Madison Soutar was part of a very special bunch of 18-year-olds. Beginning uni in 2018 at Victoria University, she was part of the first cohort of students to study within VU’s Block Model – also an Australian first.
Madison Soutar started uni in 2018 with the VU Block Model.
First year of uni and the VU Block Model
“Madison was my first child to start university. People might not realise it can also be a very daunting experience for the parent,” says Sharon.
VU’s Block Model is alleviating those fears for first-year students and their families, setting them up for future success.
“The Block Model ensured Madison received one-on-one attention from teaching staff and the support from her classmates,” says Sharon. “I knew that if Madison found her first year of uni relatively stress free, she would be more inclined to succeed and gain more satisfaction from her studies.”
Through the globally-successful ‘block mode’ learning structure, students complete one subject at a time before moving on to the next – all in a smaller, workshop-style class setting. And with a focus on hands-on learning and gaining skills for the workforce, students become more confident and attractive to employers.
Bachelor of Exercise Science (Clinical Practice) student Madison says:
“VU's Block Model is a great idea to help first year students adjust to uni life,” she says. “I’ve told my friends [attending other unis] about it and they actually sounded a bit jealous!”
Madison Soutar (right) with her mother, Sharon Walker (left).
