Rennes 2 University is kicking off the 2019-2020 year by boosting the welcoming of new international students arriving on its campuses. Every year, the university hosts approximately 3,000 international students on its campuses. This year, students arriving from outside of France will have the opportunity to participate in a series of activities that have been lined up to introduce them to the university, the local culture and the city of Rennes.
The International Office started off by welcoming over 200 international exchange students (ERASMUS and other students from around the world), with a variety of orientation activities during the first week of September. Designed to familiarize them with their new university environment, students learned the basics like: how to register for classes, get a student card, or open a French bank account. Several guided visits were also proposed: of the campus, the city of Rennes, and even the Mont Saint Michel. The new students were also paired up with local Rennes 2 students as part of the Buddy System platform. The platform provides new students with the opportunity to get tips and useful information from students who already have first-hand knowledge of the university, campus services and city.
The Rennes Centre de Mobilité Internationale (CMI Rennes) also offered newly arriving global students with a flurry of activities during the International Students’ Day on Thursday, September 5. International undergraduates and graduates, as well as researchers from CMI member-institutions (of which Rennes 2 is a part), were invited to spend the day getting to know their new host city in a festive ambiance. In addition to hosting this day, the CMI provides support services (housing, visa support, etc.) to students and researchers throughout the year.
Last week, the welcoming program continued with Rennes 2’s Journée Campus on Wednesday, September 11. Organized by different university services and the Bureau de Vie Étudiante (Student Life Office), this festive event is held each year and is centred around familiarizing new students to the many features of Rennes 2 student life. It offers the chance to get involved with campus organizations and activities (see our short video on the day available below).
For the first time, this year’s event also featured an International Desk - a one-stop help desk for international students as well as students interested in mobility and language exchange programs. University staff from the International Office, the CIREFE (Rennes 2’s own French-language Centre), the DEVU and the CMI were present to help answer questions for new students.
Students were also offered the chance to try out the Escape Game, ‘Discover the University’. Created by FLE Masters students in the Language Didactics program at Rennes 2, the game helps newcomers get accustomed to the university structure, language and commonly-used technical terms, as well as the services available to them.
Later this month, the city of Rennes will be officially welcoming international students by organizing a reception at the City Hall on the 25th of September. They are also invited to take part in the Tam-Tam Music Festival, organized by the CRIJ Bretagne and the city of Rennes.
