They are members of the project “Exchange of experiences around the start of study and student integration”, where students who work with student integration on different universities exchange experiences and ideas, with the aim of improving how we welcome new students at our universities.
The project was awarded seed funding from the Circle U. seed funding scheme.
“It has been an enriching experience to see how other universities welcome new students,” says Hans-Henrik Sztuk Teut, Mat/Fys-Tutorforeningen, Aarhus University.
There were two main findings they all agreed on.
One challenge
The first is a common challenge that all of the universities struggle with; how to integrate international students with local students. It seems like we do not organize enough events where international students and local students meet. International students are often well integrated at the university, but they are mostly in contact with other international students. This is often due to the fact that events at the start of studies often are divided between local and international students, and are rarely are coordinated. Here's room for thinking differently.
And one success
The second main finding is something that all have had success with: That new students are welcomed by other students, and that those who work with reception and student integration are students themselves. A challenge here is to get experienced students to work with this if it is voluntary.
"It was helpful and interesting to learn about how the University of Oslo and Aarhus University structure their welcome events and integrate experienced students into this process to support new students," concludes Josefine Anghelescu from Humboldt.
What happens next?
The participants agreed that it was very fruitful to meet and share experiences, and that there's untapped potential in the project. More universities could be involved and administrative staff working with mobility and exchange could also take part.
