Student Support Services

Introduction

Student success is at the heart of this international program. Beyond classroom teaching, Thakur College provides a range of student support services to ensure that students have the guidance, resources, and assistance they need throughout the first two years and in preparation for studying abroad. These support services cover academic advising, career and personal development, as well as specialized support for the study-abroad transition.

Academic Advising

From the moment students join the program, they are assigned an Academic Advisor (usually a faculty member) who will mentor them academically. The academic advising system ensures that each student receives personalized guidance:

• Course Guidance: Advisors help students understand their curriculum structure and plan their semester course loads (especially if there’s any elective or choice involved). While the program has a mostly predefined course sequence, advisors ensure students are taking the right courses for their intended transfer pathway. If a student is considering a particular partner university or a specialization, the advisor might suggest certain electives or extra courses that align with that goal.

• Monitoring Performance: Advisors keep track of their advisees’ academic performance. They review exam results and assignments of their students to identify if anyone is facing difficulties. For instance, if a student struggles in Mathematics in Semester 1, the advisor will note this and might arrange additional tutoring or practice material in Semester 2, knowing that math is crucial for technical fields. Regular one-on-one meetings (at least once a month) are scheduled to discuss progress and address concerns.

• Study Skills Development: Many students initially need to adjust to the college-level workload and the continuous assessment system. Advisors (and other support staff) conduct sessions on study skills, time management, and exam preparation strategies. They might share tips on how to take notes effectively, how to research for assignments (including using the library and online databases), and how to avoid plagiarism – an essential skill for success abroad.

• Academic Workshops: The program will offer workshops or extra classes for subjects that typically pose challenges. For example, a weekly math clinic or coding lab could be set up where any student can drop in for help. Academic advisors will recommend students to attend these if needed.

• Progress Reviews: At the end of each semester, a formal review is held. The academic advisor, along with the Program Coordinator, reviews each student’s GPA and overall standing. Students are advised on how their performance compares with the required standard for transfer (e.g., reminding them that a 2.5 GPA or higher must be maintained as that is a minimum for many partner universities or 3.0 in some cases. Those on the edge are given specific improvement plans. Parents can also be involved in these discussions (with the student’s consent or during official parent-teacher meetings) to ensure a support system at home.

Personalized Tutoring: If a student is identified as high-risk (for example, failing multiple courses in a semester), the program can arrange for personal tutoring. This could involve senior students, teaching assistants, or additional sessions by faculty. The goal is to prevent drop-outs and keep every student on track for the transfer.

Career Councilling & Development

Even though the students are only in the first half of their degree, it’s beneficial to begin career-oriented guidance early. The program integrates career counseling services to help shape students’ long-term goals:

• Career Exploration: Through workshops and counseling sessions, students are exposed to various career paths in technology and business. We bring in career counselors and industry professionals to talk about fields like software development, data science, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, etc. This helps students understand how their chosen academic path leads to various careers. For instance, a session might cover “Careers after a Computer Information Systems degree” or “Global opportunities with a Business Administration degree”.

• Skills Development: The college’s placement cell and career services unit collaborate to conduct skill-building sessions relevant for internships and jobs. These include communication skills, teamwork, leadership activities (like being part of student clubs or organizing events), and technical skills workshops (e.g., learning a new programming language or data analysis tool beyond the curriculum). Participation in such activities is encouraged to build a strong profile.

• Internship Guidance: Although most students will go abroad after two years, some might seek internships during their time at Thakur (for instance, in the summer break after Year 1 or Year 2). The career services team can help identify internship opportunities in India. Even a short internship or project work in a local company can be valuable experience and is looked upon favorably by foreign universities. We guide students in making resumes and applying for these opportunities.

• Alumni Interactions: As the program matures, we will have alumni who have completed their degrees abroad. We plan to establish an Alumni Mentorship system where these alumni (or even current students who have transferred and are in their final years abroad) can interact with current first/second-year students. They can share insights on how they chose their majors or careers, what to expect in the job market, etc. For example, an alumnus who went to the University of the Fraser Valley and now works in Canada could give a talk on job trends in the IT sector in Canada.

• Counselling for Higher Studies: Some students might consider further studies like a Master’s degree after their bachelor’s. Our counsellors inform them of how the 2+2 degree is globally recognized and how to plan ahead if they want to take tests like GRE/GMAT or apply for grad school later. While a bit early, setting this context helps students focus on maintaining a strong GPA and engaging in extracurriculars, which will help in any future applications.

