The Australian National University, University of Canberra: student’s hopes, concerns, for 2022
University students across the ACT share their hopes and concerns as they enter the 2022 academic year.
Canberra Star
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After two long years of disrupted learning Canberra’s university students are back on campus with a vengeance.
We spoke to some of the bright young minds on campus about their hopes and concerns of the 2022 academic year.
Australian National University.
The Australian National University had a shaky start to the year with more than 400 students testing positive for Covid-19 during the first week of classes.
Despite the rocky start the top university’s Kambri precinct was vibrant during the second week of semester with students seen rushing between classes or just hanging out with mates.
However there was an air of disappointment among some students who felt they had missed out on the university experience of their dreams.
Born and bred Canberran Angela started her actuarial studies and finance degree in 2020 and has only known a university experience disrupted by the pandemic.
While she is catching up for lost time on campus she still feels like she has on opportunities previous students had such as exchange.
“(With exchange) I’m still missing out because I’m in my third year, it’s really hard for me to go because a lot of the classes don’t match up,” she said.
“I’ve actually applied to go to china but there's a lot of Covid-19 restrictions and the cost for going is much higher than it was before.
“I feel like I missed out on a lot of opportunities previous students had.”
Angela says while some of her university dreams have been dashed she is hopeful about meeting more students in her field.
Ying is in her third year of a double degree in commerce and arts and started her degree in 2020.
“I’m not going to lie, it was a bit disappointing,” she said.
“When first year was coming up it was really exciting, then three weeks into it we went into lockdown
“I’m glad we are back at uni but feel like I am catching up on those two missed years.
The student says she has mixed feelings about being back on campus.
“I’m happy that we are back on campus but at the same time the risk of getting Covid-19 is higher” she said.
“I’m glad we’re still required to wear masks in class.”
Second year Languages and International relations student Akira grew up on the NSW South Coast before moving to Canberra for university last year.
Despite having his first year disrupted by the pandemic the student said he enjoyed the taste of independence.
“Overall I just enjoy being at the ANU,” he said.
“I stayed (in Canberra) for the whole year last year because I was working as well.
“I had a goal for myself to be more independent an live a life outside of my parents. “
“I feel like I did the things I wanted to do and had the typical university experience.”
Since returning to campus the second year student said he has joined a few university clubs and societies but “mostly for the discounts.”
“ I made a decent network of friends in first semester so I didn‘t feel the need to branch out anymore.
While he has enjoyed his own university experience, Akira said he feels for students who are still having a rough time.
“Sometimes I feel bad … when I see people posting on Facebook groups who are having a rough time,” he said.
“There are students on ANU confessions … maybe they’re fed up with quarantine, or they are students who were trying not to get Covid-19 and then someone brought into their Hall.
“For me everything’s been really good (but) I feel for some of the other people who find it a bit harder.”
Law and Arts student Hamish is in his fifth year at university and is back on campus for compulsory classes.
“(Covid-19) took away a lot of the cultural aspects of being at university but in someway it made the academic aspects a bit more accessible,” he said.
“It was a compromise in that respect.
“Covid-19 affected an array of things like just bumping into your friends on campus or seeing people you haven't seen in a while.”
The final year student said he was not particularly concerned about the Covid-19 outbreak at the university because it mainly affected younger student who live on campus.
“The likelihood of someone in my tutorial living in the residential halls is quite small,” he said.
“I think if I was in my first or second year I’d feel a lot less safe (on campus).”
University of Canberra.
The University of Canberra in Canberra’s Belconnen district welcomed back students way back in early February and unlike the ANU the campus has not suffered large scale Covid-19 outbreak.
Well into the middle of first semester the campus was still buzzing with students happy to be back to in person learning.
Bachelor of Primary education student Ava started her degree in 2020.
“This year has been a lot better because its back to face-to-face tutorials which I much prefer,” she said.
The only real difference is having to wear masks inside the buildings which doesn’t bother me.
The student says she doesn't feel like she has missed out on her university experience.
“It's not that important to be as a mature age student,” she said
“I come here one day a week and do my study and leave.
“So I haven’t had the fun uni experience but that doesn't bother me.
Ava said she is thankful the practical component of her course has not been affected by Covid-19
“I haven't had any of placements affected by Covid-19 because I didn’t do those units during lockdown.
“I think I just had good timing.”
Pietro moved from his hometown of Griffith NSW to study his bachelor degree in primary school education at the beginning of 2021.
“The ACT was very different to where I was from,” he said.
“We had a lot of Covid-19 Restrictions in NSW and the ACT was more easy going.”
Like Ava, Pietro had good timing when it came to school placements
“I’ve done one placement,” he said.
“You went into the school, observed, there were no masks at that time, it was quite easy. “
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