership experiences and convene to discuss leadership in various contexts. Students can sign up for workshops and other opportunities at the Summit.
• Outbound Programmes: Exchange Learning Experiences involve programs that are designed to strengthen a student’s skills, share and acquire knowledge as well as broaden multicultural and interdisciplinary perspectives. These include: Interdisciplinary Exchange Learning Experience, Research-based Exchange Learning Experience, Skill-based Exchange Learning Experience, Credit-based Exchange Learning Experience, Leadership Exchange Learning Experience and Exchange Learning Experience Practicum.
• CMRU Ambassadors: Ambassadors are students that lead open house events, orientation week and other school and campus events. They are the point of contact for students regarding various experiences, opportunities and events on campus, they are leaders and culture drivers.
• CMRU Editorial: The CMRU Editorial team works together with all schools, students and faculty to coordinate and manage newsletters, journal publications and document the CMRU experience.

  a. Newsletter/Zine: All schools will produce quarterly newsletters that contain information regarding events, achievements, faculty editorials, school announcements and student contributions.
  b. CMRU Archives: Collective effort between all schools to produce a short comprehensive visual & written journal of the academic year 2021-2022.

• First Draft: First Draft is a student support initiative that offers a range of writing, communication and research workshops and opportunities for students across all schools. These can include plagiarism, creative writing, technical writing, peer-reviewing and other workshops. Most of the workshops offered by the First Draft initiative are general, but upon student and faculty request it is possible to offer curated programs for different schools, clubs or committees.
• Sports & Athletics: All sports and athletic events that include inter, intra and university level competitions. These include: basketball, cricket, chess, football, kabaddi, shuttle badminton, throw ball, table tennis, volleyball, hockey, handball, track events (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m), relay (4x100m, 4x400m), shot put throw, discus throw and long jump.
• CMRU Events: Events that take place on campus at the school or university level in order to build a sense of community and provide students with an opportunity to present their skills, talents and abilities. These events include and are not limited to, talent showcase, fest, Intra-university, inter-school competitions, human library & fresher’s day.
• Common Space: Common Spaces are multi-functional spaces for students. These spaces can be places to explore their creativity, build connections with their peers, a makerspace or even an area for discussions or club meetings.
• CMRU Student Clubs: Clubs offer all students with a variety of interests and leadership abilities to structure, manage and build communities on campus. Clubs are student-led initiatives that allow students to explore a skill, discipline, passion or interest outside the classroom environments.
• CMRU Student Engagement Fair: The fair takes place at the beginning of every academic year and serves as a starting point for students to get involved with the various club offerings across all CMRU campuses and schools. The Student Engagement Fair provides students with an opportunity to engage with club leaders to understand their purpose and activities associated with the group.
• Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Initiative: The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative ensures that all students have access to a safe space, resources and points of contact whenever necessary.
• International Student Committee: The International Student Committee ensures that all students have access to a community, cultural exchange, person of contact for difficulties faced by the students in a foreign context and a safe environment.
• CMRU Student Council: The student council is a campus initiative primarily led by students in various schools across the university. This elected body manages student concerns, organises events and provides a platform for student voices to be heard.
• Community Project: Community projects can be short-term or long-term projects and collaborations with NGOs and other organisations. These projects can be an extension of the area of study, a collaborative project or an independent assignment with an organisation.
• Community Service Fair: The Service Fair takes place at the beginning of every academic year and is a starting point for students to get involved with various organisations that engage with individuals in various contexts and support the community beyond CMRU.
• Orientation & First Year Committee: The Orientation Committee (OFYC) is responsible for ensuring that all first year students are welcome, supported and introduced to the community at CMR University. This committee consists of teachers, students and alumni that will plan the pre-orientation, orientation and post-orientation events and procedures to ensure a successful transition of all new students across all campuses.
• First Year Initiative: The First Year initiatives is a 3 month programme for first year students to support their first year of university. This programme includes mentorship from upper year students, workshops to navigate and manage their lives at CMR University and facilitate environments for students to connect with their peers.
• Residence 101: Residence @ CMRU consists of programs and services offered to CMRU students living in hostels across schools.
  a. Huddle – First year student support program which consists of workshops and upper year residence leader check-in’s
  b. Residence Leader Program – Open to upper year students to manage the events and programmes on hostels alongside the warden.

The accomplishments of students within the classroom and outside the classroom are equally important in building creative, responsible and socially conscientious citizens. All students will receive a Learning and Development record alongside their transcript each semester that lists their involvements and activities throughout the academic year. This university certified record can be requested by students as an addition to their resume or for further study purposes. The record will include details regarding the students’ involvement, role, duration and competencies acquired through learning experiences, achievements, leadership and other volunteer opportunities.