HU-221L Technical Writing and Presentation Skills
Report
Submitted By:
2023-CH-05
2023-CH-39
2023-CH-49
2023-CH-55
2023-CH-63
Submitted To:
Mam Sadia Gondal
Date:
09/01/2025
Abstract:
The report gives an introduction about hostel life in general and then discusses the problem faced
by hostilities and specifically by UET hostel students. After discussing them it gives
suggestions how to improve them in a detailed and straightforward way. Lastly, conclusion is
made that by acting on these suggestions, by taking them as an advice, will have a long-lasting
effect on students as well as on university
Introduction:
Hostel life is an important part of education in college life and most importantly in university
life. In general hostel is a building or house consisting of many rooms, portions, kitchen, laundry,
bathroom and other basic equipment’s for living and where people from different areas are living
together sharing same rooms bathrooms and kitchen etc. for the sake of their studies or job.
Similarly, there are hostels in UET LAHORE and student from different cities come and live
there for completing their bachelors and master’s degree. Hostel life is generally considered the
World Being Your Oyster but factually is more or less a double-edged sword – it gives you
freedom and experience but also deal with challenges like homesickness, less personal privacy,
less comfort and many other notable challenges. Some of these extra challenges that are only
faced by uet students are discussed below with their solutions
Methodology:
Gave an overview to hostel life
Conducted a survey among hostilities
Discussed problems faced by them
Suggestions to improve those problems
Derived a conclusion
Problem faced by students:
As discussed above, hostel life in UET is also not easy and mostly students are struggling
for basic facilities like water issues, cleanliness, food quality, room infrastructure etc.
So, by conducting a survey among different hostel students we are explaining some of
common problems faced by students which are as follows:
1. Room insulation:
Insulation is an important part of a residing area specifically hostels but unfortunately, it
is overlooked in UET. there are dirty and old so-called carpets in room and some rooms
don’t even have carpets. Some have old (CHARPAIS) with no mattress or sheets on the
for better insulation from floor. Moreover, some windows have broken glasses and cannot
be closed. Lastly, doors are of cheap wood. There is no attention towards their insulation
by replacing them with better quality wood so that heat and noise insulation can be
increased.
Figure 1 : Percentage of Room Insulation in Hostel Rooms
As seen from the chart that more than 50% rooms are with bad insulations. while doing
the survey students were saying “rooms are extremely cold in winter while extremely hot
in summer”.
2. AC or heater facilitation:
Despite bad insulation, there are no heaters or AC in the rooms. Moreover, students are
also not allowed to have their own in the room, otherwise the RT or room cleaners would
create an issue over it.
Figure 2 : AC/Heater Accessibility in Hostel Rooms
The chart indicates that the use of ACs, heaters, and other basic electrical appliances is entirely
restricted in hostels, leaving students without options to manage room temperature.
3. Room space:
Access to warm water during winter is a fundamental requirement, but UET hostels fall short in
this aspect. Students often complain about the absence of functional water heaters, resulting in
cold water being the only option during freezing temperatures. This lack of warm water makes
routine activities such as bathing, washing clothes, and dishes highly inconvenient. Even when
heaters are present in some hostels, they are often broken or poorly maintained, leading to their
frequent unavailability. Students are forced to boil water manually or seek alternatives outside
the hostel, which is time-consuming and impractical.
Figure 3: Percentage of Adequate Room Space in Hostels
As can be seen that more than 48% rooms does not have enough space to accommodate a person
or some luggage etc. this is not good as some students don’t feel comfortable with s many
students and with little space.
4. Warm water in winter:
Access to warm water during winter is a fundamental requirement, but UET hostels fall short in
this aspect. Students often complain about the absence of functional water heaters, resulting in
cold water being the only option during freezing temperatures. This lack of warm water makes
routine activities such as bathing, washing clothes, and dishes highly inconvenient. Even when
heaters are present in some hostels, they are often broken or poorly maintained, leading to their
frequent unavailability. Students are forced to boil water manually or seek alternatives outside
the hostel, which is time-consuming and impractical.
Figure 4: Warm Water Availability in Hostels
The chart highlights that a significant percentage of hostels lack warm water facilities during
winter. Students reported facing severe discomfort due to this issue, with over 60% of
respondents stating that they had to rely on alternative, inconvenient methods such as boiling
water manually. Only a small fraction of hostels has reliable warm water systems, and even these
often suffer from maintenance issues.
5. Food Quality in Hostel Mess:
The quality of food provided in hostel messes is another major issue. Students often report that
the meals lack proper nutrition, taste, and variety. The food is sometimes undercooked or
overcooked, making it difficult to consume. Hygiene in the kitchen and dining areas is also
questionable, with reports of dirty utensils, unclean cooking areas, and the presence of pests.
These conditions not only affect the students' health but also lead to frequent complaints of food
poisoning, upset stomachs, and other health problems. Many students are compelled to eat
outside, increasing their financial burden.
Figure 5: Student Satisfaction with Hostel Mess Food
The chart reveals that more than 70% of students are dissatisfied with the quality of food served
in hostel messes. A majority cited concerns over poor hygiene, lack of variety, and substandard
cooking. Only a small percentage of students rated the food as acceptable, and even fewer
considered it to be of good quality. This underscores the urgent need for improvements in meal
preparation and cleanliness in hostel kitchens.
6. Cleanliness and Hygiene:
Maintaining cleanliness in the hostels is another pressing concern. Common areas such as
bathrooms, corridors, and kitchens are often left dirty and unattended for long periods.
