“Explore Arts” Shows Off Kwantlen’s Impressive Arts Faculties
KPU alumni credit institution with their career successes
On Sept. 23, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Explore Arts convention took place in the Surrey Campus’ conference room. This event featured a variety of information tables for each of the arts faculties available at the school, as well as numerous guest speakers attesting to the talent and employability of arts graduates. Even representatives from other schools attended the event, with a few head office members of UBC’s teacher education program making a notable appearance.
Arguably the most informative discussion at Explore Arts came from a panel of four KPU arts alumni, all of whom discussed the impact that Kwantlen has had on their professional lives, and how their time at school was pivotal to their post-university success. One particular alumna, Deepak Gill, gave KPU a substantial amount of credit for shaping her into the person she is today.
“The academic and team-building skills acquired throughout the program were a stepping stone for me that paved the way for the current field that I work in,” says Gill, who now works as a probation officer after graduating with a degree in Criminology.
Gill went on to credit the school with a number of advantages that were critical to her learning. “I think that having the smaller size classrooms and having the opportunity to build relations with my instructors gave me the sense of compassion and being flexible with others that I practice in my current line of work.”
She further mentioned that shortly after finishing her undergrad she was able to obtain work in her field of study. Within a few months of completing her B.A. at KPU, Gill was hired as a probation officer, which she mentions is “an exciting career with opportunities and many areas to specialize in.”
In addition to Gill, alumna of the psychology program, Rachel Baitz, spoke highly of that department’s faculty, and the way that her professors made her feel “comfortable” with their “engaging and fun” ways of teaching. Baitz also agreed with Gill by claiming that the small classroom sizes helped her get more “one-on-one time with professors and a feeling of support within the school.”
Ultimately, Gill claims that she “would definitely recommend KPU over other universities for students who wish to pursue their undergraduate degrees, due to Kwantlen’s small classroom sizes, the relationship building opportunities with instructor.” She also emphasized how beneficial Kwantlen is for students going right from high school into university, saying, “KPU provides a less intimidating atmosphere where students may feel more comfortable,” and are therefore more likely to achieve successes in their chosen field.
