Thursday, 24 October 2019
City's universities, councils and businesses unite to greet international students
Almost 500 international students travelling from more than 80 countries around the globe to study at Nottingham’s two world-class universities have been given a warm welcome at the first ever civic reception to mark their arrival in their new home.
The pioneering event was jointly organised by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University in partnership with Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, local businesses including Paul Smith and Nottingham Forest and was kindly supported by Kaplan International Pathway.
Hosted by Robin Hood, the event at St Mary's Church in the city had a festival feel and featured performances from local artists, international societies and celebrated the vital contribution made by international students to the local economy, community and cultural richness of Nottingham. A marketplace featuring stalls and tasters from nearly 40 businesses and local organisations showcased the cultural, heritage and leisure highlights that Nottingham and the wider region offers to the nearly 14,000 international students currently studying at both universities, as well as their families and friends who might visit them during their time in the UK.
The University of Nottingham prides itself on being an institution whose global outlook, connections and reputation provide real and tangible benefits for our local community, economy and people of Nottingham.
Professor West added: "With Brexit continuing to dominate the news at home and abroad, it’s more important than ever that the universities work with civic institutions, businesses and local communities to ensure Nottingham is seen as a fantastic place to visit, live and study.
“We know that our University’s international students alone provide a boost of more than £130 m every year to the British economy, but the impact they make goes so much further than the economic benefits for our city – they bring cultural diversity and become integral and valued members of our local communities. We don’t want Nottingham to be just a place of study for them, we want it to be a home from home, somewhere they will make friends, memories and return to in the future.”
Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, said: “We are privileged that so many young people from around the world, brimming with vitality, energy and talent, choose to bring their skills and ambitions to Nottingham. Just as they come here to learn, make friends and build new life experiences, so too the qualities that our international students bring will touch the lives of all of us and immeasurably enrich our City, our universities and our colleges.”
Around 475 students from both universities and the Kaplan Pathways Colleges connected to each institution were welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Rosemary Healey and Vice-Chancellors of both universities.
The inaugural event, which is hoped to become an annual fixture in the city’s calendar, was also attended by around 75 guests from local institutions, businesses, sports clubs and international diplomatic missions.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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