New students will be first in line when the campus reopens. But the traditional weekend trips have been cancelled, and our digital facilities will be upgraded. These are some of the headlines in the framework for students starting their studies this autumn. And even though things will be different this year, students can still count on one thing: their student advisers are ready for action!

2020.06.02 | Camilla Schrøder

[Translate to English:] Sådan så det ud sidste år under studiestarten. Studerende må forvente, at det bliver lidt anderledes i år, men der arbejdes på højtryk for at give de nye studerende en god start på studielivet. Foto: Søren Kjeldgaard

Commencing your studies is a very special time. As a new student, you start your life on a university campus, you build important relationships with fellow students and you learn what it means to be part of an academic environment. And every year, more than a thousand volunteer student advisers are ready to welcome new students and give them a good start.

Due to the corona situation, the introduction week will be subject to new restrictions, and the programme will be different this year. However, Pro-rector Berit Eika stresses that giving all new students a good start to student life is paramount for Aarhus University. Therefore, if the restrictions on face-to-face meetings still apply at the start of the autumn semester, new students will have first priority.

"The introduction week is extremely important for new students, and it has a huge impact on their motivation and commitment in student life – academically as well as socially. This is why new students will be the first in line when the campus reopens for the new semester," she says.

The Education Committee has drawn up a framework with input from the Student Council. The aim of this framework is to ensure that the introduction week can take place under safe conditions, and that new students have the best possible start – despite the unusual circumstances.

No weekend trips in 2020

It has been decided to cancel the 2020 overnight weekend trip. The decision was based on an expectation that it will be difficult to comply with the guidelines from the health authorities.

"We would have liked to have allowed students to go on their weekend trips, but planning has to be done now, and since it’s unlikely that the weekend trips will happen, we could be making promises we won’t be able to keep. It’s also worth noting that the corona situation may keep some students from participating. The introduction week should be for everyone, and this means that there’ll be no weekend trips in 2020," says Berit Eika.

The funds normally used for activities for new students – including weekend trips – are still included in the budget. It will be up to the individual degree programmes to decide whether they want to postpone their weekend trip until 2021, or whether they will use the funds for other activities that can give new students a good start at the university.

An out-of-the-ordinary introduction week places new demands on student advisers

Student advisers and introduction week coordinators are currently working hard to rethink and reorganise the introduction week programmes so that they can be carried out in accordance with the guidelines from the health authorities. Berit Eika stresses the importance for student advisers to be well-prepared to welcome the new students.

"Student advisers are taking on a huge job. Even though the introduction week programmes are likely to be shorter this year, this does not mean less work for student advisors. I’m impressed to see how volunteers are working incredibly hard to give students a great welcome in a time when planning has to take account of the uncertain situation we’re in," says Berit Eika, stressing that work is now taking place locally to prepare the student advisors to welcome new students under the new circumstances.

Staff involved in the introduction week at each faculty are working hard to collect advice and guidelines that may be particularly relevant for the revised planning. For example, it might be relevant to organise activities outside whenever possible, to divide students into smaller, fixed groups, and to avoid buffets. It is also likely that this year’s programme will be shorter than usual.

Furthermore, AU is working on developing a digital introduction programme to supplement the face-to-face programme – also in the long term. A digital introduction programme could include an introduction to the most important communication platforms, the structure of a university degree programme, expectations of university students, study administration rules, study techniques and much more.

"The introduction week will be different this year. But we’re keen to put together a good programme for the new students, so that they’ll feel at home in their new social and academic environment – and at the university," concludes Berit Eika.