Vineetha Helan Vinod

Profile

Unexpected mental and physical health challenges made Vineetha want to give up on her academic journey. From going through a difficult pregnancy to battling postpartum depression, our University assured her that her dream of graduating was achievable.

With the help of her tutors and the wellbeing staff, Vineetha is sharing her inspiring story in the hopes of helping someone else who is struggling and in need of some support.

Find out more about Vineetha’s story below.

What programme did you study and why did you choose it?

I studied MSc Business Psychology with Intercultural Communication because of its relevance in the present context. As we understand the world as a global village, multicultural organisations, cross-cultural communication, and intercultural interactions are important areas that demand attention.

As a student of language, who has worked in a multicultural context, this course has been an academic endeavour that helped me develop a varied perspective.

What impressed you about your learning experience at Heriot-Watt?

The cultural diversity on campus has been the most interesting aspect of my learning experience. I had the incredible opportunity to learn with individuals from various backgrounds, fostering great relationships, experiencing different cultures and understanding new perspectives.

What were the key differences you found between studying in your home country of India and Scotland/the UK?

There were multiple aspects that were different from studying in my home country, including the curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and feedback systems. But the most important difference that I benefited from is the inclusivity initiatives that gave me the privilege to pursue my academic and personal goals. Choosing to study with Heriot-Watt has helped me find a fine balance between my career and my family.

What support has been made available to you during your studies?

As an expecting mother experiencing challenges in terms of physical and mental health, there has been multiple instances where I felt that I had to give up on my studies. The support system at Heriot-Watt, especially the student wellbeing services, were empathetic and remarkably accommodating.

The student service centre and the visa team were professional, yet sensitive in their interactions. Throughout my pregnancy and postpartum recovery, the University remained accessible to me. The breastfeeding rooms, baby-changing facilities and accommodative attitude of the staff and students were important factors that helped me to cope with this pivotal transition period in my life.

How have the teaching staff supported your learning?

The teaching staff at Heriot-Watt have been really understanding and helpful, especially my personal tutor, Dr. Anna Sedda, who has been a constant source of support and guidance through my whole course.

The course leaders were very friendly and approachable, most of them were keen to offer extra support since I had missed a few lectures due to my health constraints. My dissertation supervisor, Dr. Lauren Potter, was very considerate and reassuring in her approach towards me.

I feel that the empathetic and inclusive attitude of the University staff has been very important in helping me achieve this academic milestone.

What are you planning to do after you graduate?

Communication has always been an area of interest and involvement for me. With the insights that I have gained from my previous engagement with Cultural Studies, I look forward to pursuing an interdisciplinary career in the future. I look forward to making a career in organisations that hold a multicultural community and contributing to the existing body of research.