The Academic Literacies Studio grew out of a question I have often reflected on while working with university students: how do students learn the practices that help them succeed and thrive in academic life?

Students enter university with curiosity, motivation, and a desire to engage deeply with new ideas. As they move through their courses, they encounter academic texts, assignments, and evolving expectations, gradually learning how scholars read, write, ask questions, and develop ideas within their fields. These practices—interpreting complex texts, shaping arguments, engaging with sources, and developing research questions—are central to university learning and often develop through experience, mentorship, and participation in academic communities.

The studio was created to offer students an additional layer of support, where they can explore these practices more intentionally alongside their academic work. Through collaborative discussion and guided practice, students work through academic questions together—interpreting assignments, engaging with scholarly writing, and developing their ideas—while reflecting on how their learning connects to future research and professional pathways.

At its heart, the Academic Literacies Studio is designed to complement the work already happening in classrooms and departments, creating opportunities for students to deepen their engagement with the intellectual practices that define university learning and academic inquiry.

My hope is that the Academic Literacies Studio helps students navigate the university experience with greater confidence while also recognizing themselves as participants in the broader intellectual communities that universities nurture and sustain.

Dr. Nirmala Narayan
Founder, Design2Defense