Welcome to Maynooth University!

Getting started at MU & adjusting to your new environment

Claire DoranDirector of Internationalisation

18th September 2015

Why are we here?!14:00 – 16:00Part 1Introducing the International Office (IO)

Who are we and what do we do?Getting started at MU

What? When? Where?Adjusting to your new environment

What’s going on?!

Part 2 Introducing the International Society

Part 3 Immigration (for non-EU students)

16:00 – 17:00Andy Steves’ Travel Talk

Travelling in and around Europe

Introducing the International Office

• Support over 900 students from almost 100 countries• Team of 9 staff in Humanity House (South Campus)• First point of contact for all international students• Information and advice (visas and immigration, English

Language courses, on-campus services), letter requests, student support and much more.

• Support MU students and staff participating in international mobility programmes:

- Erasmus+ exchange and internships (Europe)- Study Abroad (Asia, Australia, N & S America)• Information and advice, management of application process,

student support before, during and after studying abroad.

Contact InformationOpening hoursMon/Tue/Thu 09:30-12:30Wed 09:30-16:30 (closed 13:00-14:00)Fri Closed

Website: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/internationalEmail: international.office@nuim.ieFacebook: www.facebook.com/MaynoothUniversityInternational

Academic SupportEach academic department has a designated International Coordinator and each programme of study has a Programme Director. Registered students may also use the Academic Advisory office and the Writing Centre.

Getting started at MUAccommodation• On-campus accommodation is full (long waiting list)• Off-campus accommodation database (Maynooth Student Pad)https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/accommodation/• International Office Facebook page & groupswww.facebook.com/MaynoothUniversityInternational• External resourceswww.daft.ie, www.myhome.ie, etc.• Word of mouth – talk to other students

Academic Timetable• Study Abroad, Erasmus, SwB – subject selection complete• Full-degree undergraduate – subject selection complete• Full-degree postgraduate – see Graduate Studies website or contact Departmenthttps://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/postgraduate-studies/registration-induction/timetables-handbooks

Registration• Obligatory for all students• Obtain student card (permits entry to University buildings, incl. Library)• Obtain student number and user password (to access computer & web services)

When does Registration take place?Monday, 21st September 15:00 Transfer students (CCZU)Thursday, 24th September 16:00 Full-degree Postgraduate studentsFriday, 25th September 09:30-16:30 Study Abroad & visiting international

15:30 Science Without Borders (Brazil) students16:30 UNCW students

Monday, 28th September 09:30-16:30 Erasmus students

Where?Student Records & Registration Office, ground floor, Humanity House, South Campus

What to bring to registration?- Passport or National Identity Card- Letter of Acceptance from MU (full-degree students only)- Letter of Confirmation of Fees Paid / Scholarship from MU (full-degree students only)- Module form signed by Intl Coordinators (Erasmus & Study Abroad only)

Note: Please provide full and correct home and study address!!

Bank Account• You can only open a bank account after you register at MU• You will need your passport/identity card and a letter from the IO confirming you

have registered at MU. You can request this letter through the website:http://forms.logiforms.com/formdata/user_forms/26711_5086176/93299//page1.html?isV2EmbedCode=true&cachebust=5824 • Check with your bank if other documents are required• Normal banking hours are Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00

Immigration• All non-EU passport holders must register with immigration services• You can only do this after you register as a student at MU• Please remain after the International Society talk to learn about the immigration

process

Meal Plans• Offered by Phoenix restaurant (see pack)• Sign up before Monday, 21st September if interested

Adjusting to your new environment

Living abroad changes your life!

1. Improve confidence/independence2. Gain new perspective on the world3. Make new contacts and form lasting

connections4. Improve employment prospects5. Non-native speakers become more

proficient at a second language6. Develop intercultural competence7. Learn and refine decision-making and

problem-solving abilities

Your GoalsStudy + TourismYou are not particularly interested in making friends or learning about different cultures – you are simply here for your studies and will socialise mainly with others from your own country and may engage in tourist activities.