Bathrooms frequently lack basic supplies like soap, tissue paper, and hand dryers. The cleaning
staff is either insufficient or not diligent enough to maintain hygiene standards. Accumulated
garbage in corridors and rooms adds to the unpleasant environment, leading to bad odors and the
presence of insects like cockroaches and mosquitoes
Figure 6: Cleanliness Levels in Hostels
The chart illustrates that approximately 65% of students found the cleanliness in their hostels to
be inadequate. Bathrooms, kitchens, and corridors were particularly problematic, with reports of
uncollected garbage and pest infestations. Only a small percentage of students reported their
living areas as clean or well-maintained, indicating the widespread nature of the issue.
7. Security Issues:
Security in hostels is not up to the mark, leading to concerns about the safety of both the students
and their belongings. Entry and exit points are often inadequately monitored, allowing
unauthorized individuals to enter the premises. Theft of personal belongings, including laptops,
mobile phones, and money, is a recurring issue. Additionally, there are limited security personnel
on duty, and the lack of surveillance cameras in critical areas like corridors and entry gates
worsens the problem. This lack of security not only puts students at risk but also creates a sense
of anxiety and mistrust.
Figure 7: Security Satisfaction Among Hostel Residents
The chart shows that nearly 55% of students feel that hostel security is inadequate. Common
complaints include theft, unmonitored entry points, and a lack of security personnel. Less than
20% of students reported feeling safe within hostel premises, highlighting a critical area for
improvement.
8. Load-Shedding:
Frequent load-shedding is a major issue in hostels, significantly disrupting students’ daily
routines and academic productivity. Power outages often last several hours, leaving students
without access to essential facilities such as lighting, fans, and charging points for their devices.
This is particularly problematic during study hours, as students are unable to use study lamps,
computers, or the internet to complete assignments or prepare for exams.
The situation becomes worse during summer, when the lack of fans or air conditioners makes
rooms unbearably hot, adding to the students’ discomfort. Emergency backup systems, such as
generators or inverters, are either unavailable or fail to cover all hostel blocks. Moreover,
students are not allowed to use personal power solutions like small inverters or portable fans,
leaving them with no alternatives during prolonged outages.
Figure 8: Impact of Load-Shedding on Hostel Life
9. Internet Connectivity:
Reliable internet connectivity is a basic necessity for students, especially in today’s digital age.
However, UET hostels often suffer from slow, unstable, or completely unavailable internet
connections. This issue disrupts students’ ability to attend online classes, submit assignments, or
conduct research for academic projects. Even when Wi-Fi is available, it is frequently overloaded
due to the high number of users, resulting in extremely slow speeds. Many students are forced to
purchase personal data packages, which adds to their expenses.
The chart reveals that over 70% of students are dissatisfied with the internet services in hostels.
Many reported frequent disconnections, slow speeds, or complete unavailability. Only a small
fraction of students found the internet reliable, which highlights the need for improved
connectivity infrastructure.
[Link] Facilities:
Laundry facilities in hostels are either unavailable or poorly managed. The limited number of
washing machines often results in long waiting times, forcing students to either wash their
clothes by hand or seek expensive external laundry services. Moreover, the machines that are
available are often out of order or not cleaned regularly, leading to hygiene concerns. The lack of
drying areas further complicates the situation, especially during the rainy season when drying
clothes becomes nearly impossible.
Figure 10: Availability of Functional Laundry Facilities
The chart shows that nearly 65% of students face issues with laundry facilities in hostels.
Complaints include broken washing machines, long waiting times, and insufficient drying areas.
Only 15% of students rated the laundry facilities as adequate, indicating a significant gap in this
basic service.
[Link] of Badminton or Table Tennis Courts:
Recreational and sports facilities are essential for maintaining students' physical health and
mental well-being, but UET hostels severely lack proper sports infrastructure such as badminton
courts or table tennis tables. Most hostels either have no such facilities or the existing ones are in
poor condition. Students have also expressed frustration at having no designated areas for such
activities, forcing them to either forgo recreation or travel off-campus to access sports facilities,
which adds to their expenses and time management challenges.
Figure 11: Availability of Badminton and Table Tennis Courts in Hostels
The chart demonstrates that over 84% of hostilities say that they lack adequate badminton courts or table
tennis facilities. Among the remaining hostels that have such provisions, nearly half reported that the
equipment or courts were in poor condition and barely usable. Only a small percentage of hostels were
found to have fully functional sports facilities, underscoring the need for improvement in this area to
ensure students have access to recreational activities.
12. Availability of Masjids/Prayer Rooms:
Prayer facilities are essential for students to practice their religious obligations, but many hostels
lack designated spaces such as a masjid or prayer room. The absence of a prayer room forces
some students to perform their prayers in unsuitable spaces, such as their rooms or outdoor areas,
which can be inconvenient and uncomfortable. In hostels where there is a prayer space, it might
be too small, poorly maintained, or located far from certain blocks, reducing its accessibility for
some students. Moreover, a small percentage of students feel that hostels must establish proper
prayer spaces to promote inclusivity and accommodate their spiritual needs effectively.
The chart shows that 88% of hostels have a masjid or prayer room available for students.
However, 8% of respondents believe that there must be a prayer room in their hostel, suggesting
either its absence or inadequacy. Meanwhile, 4% of the respondents confirmed that their hostels
lack such facilities. These statistics highlight the importance of ensuring well-maintained and
accessible prayer spaces in all hostels to meet the spiritual needs of students.