Welcoming New Students to NUMed with a Blast of Fun
Students Association (SA) organised several fun activities during the first few weeks to welcome new students to the university and foster a bond between them and their seniors.
30 October 2023
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) welcomed Year 1 students to the family in September. In order to make them feel at home and foster a bond between them and their seniors and university staff, the university’s Student Association (SA) organised several fun activities during the first few weeks.
Kicking off the string of events was Orientation Weekend, which was held on 23 September 2023. This year, the organisers added an exciting twist to the event with a mystery theme, whereby ‘imposters’, i.e. senior students, were strategically planted alongside the first-year students. This allowed the new students to get close to and engage with their seniors more freely, fostering a sense of camaraderie among all.
“We conceived this theme as part of our endeavours to bring students together, build networks and create precious memories of university life. It was incredible to see how close we became with the new students,” enthused the SA’s new President, Cedric Woon Sek Law.
The objectives of this event were multifold. By bringing the students closer together, it not only creates friendships but also eases the pathway for mentorship to guide students throughout their academic journey at NUMed. In addition to forging closer ties among students, it also provided a platform for students to explore and showcase their talents and potentials while also displaying all the qualities that a university student should have.
The event included activities such as ice breaking sessions, station games and performances. Some of the stations that were highly popular were the volleyball game station, which required a lot of teamwork to find the best way to score the most points, and the obstacle station, where students had to rely on their communication skills.
Next on the agenda was Club Fest. Held on 29 September 2023, the event introduced the new students to the array of student clubs and activities available at the university.
“We set up various creative booths featuring mini games to encourage the students to understand the goals and mission of each club,” explained Cedric.
Club Fest served a dual purpose. Besides recruiting new members for the clubs and societies, it also instilled a sense of inclusivity while emphasising the importance of leading a balanced life. Students were encouraged to explore their interests and passions, and connect with like-minded peers, so they can have a richer university experience.
The highlight of the event was a sticker/signature collecting activity. This encouraged students to visit the different booths and interact with the club representatives as they played games. The fun and interactive approach provided students with valuable insights into each club.
Spirit Week was held from 2 to 6 October and included a different dress code/theme each day. These were: Zoom Day, Crazy Hair or Hat Day, Fandom Day, Dress Up as a Gift Day, and Cultural Appreciation Day.
“This was one of the most interesting events that we’d planned. Both students and staff members were requested to dress up according to the theme of the day, and could choose to be photographed by our SA members or tag the SA on social media. The best dressed of the day won prizes that include vouchers!” shared Cedric.
According to him, the staff participation on Cultural Appreciation Day was impressive, with those from the Student Office, Senior Office and Labs taking the opportunity to don intricate traditional outfits. A significant highlight was when students from the neighbouring University of Reading Malaysia visited the NUMed campus to join the festivities and showcase their outfits!
Spirit Week succeeded in cultivating NUMed’s school spirit in a creative way. Besides bringing students and staff closer together, it created awareness of the different cultures at NUMed.
The SA has a few more ideas up its sleeves that it hopes to bring to fruition during the academic year, including house creation, setting up a merch shop and organising many more events.
As the year progresses, Cedric looks forward to increasing the bond between staff and students, whilst closing the gap between the year groups. “These events were fruitful in terms of cultivating a vibrant environment that optimised engagement with the new students. There’s so much that we can do to boost the NUMed school spirit.
