100 accredited courses. 9,000 students. 1 common room which rivals Google in terms of coolness.
Dublin Business School have been offering accredited courses in business, arts, law, psychology, IT and film for a number of years, but now they’ve something else to offer the student body: a social life to rival the other Dublin third-level colleges.
At the centre of this social sphere is the new DBS common room, which is set to rival even the best social-work spaces in Dublin.
Here we interview the man behind this ambitious project, Student Experience Leader, Adam Crowther.
So Adam, word on the street is that DBS Common Room is the place to be. Why?
Our Student Common Area is a really nice space. It’s very colourful and inviting . It is a relaxing space for our students outside of their class time and has everything that a student could possibly need to stay entertained.
We have table tennis, pool, FIFA, Mario Kart, Giant Jenga, Twister, as well as music on the jukebox throughout the day.
So why is the DBS Common Area better than Googles?
I asked one of our students this very question and this was his reply – “If I worked in Google I wouldn’t go into the office on my days off. I come to DBS every day just to hang out. This guys beside me is here too and he doesn’t start class until next week. We just love it here! Hanging out, seeing all of our friends, and doing what we like to do.
What’s your own role at DBS?
My current role is the Student Experience Leader of the college. It’s high energy, all go, customer service, student friendly, facilitation every day of the week, as well as trying to get all of the required admin done.
When the students are happy they thank you. When the staff see the students happy they thank you. A little goes a long way in this industry. I’m the ultimate middle man.
What’s the best thing about the area?
The grass! I had this mad idea at the start of this project to get luxurious indoor grass to cover a large section of the student common area. I can’t image how the CEO felt when I asked for funding for indoor grass.
Luckily for me the college backed my idea and the gamble paid off. The students literally treat this area like the Trinity College students would treat College Park during the summer exam period.
Another thing that I do love about this area is just seeing college life take place in front of your office.
I could walk in and see a student asleep on a beanbag from a long nights work for a deadline or else I could go in and see some students dancing to music having fun. A couple of the students were dancing in the common room before Christmas and they taught me a dance called the Stanky Leg (yes this is an actual song) and the Nae Nae too. College is just a crazy place! Theres always something happening.
How long has it taken you to make it so alluring?
It has been a long road getting everything up and running to the standards that we need it at. The biggest challenge has been changing the mind-set of the student community who treated the college as an express third level institute during their studies.
My job is simply to facilitate the students while they make the most of their experiences with us. The guys really love the area as they feel it’s a home away from home.
This is a place where they are relaxed, can be themselves, do what they feel and most of all surround themselves with like minded people. This is a real hub for their social development I feel.
Who would be your favourite people to hang out with there?
Our Students Union are just incredible. I always feel great joy when they come into the office and just have some casual small talk with the team.
They have great ideas and they are really working to making a change among the student community. I owe them a thanks, because I forgot to thank them for their help at the recent Christmas Ball. They canned me for it. We have a team of 10 who are Kim, George, Lexi, Irah, Lucy, Luana, Merci, Schindler, Nik and Rachel.
You look like you have a right laugh, but it also looks like you’re aware of social problems out there, like drugs and alcohol, can you tell us about some of those initiatives?
Of course. The student environment in Ireland today is more diverse and problematic than ever. We still do have a lot of issues that occur within our student community, we aren’t perfect.
Things like substance abuse, sexual and mental health issues are still prevailing problems with our student community, as well as the various issues related to living in the city centre today.
But I’d like to think that our strong community spirit at DBS does help with some of the above issues. Students don’t feel isolated they feel safe and happy. There are people always around who are willing to talk, give each other support and questions can be answered quicker.
Why is DBS the place to be overall?
To me DBS is a globalised college with some really career focused courses that still has that Irish feel to it. I love the mix of students that we have here, they really add to the momentum of our Student Experience. Student Life at DBS really is whatever you want it to be.
This article was brought to you by Dublin Business School. For full details on all the fantastic courses they have on offer, click here.
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