Habib University organizes the Summer Program for Language, Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (SPLASH) for its first-year students annually. The program aims to facilitate the transition from high school to university and equip students with the tools necessary for a successful academic journey. Often, students experience anxiety when adapting to an unfamiliar environment with new people, which hinders them from exploring new opportunities and making their academic journey exceptional. To address these challenges, the Office of Academic Performance at Habib University has designed this program to engage students in new avenues and foster team-building skills.
A typical day at SPLASH begins with the Morning Energizer, where students shake off their lethargy and prepare themselves for an exciting day. This segment consists of fun activities that encourage discussions among peers, allowing students to reflect on profound ideas and societal issues. These contemplative engagements help students make new friends, comfortably share their opinions, and gain insights into different perspectives. Moreover, the Morning Energizer ensures that students feel energetic before they immerse themselves in various workshops.
The workshops at the Summer Program for Language, Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (SPLASH) are categorized into Electives and Core. The elective workshops offer students a wide range of topics to choose from, enabling them to discuss their interests and acquire new skills. These workshops cover diverse subjects such as problem-solving, photography, and more.
This year, the elective workshops provided students with hands-on experience in Design Thinking. This workshop taught them the steps required to find innovative solutions to complex problems. Another workshop, titled ‘The World of Ideas: What is Madness and What is Hell,’ explored the concept of madness and hell throughout human history, using various pieces of art as references. ‘Lights, Camera, Change: Visual Voices’ guided students on using a camera not just to capture pictures but also to seize fleeting moments often overlooked in daily life. Similarly, ‘Art for the Mind: Mental Wellness Through Creative Expression’ provided students with a safe space to explore ways to optimize mental health. The workshop ‘Ethics of Artificial Intelligence’ encouraged students to find a balance between the needs of AI and human rights, fostering in-depth debates and discussions. Lastly, ‘Smart Systems: Exploring IoT, Robotics, and Image Processing’ introduced students to the fundamental components mentioned in its title through engaging activities.
The second category of workshops, Core workshops, focused on developing skills essential for students throughout their university life. Team building was an integral part of these workshops, ensuring peer learning. For instance, the ‘Academic’s Toolbox’ workshop trained students in analyzing texts and writing at the university level. This workshop incorporated daily rigorous hands-on learning with an element of fun.
Additionally, a workshop called ‘Code Craft: Exploring Programming with Python’ was arranged specifically for Dhanani School of Science and Engineering (DSSE) students to provide them with basic programming knowledge necessary for their studies in the field of Science. Similarly, School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) students attended the workshop ‘Research Seminar: Reimagining Karachi’ to gain knowledge about research and its significance in social sciences and humanities education.
The feedback received from SPLASH students this year has been exceptional. According to their reviews, the program helped them learn new skills and broaden their perspectives on various subjects they had not previously considered. Students also appreciated the opportunity to come out of their shells and gain confidence in expressing their voices.
SPLASH provided students with a wonderful opportunity to become part of the best university in Pakistan and set the stage for their transition into higher education.
By Yusra Shahid – Class of 2027
