Orientation Week Begins Today for Incoming Students

Orientation for incoming students kicks off today, with a full schedule of activities throughout the week, including interactive competitions, a majors fair and the Convocation Ceremony for freshmen; a new networking session for graduate students and a trip to El Moez Street, one of the oldest parts of Islamic Cairo, for international students.

Mario Mounir, specialist at the First-Year Experience (FYE) and Leadership Institute, noted that the competitions for freshmen are one of the most anticipated FYE activities. Through these competitions, the students take part in interactive activities that focus on the development of leadership, time management and critical thinking skills, as well as teamwork.“These competitions are our newest addition to FYE,” said Mounir. “It’s a tradition we started last year where we engage students in experiential learning activities to relate what they will be doing in class to funny and competitive activities that they can enjoy.”

The graduate orientation, which predominately consists of academic support services for incoming graduate students, will be offering a trial networking gathering for the first time this year. “Parts of L’Aroma will be booked for the graduate student orientation, and we’ll be encouraging the students to stop by, have some coffee and connect with one another,” explained Yasmine Ibrahim, officer of recruitment and fellowships at the Office of Graduate Student Services.

Ibrahim Bedrous, program coordinator at the Office of International Students and Study Abroad, noted that, in addition to the myriad of information sessions and activities, international students will –– for the first time in three years –– enjoy a free walking tour of the historical El Moez Le Din Allah Street. “In the past, we took students to Old Cairo and the Pyramids, so we’re excited to do something different,” he said. “We also expect a higher number of international students compared to last semester.”

Questions on orientation week should be directed to the Office of Student Development [email protected], the Office of International Students and Study Abroad [email protected], First-Year Experience [email protected] or the Office of Graduate Student Services [email protected].

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