Five Qs about you and TMU: KK Khosa

This interview is with a student from a faculty that I have a bit of experience with, The Creative School. Through my former program, Professional Communication, I only got a taste of what the faculty had to offer, so I was very glad to have a chat with KK. Now in his fourth year of Graphic Communications Management (GCM) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), he reflects back on his time at The Creative School, and the many opportunities the faculty and program have offered him. 

Isabel: Can you describe your program to me in one sentence?

KK: It’s really innovative, hands-on and practical, and it’s super multidisciplinary — that’s what GCM is. 

I: Why did you choose to study at TMU?

K: I feel like TMU is really, really focused on hands-on experience. We have the proximity and space for opportunities in terms of internships and where we can go after graduation. One thing I like about GCM is that we focus on our industry partners. They show up at our internship fairs and job fairs, and even some of our program-specific scholarships are granted by them. GCM is really connected to the industry. 

Another thing that's really great about TMU is that a lot of our professors are currently working in the industry, so they have tons of experience. One of my professors used to be a packaging engineer for Samsung. The stuff that they learn, they share that knowledge with us.

I: Can you tell me about any experiential learning you’ve participated in? What other opportunities are you looking forward to?

K: From the first semester of GCM we do a lot of class projects. Some use 3D printers, others get really hands-on with machinery and equipment. From the first semester up until the end of fourth year, there’s tons of hands-on experience in GCM. 

Like I mentioned, we had an internship fair where we could interview face-to-face with employers. That was super valuable. GCM has those industry connections and partnerships, and those hands-on learning experiences and opportunities. They really focus on that — it’s a massive priority in our program. 

Another thing we have in GCM is “connect and collect points.” A lot of our professors will take us to industry events like the Packaging Expo and print innovation seminars.

I: What is your favourite thing that you have experienced on campus?

K: There's a lot of wellness events on campus — any time I walk into the Student Learning Centre (SLC) there are different expos and events. 

Since I started working on campus as a student ambassador, I’ve also enjoyed learning about the Zones that we have, like the DMZ (opens in new window) , the DME (opens in new window) . Even if you’re not in a business program at TMU, you can really learn a lot about entrepreneurship and innovation through Zone Learning. No matter what program you’re in, Zone Learning offers countless opportunities.

I: What advice would you give someone who is starting their research about which university or program they want to pursue?

K: I would say really look into student support. At TMU there is tons of student support to help when you’re transitioning from high school to university. There was free tutoring and drop-ins before midterms and exams for some of the business courses I was taking. TMU really takes a holistic approach to student life so that you're not just successful in school, but throughout your entire life. 

When you’re at TMU, you’re not just starting university, you might also be learning to live in downtown Toronto — you’re making a massive transition. When you’re doing your research, make sure the schools offer a lot of student support. That's one of the things that definitely separates us from others. The people that work here are really passionate about taking care of your mental health. 

Thank you so much to KK for letting me interview him! If Graphic Communications Management sounds like the path for you, visit our How to Apply page to get your application started.

That’s all from me! Stay tuned for more interviews with TMU students.

Talk to you soon,

Isabel