"Meeting the students is the best part of my job"
Meet CBH's Administrative Support
"To feel that a student who was just sad and depressed leaves my room with a sense of hope – that's probably the best part of my job!" So says Maria Orgmets, Education Officer and Master Coordinator at the CBH School.
Maria Orgmets is a master coordinator and education officer at the CBH School and is responsible for the master's programmes in chemistry and biotechnology. She also works with some administration regarding independent courses within Lifelong Learning.
As master coordinator, Maria Orgmets acts as a study counsellor for the students on the master's programmes at Valhallavägen, AlbaNova and the master's programme Molecular Techniques in Life Science offered by Stockholm Trio.
This may involve helping students with questions about entry requirements, choosing which courses to take and planning to get the right number of credits during the different study periods. It can also be students who want a study certificate or have questions about visas. But sometimes she also needs to provide support in other ways.
“Students can come to me who are not feeling well, who feel lonely and who have no family or friends in Stockholm. It is sometimes a big contrast to come from another country and study in Sweden, where the study programme is slightly different. International students are often used to lectures and memorising things. Here we have a lot of projects and group work. For some students, this can be a clash and it can be difficult to handle a different form of study than what they are used to.
Hectic pace
The mailbox is always full and it can be hectic, especially during application periods, the start of term and when it's time to register for courses. Not everyone is aware that you have to apply for autumn and spring courses – or they have missed the application deadline. Then Maria must step in and help.
“I answer a lot of emails. Right now, for example, many students are applying for their degree project and need help to see if they are eligible. If the questions are more complex, I usually book the students for a meeting, either in person or on Zoom. It is so much easier to help them if we sit down together and talk.”
There is sometimes a lot of administration – lists to be compiled, information to be sent, welcome letters to be sent and students to be admitted to courses. She also receives many questions from programme managers, teachers, and colleagues. As she puts it herself, it is not surprising that there are many questions when you have worked at KTH for over 13 years.
Meeting the students
But the best part of the job is meeting the students.
“To feel that a student who was just sad and dejected leaves my room with a sense of hope – that's probably the best part of my job! The contact with students is by far the most enjoyable part of being a Master's coordinator. To feel that I am there for them and how much they appreciate that.”
“Another good thing about this job is that the tasks are so varied. One day I have conversations with students, the next I sit in a webinar for prospective international students or have a meeting with KI and SU, which we collaborate with, or coordinate the CBH School's efforts at the Master's Fair. Also, I have so many good colleagues that I enjoy working with, which is very important if you want to enjoy going to work.”
Text: Åsa Karsberg