Coming to a university for the first time can be scary. Students don’t know each other, don’t know the professors, where are the classrooms, or how to get to the library. That is why NU conducts the Orientation week before the start of every academic year to explain the inner workings and rules of the university and let students meet their peers.
It all starts with a dormitory check-in, where students sign their contracts and receive a welcome package. The Office of Enrollment prepares for the Orientation starting from the Spring semester and puts all of their efforts into making the students’ first steps as smooth as possible.
Throughout the week students learn about the learning requirements, registration procedure, various departments and their functions, safety measures, library guidelines and so much more. The administration even runs a mock registration for the courses, since it can be a stressful experience, especially for first-timers.
Besides general information, students learn more detailed information about their respective programs during sessions with their schools and departments, as well as meet their professors. A special session welcomes international students and navigates them through life in Kazakhstan.
Parents are also invited to take part in the orientation. During Parents Day, they learn what the future holds for their children, what will their learning experience look like, what are their career prospects, as well as meet the university leadership and professors, and see the lecture halls and dorm rooms.
In the evenings, the newly admitted students get to experience student life. Various entertainment, academic, and sports clubs organize a multitude of activities, from movie nights and dance workshops to football matches and treasure hunts. Some students take to the city as part of the university-organized city tours.
The grand finale of the Orientation is the Convocation, an official ceremony where the new students pledge to abide by the academic principles of the university and become full members of the NU community.
NU congratulates all new students on the start of a new chapter in their lives and wishes them good luck in their studies!
