It’s great to welcome our new students to the ICMAC – BSc, MSc, & PhD.

The first couple of weeks is really disorientating for most of them – new processes, technology, culture, people, and for the majority in their second, third or fourth language.

Of course quite a few of the students have been on campus during the summer studying pre-sessional English, and not only have they improved their language skills, they’ve also become used to the UK, the town and the Uni. These students, and returning students, are now in de facto leadership positions – they can, and are, helping the newbies settle into their new lives.

Helping in this way is the ‘nice’ thing to do, but it’s also giving the students the chance to demonstrate their transferable skills – leadership, communication, coordination, planning, team working, etc – and these types of skill are as important to their future employers as the technical skills and academic knowledge that they are here to acquire.

So, if you find yourself in the position to help someone adjust to their new life then do so – you’re helping yourself too.