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UEL welcomes thousands of new students at First Week

Tuesday 22 September 2009

First Week Crowd

Thousands of new students were welcomed by an exciting programme of First Week events at the University of East London (UEL) as they enrolled as part of the Freshers Fayre activities from 21 – 25 September at both the Docklands and Stratford campuses.

Students from across the UK and worldwide took up residence in the UEL Student Village at Royal Albert Dock. The packed programme of events included music, dance and carnival performances.

Live music played throughout the week and a number of external companies offered free advice and freebies. UEL was also promoting healthy eating initiatives including free goodie bags packed with tasty, healthy snacks at the Wellbeing stall on the Trading Floor when students enrolled.

Jacqueline Bourne, Student Activities Organiser at the UEL Students' Union (UELSU), said: "Coming to university can be quite challenging for new students - especially those leaving home for the first time, so we try to break the ice and make everyone feel as welcome as possible.

"UELSU offers a vast range of clubs and societies, inspiring students to get involved in everything from rugby and hockey to salsa and capoeira, or volunteering with a range of local and international organisations."

For sporty students, there were a variety of demonstrations including football, basketball and rugby and a portable running track from Newham Athletics Club. 

Brian Hipkin, Head of Student Services at UEL, said: "University is a great place to be and an extraordinary experience that helps many students grow and learn more about life. We are proud of the diversity at UEL and we welcome everyone new here and wish them every success on their chosen programmes and in adapting to university life.”

Around 400 new students were also welcomed by UEL’s International Office and more are on the way. Many participated in the free Welcome Programme which ran from Wednesday 16th September to Sunday 20th September. Students took part in activities such as drumming and tai chi and were treated to a day out in Central London and a boat trip from Greenwich. There were plenty of opportunities for students to network and familiarise themselves with the campus.

For further of information about the hundreds of degree programmes and combinations available at UEL, call 020 8223 2194 or visit www.uel.ac.uk/combined

UEL currently has a record total of over 21,000 students enrolled – an increase of more than 80% over the past six years.

Students enjoying First Week at UEL include:

International student, Raghav Gundavelli, 23 is from Hyderabad, India. He is living in East Ham and will be studying for a MSc in Computer Systems Engineering. He said: “I’ve heard that UEL is a very modern university and that was really appealing. It’s good to be here as it’s the first time I’ve ever left India so I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to meeting new people.”

Muhebo Ahmed, 35, from Brockley. She will be studying for a BA Honours combined Youth and Community studies with Psychology. Muhebo said: “I chose this course because it’s an unusual one and I like the combination. I’ve met the relevant academics and I’ve been impressed. I just finished studying for a 2 year diploma at Goldsmiths also in Youth and Community and after this course, I’d like to go for a MSc in Psychology.”

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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