An overview of

Residential Campus (TARC),

Brac

i
 An Overview

of

Residential Campus (TARC), Brac

Prepared for:

Dr. Mohammad Badruddoza Mia

Associate Professor

United International University

Prepared by:

NAME ID
Most Afia Mukarrama Mohona 111183048
Masrur Moontamim 111191152
Nayem Hasan Bhashkar 111182124
Puja Roy 111143047

Date of Submission: August 26, 2019

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 Table of Content

Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................4
Introduction of Residential Campus Education...........................................................................................5
Objective.....................................................................................................................................................6
Research Questions.....................................................................................................................................7
Methodology...............................................................................................................................................7
Limitations and Scope.................................................................................................................................8
Limitations:.............................................................................................................................................8
Scope:......................................................................................................................................................8
Findings and Discussion:.............................................................................................................................9
Benefits of Residential Campus...............................................................................................................9
Drawbacks of Residential Campus..........................................................................................................9
Challenges.............................................................................................................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................11
Appendix...................................................................................................................................................12
Research Questioners............................................................................................................................12

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Executive Summary

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Introduction of Residential Campus Education

A residential college is a division of a university that places academic activity in

a community setting of students and faculty, usually at a residence and with shared meals, the
college having a degree of autonomy and a federated relationship with the overall university. The
term residential college is also used to describe a variety of other patterns, ranging from
a dormitory with some academic programming, to continuing education programs for adults
lasting a few days. In some parts of the world it simply refers to any organized on-campus
housing, an example being University of Malaya.

In Bangladesh Brac university came with the initiative of off campus education, where they
introduce one semester of the undergraduate course as the Residential semester or often known
as TARC. TARC represents Training and Resource Center. This is the place BRAC University
sends understudies to their grounds in Savar for a genuine encounter.

Brac University’s (BracU) Residential Semester (RS) at Savar campus is unique amongst higher
education experiences in Bangladesh. The RS offers a holistic curriculum based on the principle
of ‘experiential learning’, which cultivates a broad range of soft skills and qualities, to
compliment the theoretical development that students undergo.

The curriculum’s intensive programs (delivered mainly in English) help to develop rounded
individuals, whose improved leadership skills, ability to independently face challenges, and
proficiency in English will better prepare them to face the challenges of higher education (and
eventually give them a competitive edge in the job market).

The Residential Semester takes place at a specially designed campus in Savar, which provides a
support system that aids students in becoming confident and self-reliant.

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Objective

The main objective of the research report is to find out the actual scenario of the experience of
the students in Residential Campus. This includes the experience regarding the environmental
change, how the students can cope up with a new environment there without parents and new
friends. The environmental change gives them a new food habit, new routine, new culture with
also the new educational curriculum. We wanted to find actually how effective the Residential
Campus is on the learning and self-dependence.

Research Questions

1. Does the Residential Semester (TARC Semester) actually helps in effective learning?

2. Is the time duration of TARC sufficient? OR Should it be increased or decreased?

3. Is the environment of TARC study friendly?

4. Does home-sickness and change in food habits affects study or mental health of the
Students?

5. Is the expense for the Residential Semester (TARC) is reasonable?

6. Is the overall management system student friendly?

7. What were the problems students faced during the residential semester (TARC)?

8. What can be the improvement factors of TARC for the betterment of students and their
education?

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Methodology

The whole research was done by doing survey of Brac students about their experience in
Residential campus. Due to some limitations we had to do the survey online.

We made Google form (http://bit.ly/2KK5kGk) containing the research questions. The Google
form was answered by students of different semesters and different departments of BRAC
university. It was done so that we can reach variety of student’s experience and concepts. The
questions were explanatory so that we get their broad views about the issue. These gave us clear
idea about their experiences. As we received diverse answers so we also got various ideas about
how the residential semester can be improved for the students.

Limitations and Scope

Limitations:
As we didn’t have the permission to enter the Brac Campus for research, we could not reach to a
vast amount of students. For this reason the number of student reviews were less. We could not
talk to them in person. If that was possible we could learn new aspects of TARC, its living,
education and management system.

Scope:
We used the online platform as going to the campus was not our option. We took views from the
known Brac university students and gave them the Google form questions to execute our
research. This can be said as a scope because may be if we had asked them in person they would
hesitate to answer the negative sides of their own university. Writing gave them a comfort to
think and write the answers with honesty.

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Findings and Discussion:

Benefits of Residential Campus

Off campus education is very much effective for learning whole bunch of new experiences which
we never faced before. We always do depends on our parents. But off campus education helps us
to taste self-dependency. We spend time in TARC with solid rules and regulations. Management
follow the rules in every step. It helps us to adjust in a new environment. We learn ethics, new
culture and policy of the university. It helps us to develop empathy within themselves. It causes
us to develop relational abilities.

Drawbacks of Residential Campus

Brac University also have some drawbacks for their residential campus. The main factor is the
cost of Residential Campus. When we were surveying most of the students said that the cost is
too much. Most of them said it’s getting costlier.

If we say particularly, one said, “I remember while doing sll where we take roles of staff, the
food priced for around 2 Lacs a day for more than 1000 people so do the math with other
expenses for 75 to 90 days while they charge 67 thousand for food and accommodation.”

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One student said about the management of TARC. He said, “The management is the worst there
and they have way too many rules which doesn't even make sense. For example we had cultural
night a week before finals and it was a day when average Tarc students had 2 or 3 quizzes and
classes ended at 3:35 while students were supposed to attend cultural program at 4:30 which was
absolutely absurd and that is just one story! We worked for events such as RS activity which had
a deadline till 2 pm while our lunch time ends at 2 pm so basically we were not allowed to have
food and the official literally barked on us for coming late saying, we can't wait for you to come
after the time to eat.”

Challenges
Brac University face a few difficulties moreover. Right off the bat the expense of Residential
Campus. It's a noteworthy thing to keep up. They aren't ready to diminish the expense and for
that huge numbers of the understudies face monetary issue. Another Challenge is Student's
home-affliction. A large number of the understudy consistently face home-disorder and some of
them attempt to do some awful thing. So it's a major test moreover.

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References

1. https://www.bracu.ac.bd/academics/residential-campus
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRAC_University
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRAC_University#Residential_campus
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residential_college
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residential_college#Various_models_of_residential_colleg
e
6. http://bit.ly/2KK5kGk

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Appendix

Research Questioners

1. Do you think that the Residential Semester (TARC Semester) is effective in learning?
2. Explain your answer for question no. 1.
3. Is the time duration of TARC sufficient? OR Do you think it should be increased or
decreased? Give short reasoning.
4. Do you think the environment of TARC is study friendly?
5. Does home-sickness affects your study or mental health? Please Clarify.
6. Do you think the expense for the Residential Semester (TARC) is reasonable?
7. Do the students face food-habit problems during this period?
8. Do you think the overall management system is student friendly? Explain.
9. During the residential semester (TARC), did you face any problems OR did you saw
anyone to face any problems? If you did, what was it?
10. What you think can be the improvement factors of TARC for the betterment of students
and their education?

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