Students of St. Xavier’s College, majoring in Social Work and Psychology with a Journalism elective, as part of their writing project, wrapped up their academic year by releasing fifteen newsletters as their final academic deliverable. Working with 15 different groups, two of them produced Asha Awaaz and The Orchid Chronicles, the newsletters for the NGOs Asha Nepal and Orchid Garden Nepal, respectively. With this writing project, nearly 100 students stepped out of the classroom and engaged with the real-world, connecting classroom learning with the job market.
Vice Principal Saluja Chand, Head of the Department of Major Arts Shishir Kumar Bhusal, representatives from the participating NGOs, and Faculty members joined the release ceremony. This project and pedagogies align perfectly with the Strategic Plan (2024-2029) of the University Grants Commission that envisages fostering employability with quality, project- and skills-based education.
“Fostering communication, particularly persuasive written communication, is not just a fundamental skill for mass communication students, but essential for all learners, including Psychology and Social Work. We, at St. Xavier’s College, translate classroom learning into practice, engaging students in writing projects. Today, 91 future psychologists and social workers from the batch-2023 produced 15 newsletters, including Asha Awaaz and The Orchid Chronicles for two NGOs, which help them connect with future employers”, said Chun Bahadur Gurung, Faculty Lead of Journalism at St. Xavier’s College.
The college leadership acknowledged this initiative. “Even at the micro level, engaging students in practical learning and real-world work is highly commendable. This initiative beautifully connects the classroom with the world of work, allowing students to turn their learning into meaningful work for the community. Hats off to the teachers for going the extra mile in guiding and enabling learners to learn at this level”. In a note, said Fr. Dr. Augustine Thomas, S.J., the principal of the college.
