How to create an inclusive environment for new international students at UU

Through bi-weekly posts, MA staff participating in the USO-project on internationalisation will share concrete teaching tools and activities through which we aim to enhance ‘tailor-made’ internationalisation.

This week: the international classroom: lessons from MA Psychology

In September 2016 the department of Clinical Psychology at UU launched a Master program open to international students. In addition to over 100 local students, we welcomed 27 international students from a wide range of countries to the program. To address their concerns regarding practical matters, life in Utrecht, and the UU study culture our team created a series of ‘help guides’ and organized a student orientation day. We asked one of our students to reflect on her experience during this process.

An international student’s perspective on studying in Utrecht

By Sabrina Schröder – from Wiesbaden, Germany

After finally arriving in Utrecht to start my Master in Clinical and Health Psychology (CHP), I received a Welcome Email with information about the upcoming Orientation Days that were being organised by the University of Utrecht to officially welcome us newcomers and provide us with necessary and helpful information concerning our study.

After a general Orientation Day on Saturday, that was being held for all international students from every faculty with all kinds of different workshops, information markets and lots of opportunities to meet and connect with fellow students. I was invited to an introductory day the following Monday, that was especially being held for new students of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The International Office welcomed us and introduced itself during an informal lecture in the morning, providing us with very useful information about the Dutch culture in general and about living in Utrecht [How to survive in Utrecht 2016]. They showed (not too serious) videos about important aspects of living in the Netherlands (the very complicated structure of the Dutch kingdom, the amount of bicycles in the Netherlands and the differences between study cultures among different nationalities) and rounded it up with a “Dutch Quiz”, where I managed to win a pack of stroopwaffels! After this introduction, we joined another lecture held by the Clinical Psychology Master coordinator Henk Schut, who gave us insight into the structure of our Clinical and Health Psychology program and the the study culture at UU  [Help guide – Studying at UU 2016-17]. Conveniently, the department organized a thesis market right thereafter, where we had the opportunity to get familiar with various thesis topics and talk to the person who offered the position. I found that very useful, since I had the chance to talk to a potential thesis supervisor in person right away, who explained the project in detail and directly scheduled a meeting with me. Afterwards, we were informed how to navigate our way around campus [Map of the Uithof 2016-17] and invited to a department tour by teaching assistant Marit Knoop. We were introduced to each faculty members as we passed their offices and greeted in the hallways by passing staff.

To round the day up, the Clinical Psychology Department organized a meet-and-greet in the Langeveld yard, providing food and drinks and an opportunity to discuss this busy and informational day with the fellow students and staff. I really enjoyed this part, especially since the staff and students were able to casually reflect about the day together. This experience was so different from the Orientation Day at my former University, where the professors and staff did not communicate at all with us students, creating a very hierarchical atmosphere. I felt so welcome and taken seriously and really had the feeling that the faculty did everything in their power to give the international students the best start possible. It really was a great day!

We thank Sabrina for sharing her experience as an international student starting at Utrecht University. Her comments serve as a good reminder of the importance of the individual experience in the process of internationalisation. We should aim to not only provide our students with the best foundational knowledge to commence their program of study, but also to ensure we do so in a manner that is inclusive, welcoming, and attentive to the individual experience.

If you are looking for similar ways to welcome new students to your department, you can access the ‘help guides/tools’ in the links above.

Alishia Williams