We are delighted to share another Annual Newsletter from the University of Limerick Global team with you. This year, after the prolonged disruption of the global Covid19 pandemic, 2022/2023 was the first "normal" year for our global engagement since 2018/2019. We used the return to normality to re-invigorate our international teaching and research partnerships, and to bring our international student recruitment firmly back onto its pre-pandemic growth trajectory. This newsletter highlights the diverse culture and activities that have taken place on campus and overseas over the last year and we are excited to share our progress and insights with you, reflecting on the milestones that have contributed to our continued growth and success this year.
UL Global warmly welcomed over 1600 international students in September 2023 when our 7-day Orientation Programme commenced. Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th September saw the arrival of hundreds of students at Shannon Airport for what they hoped & what we planned would be the semester of a lifetime here at UL. An array of information sessions and engagement activities were held throughout the week to prepare the students for the busy academic semester ahead. This year saw the first of our UL Global Supports & Services Fair take place. This initiative allows students the opportunity to meet and engage with the many wonderful supports & services that UL has to offer. The aim of the UL Global Orientation programme is to ensure international students have a smooth transition into the campus community. Based on student feedback throughout that week, we are delighted to say that we not only met but exceeded our objective. Watch the video Ollie Phillips captured of Orientation Week!
UL Global hosted wonderful events from the photo-booth and cooking demo by celebrity chef Paul Knapp at Global orientation, to diverse and cultural events such as Thanksgiving & Diwali celebrations. Our Thanksgiving celebrations kicked off with a demonstration by the UL Vikings American Football team, followed by crafting, cinnamon treats & pumpkin spiced lattes! Students contributed to the Gratitude Board with the things, people & experiences they have been most thankful for here at UL. We closed out our Thanksgiving day with a fabulous turkey dinner, pumpkin pie, festive music & friends in the Pavilion. Diwali celebrations took place over 2 days on campus with the highlights including performances from students of the Irish World Academy, DJ Neville Fernandez and the incredible Burning Circus! We gathered to learn about and experience the customs & traditions such as colourful Rangoli creations, Mehndi displays and beautiful floral filled Urli's on display along with a plentiful supply of Diwali sweets kaju katli for all to sample. Watch the incredible video of our Diwali celebrations by Ollie Phillips.
UL Global were very happy to roll out a new initiative this past semester around the themes of wellness and wellbeing. Every week the student engagement team in UL Global hosted Wellness Wednesday Workshops with our international students around a huge variety of themes. Our students got the opportunity to learn Irish and Irish dancing during our Irish culture class, resilience training sessions from UL Counseling Department and consent training provided by Ms. Maria Healy, Sexual Harassment & Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Officer. There was also an opportunity to make sheep during our pottery making masterclass and a session on healthy skin brought by UL Dermatology Society. These workshops have given our students an opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities that enhance their UL experience and create a community, while giving them essential toolkits for self-care and wellness, as well as an opportunity to connect with other international students every Wednesday!
In May 2023, UL Global began consultations on Action Through Partnership: Global Engagement Strategy 2023-28. This new Global Engagement strategy sets out the role of global engagement in achieving UL's goals for research and learning, teaching and assessment, while respecting and embracing the core values reflected in UL's human rights and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy and our sustainability framework. Action Through Partnership seeks to put sustainable development at the heart of everything we do.
We wish all of our partners and students a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. We look forward to what the coming year will bring for UL Global, the new relationships that will be forged and welcoming new students to the University of Limerick.
The UL Global Team