The welcome ceremony includes the Vice-Chancellor’s address relayed to all campuses of Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth and George, followed by the faculty breakaway-sessions. It also presents an ideal opportunity for first year students and their families to meet and engage with academic heads, lecturers and other professional and support staff, as well as How2-buddies (student helpers) who will support new entrants as they adapt to university life.
As is customary, stakeholders from various sectors will join the university in welcoming the new “Madibaz”. Guests will start arriving on campus from early morning, and students and their parents are to be seated in the Furntech building at the George Campus by 08h45.
Shuttle transport has been arranged for students who need to commute between town and the campus on Saturday for the purpose of the welcome event. (Busses departure from St Marks Square at 07:30; as well as Pacaltsdorp (07:30) & Thembalethu (approximately 07:40) and back to town/Pacaltsdorp/Thembalethu at about 11:30).
The registration of first year students whose applications have been successful and who have been provisionally admitted to studies at the Mandela University George Campus in 2019 has been scheduled for 29 January (for programmes in the Science Faculty) and 30 January (for students in the Business and Economic Sciences; and IT programmes).
Seniors in these two groupings register on 7 and 8 February respectively, while classes for all students of Mandela University, George Campus commence on Monday, 11 February 2019.
International students (both seniors and first years) register on 28 January, while BTech students in the Forestry and Wood Technology programmes (part-time and full-time) register on 23 January 2019.
A well-structured First Year Success (orientation) Programme will also assist new students in accessing all the university’s services, such as the library (including online resources), learning support services, counselling services, computer laboratories, sport facilities, student societies, and much more. For more details visit the university website, with a dedicated section for the start of the new academic year at http://orientation.mandela.ac.za/
Ready for tertiary education – a powerful tool to “change the world” for the better... How2Buddies – senior students of Nelson Mandela University (George Campus) who underwent a formal training programme as peer helpers, along with an array of professional staff – are ready to support new “Madibaz” as they make the transition from school to university life. The Official Welcome event for new 1st year students and their parents/guardians is scheduled for Saturday, 2 February 2019, between 08:30 and 11:30.