Eindhoven University of Technology: 2000 students start full and varied introduction week
The majority of the almost 2000 first-year students who will participate in the introduction week this week will take their first steps on campus via the Limbopad – the route between the NS railway station and the campus, once designed by Limburg train students. Whereas the introduction week had a scaled-down character due to corona measures in recent years, the current edition is back to its old self. That means room for education and entertainment, but also extra attention to social safety.
The students – just under half of whom are international students – are served up a full and varied program. Theater producer Lucas de Man will provide the opening act, while La Fuente, one of Eindhoven’s best-known DJs, will also make an appearance. There is a Campus Market where more than 100 student and student associations present themselves, as well as other services within the TU/e. There will also be a cultural evening, a ‘WordLid!’ party and the closing event, the All TUegether festival, including a performance by Flemming.
New features include the intro app that can be downloaded from the Apple and Google Play store. The app is specially designed for the introduction week and allows students to easily register and pay. Through the app, first-year students can also exchange information and connect with each other. You can register for the app here.
Social Safety
This year there is an extra focus on social safety. The 450 intro supervisors have followed an external training, aimed at recognizing signs of victims of unsafe behavior. They also learn how to deal with certain situations.
In addition, for the first time so-called Confidential Contact Persons (CCPs) are present on campus. These are 22 trained senior students who are ready to help the first-year students who want to tell their story. “With this we have built in an extra possibility where students can go in an approachable way,” clarifies Lara Hofstra, student wellbeing and diversity officer at TU/e.
“Often it is easier to tell your story to someone of almost the same age, because their experiences are more in line with each other. In this way, we hope to remove a barrier.” Since recent months, this topic has been in the spotlight. Hofstra: “Fortunately, you see more and more goodwill and interest from young students to seriously deal with this issue.”