Global Connections - February 2021
“It's my first time away from home and this place has been really kind to me!”
Adapting to the world of digital interaction has been strange for all of us, and especially testing for new students who have joined us from around the world. Alongside the normal challenges of adapting to university life, students have had to navigate the complexities of self-isolation on arrival in the UK and find new ways of making new friendships and connections at a distance.
Anticipating these difficulties, the World at Warwick team established the Global Connections Community (GCC) on Microsoft Teams in May 2020, to offer all students (home/EU or international) an informal space to connect with others in the University community.
Since then, the Community has gone from strength to strength, and now comprises over 600 members drawn from across UG, PGT and PGR student communities. Whilst many members are based in the UK, some joined from their homes around the world or while studying overseas at other institutions. Distance learners, too, have taken advantage of the opportunity to connect informally with the wider University.
“For someone who has lacked much social interaction during the pandemic, it was really energizing and exciting to see new faces and talk to people again.”
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Students in the GCC can connect with others using one of the many channels around areas of common interest (food; crafts; walking; photography; music; film; TV and many more), by joining threads of discussion, sharing stories and photos of their experiences, or by participating in one of the twice-weekly live events hosted by the World at Warwick team.
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The community model empowers students to create and add to content as they wish, and some are responding to this effort by beginning to suggest and post their own student-led activities and content.
“I was glad that I was able to enjoy the festive spirit within the four walls of my room, in the company of friends who took time to join me in a festival, especially one that they don't usually identify as their own”
It has been a real privilege to play a small part in helping students to find one another and begin establishing friendships and connections.
If you know of anyone who might benefit, please feel free to invite them to join the Community using their @warwick.ac.uk email address.
Everyone’s welcome, and there's always room for more 😊
Simon Brown & Poonam Dave, February 2021