Students take a step into higher education

Dubai: Students will soon embark on the new school year, taking a step forward on their journey to excellence. For many, however, this academic year will mark a new stage in their lives - one that takes them into higher education.

And while the step from school to university may seem large, campuses all over the UAE are holding orientations to ease the transition from secondary to post-secondary studies.

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) recently held a welcome session to welcome 950 new students and their parents to the campus.

This session was the beginning of a week-long orientation that aimed to familiarise students with the university.

AUS Chancellor Peter Heath advised students to make the most of the time they have in university.

"You have been given a gift by your parents: the gift of time. They are giving you not a few days, or a few weeks or a few months. Rather they are giving you four years to study, to think, to learn and to understand about yourself, about others, about society and about what profession you want to follow in the years to come."

Students expressed a mixture of emotions throughout the orientation - of nervousness and enthusiasm.

New AUS student Dana Abu Hudra, who is still undecided about her major, said that while she is eager to begin university life, she is also intimidated by it.

"I actually have this weird feeling. Life in university is going to be different in terms of everything - rules, people and friends," she said. "I am very nervous about being able to fit in the right way, especially since I don't know many people here. Also, staying in the dorms will be kind of scary since it will be the first time I have completely depended on myself."

Opportunity

Meanwhile, Amir Ali said the orientation was a perfect opportunity to mingle with others who shared the same feelings.

"At first I felt quite anxious. But now after the orientation, I don't find it so bad because you meet many others like yourself who share the same anxieties," he said.

"I decided I wanted to do my major in civil engineering because I've tried it before, and after asking around I heard it's a good major to pursue here."

Meanwhile, Al Ain Women's College welcomed 600 new students to its campus and prepared them for the upcoming academic year.

Similarly, Heriot-Watt University is holding an annual orientation week, during which students are introduced to the university. International students are taken around areas in Dubai to learn more the city, and since this year coincides with the start of Ramadan, discover Islamic and Arab culture.

- With inputs from Maysam Ali, Staff Reporter