To help new students get off to a good start at what is one of Europe’s largest business and economics universities, WU offers a special onboarding program for first-semester students, called the Welcome Days. A total of 80 more advanced students will be working with the newcomers in small groups to guide and assist them during the first few months of their studies, showing that a large scale, quality, and personalized support are not mutually exclusive at WU. All of these measures are intended to keep new students from feeling anonymous or overwhelmed at WU, and to help avoid early student dropout.

Immediately after their admission to WU, first-year students were actively contacted by their respective welcome tutors and invited to participate in the Welcome Days, the information and welcome event for new bachelor’s students on Campus WU. The Welcome Days were very well attended once again this year. As WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber points out, “We deliberately offer very low-threshold support services, and we’d like to thank the many students who are working as tutors this year to help us realize this goal. Their work ensures that all new students have a direct contact person they can turn to, and that they get the opportunity to familiarize themselves with WU even before they start their studies. The small-group format helps newcomers to get to know fellow students right from the start. I’m very pleased that the Welcome Days were so well received again this year, and I’m happy that I was able to welcome many students to campus in person.”