In Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», possibilities are within reach. From participating in a welcoming community to building a great life and a thriving career. This is the story of Asfa Riyaz and her experience studying and working in a city where everything is familiar.
Why did you choose to study in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»?
I grew up in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³», so I’ve always considered it my home. When I was looking into programs and universities, I knew I wanted to be close to my family, my friends and the community I’ve built in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³». Studying here was non-negotiable.
When I finally selected Information Design at Mount Royal University (MRU), I discovered that it’s the only program of its kind in Canada and that the class sizes are much smaller in comparison to other universities. I knew this would help me to form better relationships with my peers and professors. All these factors made Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» more desirable.
How would you describe your experience studying in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»?
Studying in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Being close to home, having the support of my family, and not needing to adjust to a completely new environment made it easy.
At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on my program because half of my third year and all of my fourth year were virtual. Information Design is a collaborative program, so having to do it virtually took that component away and made it challenging. Despite these pandemic-related challenges, one of my professors recommended me for a research assistantship position in my fourth year and that has opened a lot of doors for me.
One of them was the opportunity to work with the on a project led by two MRU professors in Nursing and Social Innovation. One of the professors also recommended me to the MRU School of Nursing where I worked as an Information Design Consultant. I worked in this role even after I graduated.
What type of work experience have you had in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»?
In my second year at MRU, I did an internship at the which the school helped to secure. I worked there as a junior exhibit developer, and it was an invaluable experience that helped me build connections and set me up for future success. I don’t think I would have gotten that opportunity anywhere else in Canada because of how unique the Information Design program at MRU is.
After graduation, I found out about through a friend and met the CEO, John Vardalos over coffee. I was amazed to find that Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» has an innovative and creative design studio that creates unique experiences for people locally and beyond.
