2 September 2011

Principal welcomes new University intake

Photo opportunity: 9am on Monday, 5th September at City Square. New students will assemble ahead of 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 next week welcome around 3500 new undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Before the 2011 intake get down to the serious business of studying, they will attend a special event at Caird Hall on Monday, 5th September, when Professor Pete Downes, Principal of the University, Lord Provost John Letford and Iain Kennedy, President of Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) will welcome them to the city and University.

As well as locally based students, freshers from across the globe will be embarking upon their academic career at Dundee, which was last week shortlisted in the University of the Year category of the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards 2011.

Professor Downes said it gave him great pleasure each year to greet thousands of students from around the world.

Addressing the new intake, he said, 'Many of you are local to Dundee, and many also come from other parts of the UK and from overseas. Some of you are about to begin undergraduate study while others are taking a further academic step into postgraduate study. You are all now members of our academic community - equal and valued members of the University of Dundee.

'Our success as a University 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 will take pride in your studies here and remain proud to be students and eventually, graduates, of this University.

'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 and to challenge existing wisdom.

'The University is a dynamic place pulsating with life and the achievement of its staff and students. We have a vital role to play in the cultural life and economic well-being of the city which is transformed by the return of our student population.

'For you as new students, I trust that you will enjoy this week - the day and evening Welcome Week activities, the DUSA social events and the Sports’ Union Fayre.

We value lifelong relationships with our students, from their first enquiry, throughout their studies, and their future lives as alumni. As you begin your academic journey at the University of Dundee I wish you every success.'

DUSA President Iain Kennedy said, 'University is one of life's great experiences. You will be enjoying the opportunity to study and learn a subject which you love, take part in activities and events that you may never again be able to, and have the best years of your life while doing so.

'This years Freshers' Week is the best we have ever organised. During this time you will meet a diverse range of people, some will become life long friends, others will inspire and motivate you to expand your horizons. I highly encourage you all to step out of your comfort zone and get involved in the myriad of student societies, events and activities here.

'I'd like to wish you all our congratulations and the best of luck for the coming years.'

Lord Provost Letford welcomed both local students and those from further afield, 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.

In addition, the University’s Academic Achievement Teaching Unit 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.

Further information is available at www.dundee.ac.uk/welcome and www.dusa.co.uk/freshers.

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