Another Freshers’ Week at University of Malta has come and gone. It was very refreshing to see so many students, both familiar faces and new ones, visiting the stands and mingling amongst each other. Freshers’ week also acted as a ‘meet and greet’ for several orgs. For some, it was their first time seeing and meeting each other face to face after COVID-19’s intense restrictions.
Although we didn’t get to spend a whole week at Freshers’, all the organisation’s made sure that the two days they spent there counted. The Third Eye reached out to a few student organisations to get a quick recap on their experience at Freshers’ Week!
MHSA
This year, MHSA was present during Freshers’ Week to greet students as they began a new academic year.
The response was overwhelmingly positive, particularly among the new first-year students. We noted as a team how enthusiastic and excited all of the students who came to our booth were to be on campus with their peers. MHSA had a booth on campus and at the Faculty of Health Sciences during Freshers’ Week to ensure that we met as many students as possible.
We had a variety of giveaways and accepted applications for our subcommittee, as well as providing new members of our organization with freshers packs. Despite the fact that it was a long and exhausting week for us, we are grateful that we were able to experience Freshers Week as it should be.
Betapsi
Were very happy with the turnout we had for freshers’. Firstly, because for the first time ever the psychology department had a record of student intake for the B.Psy course, showing that more students out there are indeed getting all the more interested in pursuing a career as a mental health practitioner. Secondly, because not only did we have first year students as freshers, but also second year students who just like freshers were exploring university and campus life for the very first time.
It was so nice to see life on campus, as someone who experienced freshers at its fullest before the pandemic began. It was overwhelming to see all that excitement happen again. In a way, with the Covid-19 restrictions, it was more efficient for us student organisations. Having students come batch by batch gave us time to focus and actually talk to them, instead of huge masses of students with no time to talk and focus on. We felt benefited by the system greatly.
Stand Feature: Campaign Promotions and A Jar of Marbles
With regard to our stand, Betapsi took on to promote its therapy campaign, its mental health awareness campaign (celebrated by an exhibition held at the library) and an upcoming sex education campaign, in conjunction with free condoms being given out, provided by the ministry of health. Students could also stop at our stand for a quick chat, while drinking a bottle of Pepsi together, kindly sponsored by Farson’s.
We also had a marble jar challenge where students could guess the number of marbles in the jar and be in the chance to win a psychology-themed hoodie. Apart from that, Betapsi also had its membership registrations. The basic membership (being €4), the tote bag package for €6 (filled with Betapsi merchandise) and the T-shirt package for €12. All of these packages are still available to order here.
S-Cubed
This years’ freshers’ week was challenging in all the right ways. Our Executive Board, like most others, had to navigate preparing for the upcoming year of physical lectures. We had to try to understand what this meant for student activism and how freshers and returning students would engage with the organisation after a year of representation being restricted to online platforms, with little to no physical engagement. To our delight, even though the past year saw a steep decline when it came to getting students interested in student activism, this year has already started to show great promise in this regard.
Side Project: Freshers’ Science Village
Alongside our annual presence at the KSU’s Freshers’ Week, S-Cubed launched its first-ever Freshers’ Science Village within the faculty of science. This was a project which took up the better part of the summer in its preparation, and one which proved to be the perfect opportunity for new and returning science students to become re-acquainted with the faculty, its research groups, and its smaller educational organisations. We, as an executive, felt that this week-long initiative during freshers’ week was the perfect opportunity to make up for lost time and help re-ignite some of the campus life that was so sorely missed within the faculty.
As opposed to previous years, we have had a great majority of freshers and returning students approach us on both of our stands wanting to get involved, asking about upcoming events, and expressing their enthusiasm to finally returning to physical learning. Despite the hardships endured by both student and organisation throughout the past year, we have definitely come out this other end feeling more passionate about what we do.
MMSA
It was exciting to finally be able to welcome and meet our Freshers’ back in personal and MMSA made sure they had a jam packed week for them! Our Freshers’ stand served as our first opportunity to meet Freshers and other University students alike to tell them all about us and our work. MMSA also held talks for our first years to give them tips on surviving medical school and also a better introduction to MMSA making sure they are ready to take on the next 5 years!
Ice Breakers: Welcome Drinks, Treasure Hunts and Raves
Welcome Meds allowed our Freshers to get to know each other over a drink or two and it was wonderful to start seeing some budding friendships already. And finally, what better way to discover University campus than through a treasure hunt? MMSA organised a treasure hunt around University which served as the perfect opportunity to discover Uni and MMSA in a fun setting while getting to know others within the group. To close it all, as part of Faculty of Sound we hosted Freshers’ Rave which as always was a great success!
JEF Malta
After weeks of busy preparation for Freshers’ Week, we were all thrilled to be able to set up our stand to meet new and potential JEF members in person. We are very grateful that many new and recurring students took the time to visit our stand, where we could show them all about our organisation, including our memberships, giveaway and the international opportunities that we’re finally able to offer again.
Given that we were able to meet our new members face-to-face again, we also got the opportunity to give out some fun freebies like our fresher’s bag, snacks and soft drinks. The entire team felt very appreciative that we could be back on campus and see university so alive with students and events again. It was definitely a refreshing experience for the students who have been doing school online for the past 2 years, particularly for first and second year students who either missed their sixth form experience or didn’t get to properly experience Fresher’s week before.
Despite the restrictions imposed due to the Public Health situation, from the limits on attendees to the two person per
stand rule, we felt that Freshers’ 2021 will still certainly be one to remember!
UM Futsal
Firstly, UM Futsal would like to thank KSU for organising this years Freshers Week, despite facing all of the challenges of the pandemic and secondly, all students that attended and visited our stand. Unfortunately, to nobody’s fault, we could not be present for all five days, however, we made the most of the slots that we were given by offering students a chance to become members of the organisations and receive, not only a freshers pack, but also a membership card which entitles students to a number of sport related discounts from a number of our sponsors.
We would also like to note how satisfying it was to once again see Freshers Week full of student activists ready to greet this years Freshers and also second year students who had their Freshers Week under different circumstances. The UM Futsal family is ever growing, thanks to each and every new member. Interested individuals should contact us on our facebook page or website to join and become a member. Lastly, we would like to wish all students all the best with their studies while also encouraging them to get behind their very own Knights in the upcoming Futsal season.
CSA
With the whirlwind of Freshers week last week and hybrid lessons becoming a thing of the future, University life as we know it has become a little different. The Criminology Students’ Association relished in the experience of being able to see some old and new faces in person rather than just over the zoom meetings, we are all very familiar with at this point.
At our stand last week you could enjoy fun activities, competitions, tips and tricks on how to go about the criminology course, interactive Q&A sessions with University professors; criminologists, CSA members and much more. We loved being in an inclusive space with other organisations which we are eager to grow stronger relationships with too. If you had not attended the CSA stand last week and have any questions, always feel free to reach out to us on our social platforms, you can find on Facebook and Instagram!
For some helpful tips and tricks of the ‘University’ trade for all you freshers’ out there- click here!