6 September 2010
University rolls out the welcome mat for 2010 freshers
Photo opportunity: 9am on Monday, September 6th. New students will throng the City Square before attending the Principal’s Welcome in the Caird Hall. The academic procession from City Chambers to Caird Hall will follow at 9.45am.
The University of Dundee will, on Monday, welcome around 3600 new undergraduate and postgraduate students to its community.
Prior to the 2010 intake embarking upon their studies, they descend upon the Caird Hall, where Professor Pete Downes, Principal of the University, Lord Provost John Letford and Craig Kelly, President of Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) will welcome them to the city and University.
The freshers comprise students from countries such as Nigeria, China, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Poland as well as undergraduates and postgraduates from the local area.
Professor Downes said he was proud to welcome thousands of students from around the world to the University.
Addressing the new intake, he said, 'My message today applies equally to everyone, You are now a member of our academic community and whether you’re a postgraduate or an undergraduate, home, EU or international, each person is, first and foremost, an equal and valued member of the University of Dundee.
'This is a University which I am immensely proud to lead and it is my aim that you will take pride in your time here. Our success is measured not just in academic terms, but in the impact we have in the real world of finite resources, economic regeneration, human health and cultural richness.
'I hope you too will take pride in your studies here and remain proud to be students and eventually, graduates, of this University. It is a university of opportunity where we emphasise two fundamental values - the merit of striving for success and the need for all students to realise their full academicpotential.
'As you proceed through your course of study, you will discover that the way you learn will be quite different from your earlier educational experiences. You will be expected to be more independent - to do more thinking for yourself, to challenge existing wisdom. May I wish you every success as you start your academic journey at the University of Dundee.'
DUSA President Craig Kelly said, 'The year ahead will be an exciting opportunity for students to meet lifelong friends and take decisions that will shape the rest of their lives.
'Freshers’ Week will be the students’ first chance to see what’s on offer and meet thousands of people from all over the world. My advice is to get involved at every stage with the wide range of opportunities we provide for our members.
'Regardless of the subject they study, I’d like to wish our new students the best of luck in everything they do at the University of Dundee, and their student association.'
Lord Provost Letford welcomed those who are set to swell Dundee’s population to the city, saying, 'The University and the city are increasingly becoming places where the brightest and best students from the UK and beyond choose to study.
'It is a source of pride for me to be representing the city at this event, and it is a great privilege to extend the hand of welcome to this new intake of young people. Hopefully this is only the beginning of a long term friendship that will bear fruit for everyone involved.'
Traditional Freshers’ week activities have been organised by DUSA, and a large number of enthusiastic student peer connectors will also be on hand to provide valuable help and advice to students as they settle into University life.
Meanwhile the PLUS@Dundee - short for Personal Learning for University Success at the University of Dundee - initiative has organised Welcome Week, a range of social, cultural, sporting and academic events to help all students to quickly and effectively become part of the University community, regardless of field of study, nationality or age.
PLUS@Dundee will continue to support students with further events enabling them to acquire the skills necessary to fulfil their potential at university and enhance the employability of graduates.
Further information is available at www.dundee.ac.uk/welcome2010 and www.dusa.co.uk/freshersweek2010.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
