More than 400 International Students start their foreign adventure in Ghent
24/09/2024
On Tuesday 17 September, Artevelde UAS celebrated the start of the academic year during the academic opening on Campus Kantienberg. This month, the UAS also welcomes many foreign students on its campuses, as the English-taught programmes continue to grow year after year.
Currently, there are 312 first-year students, from Belgium and abroad, who start an English-taught programme at Artevelde UAS. These are mainly students form the European Union, as well as a number of students from the rest of the world.
International Business Management, the English counterpart of the Bachelor of Business Management, was the first foreign-language programme, and to this day, Artevelde UAS is the only higher education institution in Ghent that offers such a programme. Later, this was followed by International Organisation and Management, International Communication Management, International Journalism and International Graphic and Digital Media. That last one has the largest increase when it comes to the number of new students. All combined, the English-taught programmes have almost 750 students.
Numerous activities
Add to that 110 exchange students via the Erasmus programme, and you know that Artevelde UAS reaches further than Ghent. Of course, all these students need help to find their way, and that is why the UAS organises a whole range of activities at the start of the academic year.
For instance, the kick-off days of the Business and Management department, which includes the programmes in International Business Management and International Organisation and Management. From 17 until 20 September, the international students will get to know each other, their programme, the city, Flanders, and sometimes Europe, during information sessions, talks with alumni, and activities like a marshmallow challenge and a motivational speech by Miss Belgium, Kenza Ameloot, who is an International Business Management student The students can also get acquainted with the Dutch language.
Integrating in Ghent
The Communication, Media and Design department organises a build & bond session, in which students speed date to get to know each other and their lecturers. During the Discovery Tour, newcomers explore their campuses and the Ghent city centre. The idea is that they will integrate more easily in the UAS and in the social fabric of the city.