Nursing and teaching degrees popular as University of Newcastle’s Welcome Week activities commence
Almost 10,000 new students will start their university journey this week as they join in the University of Newcastle’s Welcome Week activities.
More than 6,800 of these students will come from the Newcastle, Central Coast and Hunter region, with education and nursing degrees the most popular programs at the University.
Professor Mark Hoffman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) explained the new enrolments in education and nursing would help to boost their respective workforces, which are currently facing critical labour shortages.
“This year we have around 1,000 students commencing across our undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and education programs which is fantastic as we know teacher shortages are a national issue,” Professor Hoffman said.
“We will also see the first cohort of the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) commence, which will prepare students to enter the classroom in 12 months, providing a rapid and much-needed boost to address the teacher shortage.
“As a university committed to our regions, we are also pleased to be welcoming almost 600 nursing students this semester, another industry that desperately needs more skilled workers.”
The University has a longstanding commitment to Indigenous education and is set to welcome almost 580 Indigenous students this semester.
“We are Australia’s leading university for enrolment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and we are proud that more than five per cent of students who will commence this semester are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander,” Professor Hoffman said.
Welcome Week includes a program of events across each of the University’s campuses, with Professor Hoffman encouraging students to use the week as an opportunity to familarise themselves with campus, meet their new classmates and enjoy the social aspects of university.
“We know that having a support network is so important to students’ success, so we are really encouraging them to come along and join in the full program of activities to help build those connections and get their university journey off to a great start,” said Professor Hoffman.
“We’ve got social and academic activities to get them well acquainted with their peers, academics and support staff.”
Activities during the week include the Student Life expo, where students can join a Campus Tour, sign up to any of our more than 100 registered clubs and societies, free lunches provided by the University of Newcastle Students’ Association (UNSA) and activities including Giant Jenga and a ‘Dive-In Cinema’ at the Forum Pool.
Students can find the full program online at newcastle.edu.au/welcome-week.
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