A Polish student has told an international audience that it was the “supportive, open and positive” atmosphere which led him to apply to De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
On the day the UK officially began the process of leaving the European Union, current and prospective students from Poland joined guests at an event held in the centre of Warsaw, explaining why they were choosing DMU.
Despite the referendum result last June and the subsequent year of political uncertainty about what Brexit will entail, DMU has seen a 29 per cent rise in applications from EU students – bucking an average 7.43 per cent fall across UK universities in the same period.
That includes an increase of 70 per cent from Polish students coming to DMU and to celebrate this – and answer questions about Brexit, Article 50 and the benefits of international education – DMU today held an event in the Polish capital, inviting potential students, higher education experts and the media.
In front of the assembled visitors, Michal Papala, BSc Media Production and President of DMU Polish Students Society told Ben Browne, Chief Operating Officer at DMU why it was he decided to study at DMU.
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He said: “My first step was to decide that I wanted to go a British university. Then I decided to choose DMU because I found them very supportive, open and positive about their diversity and the importance of their international values.
“If you’re thinking of going to DMU, I’d say to you: ‘Go for it’ – it was a life-changing decision for me.”
During the event, the audience heard speeches from Professor Dominic Shellard, Vice-Chancellor of DMU and Simon Gammell, director of the British Council Poland.
It is the second time in a year, DMU has visited the city, first doing so in July last year as part of its #LoveInternational series of engagements across European cities, taking a welcoming and reassuring message to potential students following the referendum decision.
Magda Blaszcxyk, who is applying to DMU and who attended the event in Warsaw, said: “DMU seems to me to be the most open and caring of universities for European students.
“Today they have shown us that there are a lot of opportunities for us. I feel much more confident about coming to a UK university and particularly to DMU. I feel that there will be someone there who I could talk to.”
During the visit, Polish DMU alumni were also invited to meet up and talk about how DMU played a part in helping them establish their careers.
Kamlesh Ghelani, now managing director of the Czech and Polish branch of multi-national retail giant M.H Alshaya Co. said: “I had really great time meeting up with everyone again.
“I’m pleased to be able to help DMU. I have some really special memories of my time studying there.”
Posted on Wednesday 29 March 2017