The Newcastle upon Tyne MP, Chi Onwurah, took the opportunity to provide a warm welcome to all the new students: "You have picked a wonderful city in which to study," detailing how Newcastle is "a unique, exciting place to live, and I hope you make the most of all it has to offer." She took the time to describe the rich culture of the city, from the variety of shops and dining options the city centre has to offer, to the incredible success of Newcastle United Football Club and the long-lasting imprint it has made on the city's identity.
Naomi Oosman-Watts, the Director of Student Success, spoke about how the university "wants to make sure that you get the support that you need" regarding concerns such as making friends and settling in to student life. She mentioned the importance of taking advantage of the help and support that peer mentors can provide you, as well as the support the university provides students with in finding part-time jobs, especially through the Jobs on Campus scheme.
Naomi spoke to us before the event about Newcastle University's overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia, and how they attempt to align their student experiences to ensure all students within the network have access to the services they need. This involves providing each university with things like project support funds, financially backing students' ideas on an international scale. She also told us about how the university has helped support students through their concerns regarding moving away from home, sending out a newsletter which addressed the biggest concerns new students have asked for help with. She also informed us about the app Umii, which allows international students to meet and make new friends before they get started in Newcastle.
Education Officer Jasmine Banks and Postgraduate Officer Linming Sun attended the event in representation of NUSU to speak on the wide range of services the Students' Union has to offer. Jasmine directed attendees to the support section of their website, which gives help and guidance regarding the Cost of Living Crisis, housing and where to look for advice within the union. Linming gave a rundown of the selection of societies NUSU has to offer, from the many sports societies to ones specific to individual interests. She mentioned volunteering services such as Go Volunteer and Give It a Go, as well as the different branches of Student Media. More information regarding all of these can be found on NUSU's website, as well as their Instagram account @newcastlesu.
We caught up with the Activities Officer Swati Subramaniam in the NUSU building afterwards to talk about the freshers' week events that are on offer next week for international students. The team will be running a list of activities including bubble tea and pasta making workshops, city tours and bubble football to name a few, as well as a selection of evening and night-time events. We also discussed the best opportunities across campus for students to take advantage of, including the choice of societies that cover almost every interest you could think of. She spoke about how cultural and religious societies can help new students find friends with similar backgrounds to themselves, as well as the more hobby-oriented societies where you can meet like-minded people who share your interests and pastimes.