Study + International ExperienceYou are going abroad not only to study, but to experience what you can about your new host culture and interact not only with Irish people, but other international students.

Study + ‘Go Native’You want to immerse yourself in your host culture and learn in great detail about the values, beliefs and customs of your new environment. You may actively even adopt Irish ways of doing things when you go back home.

Challenge yourself socially!

Challenge yourself to interact with others you don’t know and who are different from you.

Try to always speak in language of the host country - in this case, English.

Don’t wait for others to come to you, it may never happen!

Get involved in student life!Clubs & SocietiesOver 100 sport and non-sport groups run by studentsClubs & Socs Fair on Wednesday, 30th September (Sports Hall)https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/campus-life/student-life-sport/clubs-societies

VolunteeringMany Societies and academic departments offer opportunities to get involved in volunteering programmes and events in the community, e.g. Saint Vincent de Paul, Galway Cycle, etc.

Sports FacilitiesRange of indoor and outdoor facilities on campushttps://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/campus-life/sports

Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU)Representative body for studentshttps://www.facebook.com/MaynoothSU

Understanding Culture

Cultural Awareness

Where to start:1. some things in the new culture will be

similar (or may seem familiar) to yours.

2. some things will be different (maybe very different in ways you can’t even imagine!)

3. one of your main jobs while abroad is to figure out:• what those cultural differences

are…• where they come from…• what they mean…• and how you are going to

respond, particularly when conflicts or misunderstandings arise.

Cultural similarities and differences

Cultural similarities & differences

Political powerJustice & fairness

Crime & punishmentGood behaviour

Economic organisation

Division of labour

Gender rolesChild raising

Religious beliefsRituals & rites

Food preferencesArtistic expressionIdeas about love, friendship & truth

Non-verbal & gesturesPersonal space

Importance of timeIndividual vs collective

Communication: High vs Low Context Cultures

Perceptions: What / Who do you see?

The more difficult but common reactions to cultural differences can be:• Fatigue, irritability;• Loneliness;• Reluctance to be social;• Negative feelings toward host culture;• Dependence on members of home culture;• Being disengaged from the present.

The more you immerse yourself in your new host culture, the stronger the reactions are likely to be.

Cultural Adjustment

Stages of Cultural Adjustment

Honeymoon: At the time of arrival, you will be excited for the adventure that awaits you and the wide-ranging opportunities you have as you study will entice a feeling of perfection. Everything seems wonderful and possible!

Hostility: After some time, you may start to experience frustration with new cultural norms and the differences from your home country. But don’t worry – your ability to accept these differences and frustrations will improve with time!

Humour: Next comes the acceptance stage. You will start to see the similarities between your home and host cultures, understand the local culture, and communicate better with locals.

Home: You have settled in and appreciate the cultural differences of the society. You may begin to adopt some of the local norms and have a new perspective on life. You may have difficulty thinking about your time abroad coming to an end.

Stages of Cultural Adjustment

Managing Cultural AdjustmentDealing effectively with cultural differences:Be curious but non-judgemental Be patient with yourselfBe flexibleKeep a regular scheduleEat well, exercise, get enough restSet attainable goalsTalk about your concerns with a friend/mentorKeep a journal

DON’T.....fear the symptoms, it is normal! It means you are learning...be afraid to make a mistake. It is inevitable, engage humour...segregate yourself with others from your home country..communicate too frequently with friends/family back home (skype/facebook)..be overly critical of the host culture – accept the differences even if you can’t agree with them

Final Tips

• Have fun, but be safe

• When in Rome...

• Experience as much as you can –

Carpe diem! (Seize the day!)

• No regrets!

Further InformationCulture Shock and Travellershttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1708-8305.1998.tb00469.x/pdf

Don’t worry, it is normal to feel a little overwhelmed!

Help is at hand:- Information pack- Pre-Arrival guide on IO website- IO website- Contact IO staff

Help! Information overload!

Thank you for listening!