Meet our UCL Engineering Student Tutors: Aisha Aullybux, Engineering (Electronic & Electrical) MEng

What does being a UCL Engineering student tutor involve?  

Being a UCL Engineering tutor involves meeting brilliant students and helping them meet their academic goals. It is about getting to know them, their hobbies and passions, as well as what they like and dislike about school. It is the opportunity to share my love for engineering, and showcase science as something more than just words in a textbook but as a subject which might help them have a positive impact on the world.

How has being a student tutor helped you? 

The tutoring programme has renewed my hope and courage, especially during the pandemic when tutees had to adapt to the move online. Their excitement, the fact that they were looking forward to each session, and the fun we had while learning was truly inspiring and was often what made my day.

What's the best thing about being a student tutor? 

It is difficult to pinpoint only one best thing about being a tutor, but if I had to, it would definitely be seeing the students bear the fruits of their work. It’s the “Aha” moments when a tutee finally understands a concept. Or when after a few sessions they go from avoiding physics to asking if we could cover the subject the next week too. It’s the proud expressions on their faces when they tell you about how they achieved better than expected in a test.

[The tutees'] excitement, the fact that they were looking forward to each session, and the fun we had while learning was truly inspiring and was often what made my day."

How has COVID-19 impacted upon your tutoring? 

Due to COVID-19, we had to move the programme online. Suddenly, tutees could no longer benefit from the programme at school, straight after class. This created a few barriers. Special parental permission needed to be obtained to continue the sessions online and communication became more difficult. We also faced technological limitations as not everyone had access to a working computer. One day there was even a generalised internet outage! There were some issues with background noise as everyone was working from home and we also had to change our methods, like asking tutees to walk us through their thought process instead of being able to guess it from what they had written. However, the move online allowed us to make the sessions more interesting, with PowerPoint presentations or videos, and the resilience and enthusiasm of the tutees was truly inspiring.

What advice would you give to students considering taking part in tutoring/mentoring programmes? 

I can only speak for this specific programme but definitely go for it. All the tutors I have met are really friendly and love what they do. They are here to help you with anything and are eager to do so. True, it might be a bit daunting at first, especially now that the sessions are online, but after a few sessions you will adapt and have a fun time learning. What is there to lose?

Why are such tutoring programmes needed?

Although teachers do brilliant work at school, teaching is often very standardised and everyone could do with a little extra help, from straight A students who want to achieve the perfect score to those who see science and mathematics as a bunch of cryptic hieroglyphs. Also, schools often deal with a large number of students while tutoring programmes have a more focused approach, and can therefore tailor sessions to a student’s specific needs. In such programmes, students who are shy, who feel uncomfortable or who feel excluded in their school environment are given a chance to flourish. Tutees also have an opportunity, which they might not have otherwise, to talk with current students in engineering who could share their passion and reasons for choosing this specific career path.

UCL Engineering student tutors are featured on page 6 of the UCL East Engagement Report 2019/20.

With thanks to Dr Elpida Makrygianni and Garance Mourgaud. 

Links 

• Engineering (Electronic and Electrical) MEng programme page. 

Image 

• Credit: Aisha Sultana Begum Aullybux.