Monday, 21 October 2019
As Brexit looms, city unites 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 are to be given a warm welcome at the first ever civic reception to mark their arrival in their new home.
The pioneering event is being 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 is kindly supported by Kaplan International Pathway.
Hosted by Robin Hood, the event will feature performances from local artists, international societies and will celebrate 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 will showcase the cultural, heritage and leisure highlights that Nottingham and the wider region can offer 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.
Home from home
She 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.”
'Festival feel'
Around 475 students from both universities and the Kaplan Pathways Colleges connected to each institution will attend the Welcome to Nottingham inaugural Nottingham international student civic reception from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Wednesday 23 October at St Mary’s Church in the city centre.
The inaugural event, which is hoped to become an annual fixture in the city’s calendar, will also be attended by around 75 guests from local institutions, businesses, international diplomatic missions and the media.
They will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Rosemary Healey and Vice-Chancellors of both universities, while the proceedings will be overseen by none other than Robin Hood.
Offering a festival feel, the church will be filled with an array of market stalls from companies including Kiehls, Trent Barton, Five Leaves Bookshop, Pudding Pantry, Doughnotts, Annie’s Burger Shack, Barburrito and Rough Trade.
The city’s cultural opportunities will be represented by organisations including Dance4, Nottingham Young Creatives, UNESCO City of Literature, Creative Quarter and Visit Nottingham.
Sporting highlights
The city’s strong sporting reputation will also be highlighted with stalls from Nottingham Rugby, Nottingham Wildcats Basketball and the National Ice Centre, with Nottingham Forest Football Club and its famous Robin Hood mascot generously providing international students with complimentary tickets to attend that evening’s match against Hull, as part of a wider effort to encourage students to the City to support the club in their push for promotion to the Premier League.
Forest Chairman, Nick Randall QC said: “Nottingham Forest are delighted to be involved in such an important event for the City. We recognise the role the club has to play within the local community, and it is an honour to welcome students from all over the world to Nottingham.
“We are hopeful that many of the students are able to attend the match later that evening and experience a match day at The City Ground. We pride ourselves on an inclusive atmosphere within our stadium and I am sure those that attend will enjoy the occasion and return for future matches.”
A taste of Nottingham
Guests will also be given a flavour of the best food that Nottingham has to offer – George’s Great British Kitchen will be providing their famous fish and chips, candyfloss and traditional British sweets. Entertainment will be provided by student societies at the Students’ Unions from both universities – hip hop group Funky Fresh and Latin dance (Nottingham Trent) and Tamil and Bengali music and dancing (The University of Nottingham).
Finally, students attending the event will also be in with a chance of receiving an invitation to an exclusive after event reception at the Nottingham flagship store of international fashion designer Paul Smith.
Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “Students play such an important role in shaping Nottingham as the culturally-diverse and inclusive city of which we are all so proud.
“It’s important that international students feel welcome and that Nottingham becomes a second home for them as quickly as possible. The civic reception in their honour is a way to meet each other, celebrate cultural identities – which offer so much to our city – and begin to show them what a great place this is to work, study and socialise.”
Managing Director of Kaplan International Pathways, Linda Cowan said: “Kaplan International Pathways is delighted to support this inaugural event which demonstrates the commitment of the City of Nottingham, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University to welcoming international students as they start on their higher education journeys in the UK. The city boasts many attractions for international students and this type of event will encourage students to develop links with the City that will often last for many years after the student has returned home.”
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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