Personal Development & Counseling: College life can bring personal and emotional challenges. Thakur College provides counseling services for stress management, adjustment issues, or any personal concerns. A qualified student counselor or psychologist is available on campus. This indirectly supports academic and career readiness by ensuring students’ well-being (especially important given they will tackle the significant transition of moving abroad, which can be stressful – building resilience beforehand is key).

Visa & Study Abroad Support

One of the most critical support functions of this program is guiding students through the transition to the foreign university, which includes visa guidance, documentation, and pre-departure preparation. We offer comprehensive support in this area:

• Dedicated International Office Liaison: Thakur College will have a Study Abroad Support Cell, possibly under the International Programs Office, which specializes in helping students with all requirements for overseas education. This cell keeps updated information on student visa processes for the USA, Canada, and Australia (the countries of our partner institutions) and maintains checklists of required documents.

• Visa Workshops: In the second year, a series of workshops will be held to explain the visa application process for each country. For example, we’ll have a “Canadian Student Visa session” covering how to apply for a Canadian /Australian study permit, financial proof required, etc., and similar sessions for the U.S. F-1 visa and the Australian student visa. These sessions often include external experts like education consultants or embassy representatives. Students and their parents are invited so that everyone is informed about timelines and responsibilities.

• Application to Partner Universities: Although this is covered in Section 8 in detail, the support aspect involves helping students prepare their applications to foreign universities. The support cell assists in collating recommendation letters, writing statements of purpose (SOP) if needed, and submitting online applications. Because of the MoUs, the process is usually streamlined: often a coordinator at Thakur sends the list of eligible students to the foreign university, and students then fill a simplified form. We ensure every student meets the deadline for application (which typically might be in the winter of Year 2 for a Fall intake abroad).

• Documentation and Verification: We assist students in obtaining and verifying all necessary documents for their transfer:

  • Official transcripts from Thakur College (we prepare multiple sealed copies as needed for admissions and visa interviews).

  • Bonafide certificates and completion letters referencing the transfer program.

  • Financial documents: While obtaining bank statements or loan sanction letters is the student’s family’s responsibility, we provide guidance on what is required. We can refer them to financial institutions if they need an education loan for the abroad studies, as well as guide them on typical cost proofs needed for visa (which we also outline in the Financials section).

  • Medical check-ups or immunisations: If any country or university requires health check reports (e.g., TB test for Canada and Australia, although not always needed for these countries, it is for some), we inform them in advance.

• Visa Application Assistance: The support cell offers hands-on assistance in filling visa application forms (like DS-160 for US, or online CIC forms for Canada, etc.). We review each student’s visa application package to ensure it’s complete. We also conduct mock visa interviews (especially for the US visa) to train students on how to confidently answer questions about their study plans, financial capability, and ties. This significantly improves the chances of visa approval.

• Pre-Departure Orientation: Before the students depart, a comprehensive Pre-Departure Orientation is organized (more details in Section 8). From the support perspective, this includes helping students make travel arrangements (we often connect students going to the same city so they can travel together), discussing accommodation options (university dorms vs off-campus housing, how to apply for housing at the partner uni), and briefings on cultural adjustment. We often invite parents to part of this orientation to address their concerns about safety, money transfer, and staying in touch.

• Ongoing Support: Even after students have transferred abroad, Thakur College keeps in touch. The International Office remains a point of contact if students need any documents sent or verification done during their time abroad. We also remain available to assist if any issues arise (for example, very rarely, if a student faces academic issues abroad or wants to transfer to a different partner university, we provide counsel).

Visa for Internship/Co-op Abroad: Some partner universities have co-op or internship as part of their program (for instance, UFV requires two terms before co-op eligibility. We advise students on work authorisation rules in those countries (like CPT/OPT in the USA, co-op work permits in Canada, etc.) so they are prepared for those processes as well.

In summary, Thakur College’s student support services ensure that students are not alone in their journey. From academic mentoring, career planning, to the nuts and bolts of moving to a new country, each step is scaffolded with expert guidance. This comprehensive support system helps maintain high student satisfaction and success rates, thereby upholding the program’s reputation and effectiveness.