Starting my blog: introducing myself

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 Hello, dear guest! Welcome to my blog! My name is Gulnaz Bektemirova. I am the Director of Student Support Services at Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT). I am very passionate about supporting students in their educational journeys and making the most out of their university experience. The unification and integration of Student Support Services at WIUT under one umbrella, the launch of new services, such as academic support centre, inclusion and diversity support, international student and study abroad support, accommodation and residential services – were all the result of this passion.

Prior to coming to lead Student Support Services in 2018, I had worked as a Lecturer. Focused on enhancing students’ learning experience, I taught and served in various administrative positions, including the posts of the Deputy Dean on Learning Environment and the Course Leader of the Certificate of International Foundation Studies (CIFS). In all of these jobs, I oversaw the organization of the Student Orientation Week to help their smooth transition into higher education and the learning environment of WIUT in particular.

COVID-19 and the global lockdown created a new reality. Learning was taken online and the Orientation Programme had to follow. Developed in an extremely short time, it initially took the form of a repository of introductory video and text materials for new students to review. But effective pedagogy requires the review of this method and reconsideration of the Orientation Week and the way it is delivered to students effectively online.

This blog is where I share my experience of organizing a student Orientation Week in an online mode, my thoughts, reflections, strategies that work. An Orientation Week programme is the first step, which I hope will be followed by other endeavors of learning to become an effective online teacher. 


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