Freshers Week for Arts students

The Faculty of Arts Student Association (ASA) welcomes all new students following the BA course within the Faculty of Arts. ASA is a relatively young and dynamic student organisation with a jam-packed calendar of original and alternative activities planned for the upcoming academic year. ASA will be offering a blend of social, academic and cultural initiatives together with day-to-day services for students of the Faculty of Arts.

The launch of ASA's activities for the next academic year will coincide with the reopening of the University after the summer recess. This is the time when students get themselves back into the mode for University life. It is a special challenge for new students who join the University. ASA will be giving special attention to the newcomers through a number of initiatives during Freshers' Week, that is the first couple of days of University, when new students start getting used to the new system.

On Tuesday at 9 a.m., the Dean of the Faculty of Arts will address the new students in Francis Ebejer Hall. Student representatives on the Faculty Board of Arts and other members of the executive committee ASA will also address students.

During Freshers' Week, ASA will run the registration of credits for students. Students have to register for credits in the areas they chose when applying to join university. This is being done in collaboration with the Faculty office and with the help of the administrative staff of the Faculty of Arts.

Registration forms will be available on ASA's stand, which will be situated near the main entrance of the Faculty. Members of ASA will assist students in completing their forms, which can be returned at the stand.

New students can also get to know about ASA's upcoming events and the possibilities to participate. The stand will also feature information about opportunities of studying abroad as part of the Socrates programme.

An unprecedented initiative is Buddy. Through this scheme new students will be shown around University by second and third year students. This will help them acquaint themselves with procedures, facilities, services, opportunities and the subjects they will be studying. This initiative will help increase the bond between students of the Faculty of Arts, who tend to be split up into factions because of the large number of courses.

A similar scheme will be proposed to international students. While facilitating better integration into university life, international students will have the opportunity to learn a bit of Maltese in an informal manner. On the other hand, the Maltese "buddies" will be able to familiarise themselves with a foreign language.

ASA recently revamped its Website - www.webasa.com - to include more features and useful information. It was designed by Stanley Agius and is being hosted by Waldonet, ASA's IT partner.

Zammit Motor Group of Companies, R.M.F. and Bank of Valletta will be supporting ASA during Freshers' Week.