With the Campus Days program held at the end of August, WU gave its new first-year students an opportunity to get a head start before classes are in session and familiarize themselves with WU. In mid-September, WU also started sending out key information to first-semester students through various communication channels. During the Welcome to WU event, the Rector personally welcomed WU’s new students to the university and to an important new stage in their lives. “In other countries, the general attitude towards students is very friendly, appreciative, and respectful. Austria still has some catching up to do in this regard. It is a personal goal for me to start creating a welcoming culture at WU. I want to show our students that they are welcome and that we thank them for their interest in WU,” says Rector Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger.

Support services help reduce dropout rates

The Welcome to WU breakfast not only provided an opportunity for newcomers to WU to get to know their future fellow students, but also to obtain information about the various support and advising services available at WU. “Many students experience uncertainty due to WU’s large size and the amount of self-management that is necessary at university, and many may end up dropping out altogether. WU is taking various steps, for instance with its mentoring program, to reduce dropout rates. We want to introduce our first-semester students to all the support services available at WU ahead of time before the start of the semester,” explains Rector Hanappi-Egger. The first-semester students taking up their programs at WU this fall will also include the first eight recipients of the recently introduced WU4You scholarships. The attendees of the welcome event not only learned valuable information but also had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with WU through fun activities like a quiz, a vote to select the design of the T-shirt for the upcoming academic year, and a photo booth.

Contact:
Cornelia Moll
Press Relations Officer
Tel: + 43-1-31336 ext. 4977
Email: cornelia.moll@wu.ac.at