Students from all over the world were given a warm welcome to DMU at the International Students Welcome Event on campus.
Organised by the university’s dedicated international student welfare team, the event saw more than 100 students register from 26 countries including Angola, the Czech Republic and Kenya.
Adil Waraich, President of De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU) said: “This event represents two of the core values for DMU and DSU, equality and diversity. I am really pleased to see such a diverse crowd tonight. International students add both flair and excitement to the university. We value them dearly.”
DSU Steppers and the Bollywood Society greeted the new students with performances, followed by welcome speeches and a buffet.
Nigerian student Victoria Luke Faafa has just started DMU’s MSc Information Management. She said: “It is an exciting experience. I am just starting but I know I will have a good time. There are lots of lovely people and I am looking forward to getting know more about other cultures and Leicester.”
Salah Maswoud, a PhD student from Libya, joined the event in his role as an international student buddy, helping those who have just arrived from overseas settle into life at DMU.
He said: “I like helping people. The International Student Buddy Scheme is a really good idea and I want to share this idea back home.”
One student, Georgio Pessina from Italy, has returned to the university on the MSc International Business and Finance after studying as an undergraduate at DMU with Erasmus the previous year. He said: “I want to create international networks for the future in business and in life and this is the perfect place for me to achieve this. The opportunities that DMU is giving me are unique.”
More than 130 international students have just started courses at DMU including with the university’s Leicester International Pathway College (LIPC).
The college, which opened in June, is providing pathways for international students who need additional support to qualify for entry to DMU degree programmes.
LIPC student Valentin Valev from Bulgaria is on the International First Year with Engineering. He said: “I have been in the UK for four weeks and I have made a lot of friends already. I am improving my language skills all the time.
“I am happy and excited to be at DMU. Every day is filled with good emotions and everyone is very friendly."
Identical twins from Saudi Arabia arrived here to start their International Foundation Certificate in Business with LIPC. One of the twins Hassan Banafa said: “We are happy here. It is good to meet other people, enjoy the food and practise our English.
"Even though I have been in the UK for one year, since I joined DMU, it is the first time I have been to events like this.”
Posted on Friday 30 January 2015