Orientation Week 2023: A Warm Welcome to International Students

5.10.2023

Another edition of Orientation Week took place from the 25th to 29th of September. It was organized for the first year students commencing English Division programs of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy as well as for the participants of the Erasmus+ international exchange program. This academic year, our university welcomed nearly 130 international students who came from over 20 different countries including the Philippines, India, Iran, Ireland, Canada, Morocco, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Australia, Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Kenya, Korea, Gambia, and Rwanda.

Orientation Week was packed with various activities. Newly arrived students had the chance to get familiar with the MUG campus. Some of the senior students acted as guides, showing them around the most important locations around our university. On Thursday, freshmen took part in a guided tour of Gdańsk, which was sponsored by the Marshal’s Office of Pomeranian Voivodeship. Some of the most interesting spots during the tour included: Góra Gradowa, Westerplatte, Brzeźno beach, and the Old Town.

During the first Freshman Seminar, students were welcomed by prominent university figures such as Dr. Habil. Tomasz Smiatacz, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Dr. Habil. Agnieszka Zimmermann, Assoc. Prof. Vice-Rector for Quality of Education, Prof. Maria Dudziak, Rector’s Plenipotentiary for Admission and International Relations, and Dr. Habil. Sławomir Wójcik, Head of the Recruitment Department.

Welcome Point coordinators organised a series of events and lectures with a police representative, university legal advisor, library staff, head of the dormitories, and other university units. In addition, representatives from the student organizations such as STN, Resource Team, SLF, IFMSA, ANSA, SASS, Phi Delta Epsilon, NMF, and Medhum gave insight into the activity of their organizations and gave the newcomers advice to ease them into the academic life and explain the challenges of living in a foreign country.

During the preparation and the execution of the event, Welcome Point’s coordinators, Marzena Kołtoniak and Emilia Wiśniewska, were supported by several units of the university including Department of International Relations, Admissions Office, Student Campus, Center of Competence Development, Integrated Care and e-Health, Main Library, International Alumni Relations Office, Department of Promotion, Communication Unit, and Legal Advicers Team.

The tutors of the English Division programs, Narcyz Knap, Ph.D., Tomasz Wasilewski, Ph.D. and Katarzyna Gross-Issajewicz, M.A. introduced students to the university extranet system and presented other lecturers during the first Pedagogical Council meeting. Throughout the week, students had a chance to participate in Polish lessons conducted by teachers from Department of Foreign Languages. They also had to go through a series of medical examinations. On Wednesday, a formal Induction Ceremony was held.

Orientation Week ended with a barbeque event which took place at the student dormitory area on Saturday, where everyone could taste delicious Polish snacks.

photo Paweł Sudara, Jerome Joseph/MUG