On 15 February 2019, the International Affairs Division organised the International Student Orientation for helping new international students become more familiar with MFU and each other. In this second semester of academic year 2018, MFU welcomed 38 new international students including 18 undergraduates and 20 graduates from Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Philippines, and Sri Lanka. MFU also welcomed 10 exchange students from 5 countries including Austria, France, Korea, Malaysia, and Philippines. Over the past 20 years, MFU has welcomed more than 1,000 students from around the globe. This contribution shows MFU’s effort to increase its diversity for promoting mutual understanding and cross-cultural awareness. It also indicates the quality of international education at MFU.
In addition, new international students got to know more about the offices, facilities and important resource centres at MFU through the campus tour activity. During the campus tour, the seniors also intimately explained and provided a few tips to new international students about how to adjust to university life. Following the campus tour, there were presentations from the international student club, the Muslim club and staff members from various service divisions at the university providing important information to new students about MFU’s services and its rules and regulations.
In the welcoming address, MFU Vice President, Assist. Prof. Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont expressed congratulations to the new students for their bravely deciding to study at MFU because studying abroad, especially in a country where English is not used as the first language, is very challenging. Dr. Romyen added that new students might experience some culture shock or cultural differences, however, the international student club will help them to have enjoyable student life. Furthermore, Dr. Romyen told students one of Chinese tales about a man who drew water from the stream and carried it back to house everyday with his two large buckets. One of those buckets had a crack in it and the other bucket was perfect. After telling a story, she highlighted a lesson from the tale that if students can realise the university’s potential, they will gain so many things by making the best of the resources provided.
