Wednesday 20 June 2018 12:20pm
Abbey College - Otago's postgraduate residential college - celebrated its 10th birthday last month with a dinner and masquerade ball.
New Zealand’s only fully catered postgraduate residential college last month celebrated its 10 year anniversary – with a special dinner followed by a masquerade ball.
"We are very clear that we are not just a ‘landing pad’ ... Abbey College is their home at Otago, not just a place they stay."
The University of Otago opened Abbey College in February 2008 after the University purchased the Dunedin hotel Abbey Lodge in 2007 and completed a major refurbishment to transform it into a College. It features 75 rooms, approximately half with ensuites, as well as generous communal and study spaces. Its former life as a hotel means there is a also swimming pool, sauna and spa on site.
Current Head of College (since February 2017) Luke Morrison says that in developing the College, the previous Heads were clear that Abbey College would be a community for postgraduates, “not just a place where people eat and sleep”.
“This is a very important component of the College and an aspect which I continue to uphold. We are very clear that we are not just a ‘landing pad’. Some residents do go on to live elsewhere, but the majority choose to stay for the duration of their Otago study. Abbey College is their home at Otago, not just a place they stay.”
With 75 rooms, approximately half with ensuites, as well as generous communal and study spaces, Abbey College is a lovely home for Otago postgraduate students.
This concept made it popular from the beginning, says the College’s first Head Gretchen Kivell (Head from late 2007 to June 2013).
Right from the start, the College had “a vibrant mix of New Zealand and international students of all ages, studying a wide range of subjects,” she says.
She says the evening buffet meal brought everyone together like a “large family” each night – a tradition that Mr Morrison says has continued through the years.
Ms Kivell says figuring out exactly how the College should operate was a challenge.
“Deputy Head John Seaton and I worked this out over time, in conjunction with our first residents. In fact it really took several years, and maybe it is still going on now.”
Ten years, three heads of College (from left) Dr Charles Tustin, Luke Morrison and Gretchen Kivell.
Clearly they hit on the right formula. The College currently houses residents from 36 countries – who have a shared commitment to study and to being part of a community.
“We currently do not have enough rooms for the demand,” Mr Morrison says.
“One of the really pleasing parts of the job is receiving applications from people who tell me that the reason they are applying is because they have been in touch with a current resident who has recommended it to them.”
Highlights over the years have included multiple marriages of Abbey couples, the naming of several of the College’s large common spaces after significant postgraduate students – including the Penseler common room after the person who gained the first PhD at the University of Otago, Dr Rudolph Penseler, and the di Menna reading room after the first woman PhD, Dr Margaret di Menna, who gained her degree in Microbiology in the early 1950s.
Ms Kivell says opening that room in 2011 with Dr di Menna present was a wonderful occasion.
"We both made lifelong friendships with people from all across the globe while we were there, and being able to talk with residents going through the same academic difficulties made the academic challenges easier to bear."
“At nearly 90 she flew from Hamilton to a small ceremony in the di Menna room at which she was welcomed by Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne. The function was attended by staff who had worked with her, and by women academics from her former department. Margaret di Menna was really delighted with the event and the honour afforded her by Abbey College.”
The College’s second Head, Dr Charles Tustin (Head from August 2103 to December 2016) says he is exceptionally proud of the College – and enjoyed seeing the friendships (and relationships) being formed between the residents, and the support they offered each other academically, socially and personally.
Bryce Peebles (from the USA) and Erin Bowkett (from New Zealand), now engaged, met when they lived at the College from 2013 to 2017.
"We started talking when I overheard Erin playing the violin with another resident,” Bryce explains. “The piece she was playing was a song from the movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky that my group of friends was about to watch. Due to this coincidence, I approached the musicians and invited them to watch the film."
The pair say they enjoyed their time at Abbey College, and were incredibly happy to see it reach the 10 year milestone.
“We both made lifelong friendships with people from all across the globe while we were there, and being able to talk with residents going through the same academic difficulties made the academic challenges easier to bear,” Erin says.
“The memories and experiences that we shared are treasured and talked about frequently. We still keep in touch with past and current residents, even though some have scattered across the world. We feel like we are part of a large international family that constantly keeps growing, and we are incredibly thankful for that. We are certainly proud to call ourselves ex-Abbey residents.”
Ten years so far - Otago's Abbey College is thriving.
Mr Morrison says the College has not only survived 10 years, but is thriving.
"[John Seaton] has been at the College since before the day it opened and has played a crucial role in creating and then nurturing the College culture and ensuring the College’s success."
“Postgraduate colleges are rare, but Abbey College has shown that there is a place for this kind of environment and the University is to be congratulated for backing up its commitment to postgraduate study and research by creating this College.”
He hopes it will continue to offer a happy home to a vibrant, diverse community of postgraduate residents well into the future.
He says being Head of Abbey College is a privilege, and “without doubt” the highlight of his career.
“I want to acknowledge the part the previous Heads played in developing the College and its community culture – my job has been easier because of what they developed. I also want to acknowledge my Deputy Head, John Seaton. He has been at the College since before the day it opened and has played a crucial role in creating and then nurturing the College culture and ensuring the College’s success.”