Mental Preparation for Student Life

Psychologists working at the University are charged with minimising the culture shock that often happens when new students arrive, particularly from small towns and villages. The first group to participate in the annual program were 165 engineering students. Every year, the Psychology Faculty organises a series of three-day programs called 'Social and Psychological Adaptation', which all first-years participate in. The first day consists of team-building exercises, the second day involves leadership and confidence building, and the third day is devoted to 'Quests', tasks that involve exploring the grounds and facilities of the University. When preparing the event for medical students, the department was aided by students and colleagues from the Medical Institute, as it involved 26 teams and 650 students.

The next series of events is planned to involve all the remaining first-years, and will be completed before the end of this semester. This will also involve the start of the student leadership program known as 'Moving Forward'.