As part of Welcome Week 2018, we speak to a variety of staff about their involvement.

Name – Jo Ramsay

Job title – Induction Manager

Department – International Student Office

1. Can you tell us a bit about your role?

It’s changed quite a bit this year with the introduction of Welcome Week but still involves working with lots of teams across the University to improve the induction and welcome experience for new students. At the start of the project I ran workshops with staff and students gathering feedback and ideas for Welcome 2018 and developing the events that would run. Since then there’s been lots of follow up to do and finding ways of making things work. Whilst managing certain areas of Welcome, I’m involved with wider Welcome team activities and deciding and planning some of the team’s events. It’s safe to say no two days are the same.

2. And what’s your involvement in Warwick Welcome Week 2018?

I’ve been managing the Independence, Community Building and Finding Your Way work streams, working closely with colleagues from professional services, the RLT and Students’ Union. Consulting teams and getting ideas from students was really important in the early stages to ensure we met the aims of the project and agreed events that catered to different needs and tastes. From this, we’ve built an extensive programme to help students learn more about university life, settle in and make friends, and ultimately enjoy their first week. There will be lots happening so here’s just a taste: Language Exchange, Comedy nights, UV Roller Disco, Scavenger hunt, Spot the Chaplain, Living well at Warwick, Intercultural Awareness, Masters forum, sports club and society tasters, and so much more!
I’m also organising some of the Welcome Team’s activities including the Welcome Hub over Welcome Weekend, campus tours, Living at University fair, Eat and Meets in the local area and welcome videos. It’s more than we’ve ever done before so it’s a very busy time but enjoyable knowing that our students will see the benefit in September.

3. This year sees an entirely new approach and programme for Welcome. What benefits will this bring to new students?

Students have often told us that the first week can be overwhelming. There’s lots to do alongside classes so this year we can make a difference by giving them more time to settle in, get to know each other and learn what it’s like to live and study at Warwick before beginning their studies. Our hope and aim is that students will be better prepared to begin their course once they’ve found their feet, know how to get around and started to make friends.
The programme is really varied too and gives students a lot of choice depending on their interests and the support and information they’re looking for or want to know about. So hopefully with more time to learn about their course and the services available, it will help them adjust to university life quicker.

4. What are you most looking forward to about Welcome Week?

It’s been a big team effort to get this far and make sure Welcome Week is a success, so I’m really excited to see it all come together. I’m looking forward to working with our welcome helpers too and seeing students enjoying and making the most of their first week.