Academic Integration Support

Resuming a tradition interrupted by the pandemic, Welcome Week marks the beginning of the academic year with activities designed to help new students adapt. Among the planned activities are:

• Presentation of the University’s structure and courses;
• Formal opening session of the academic year;
• Official photo of the start of the academic year;
• Integration activities, such as Peddy Paper, team building dynamics and presentations of student services and associations.

This programme promotes the mentoring of first-year students by older students, encouraging the sharing of experiences and peer support. The objectives include:

• Extending the programme’s coverage to at least 15% of new enrolments;
• Encouraging second- and third-year students to participate as mentors;
• Implementing training for mentors, focusing on early detection of signs of risk of dropout;
• Creating mechanisms for monitoring and referral for academic and psychological support.

Through this programme, tutor teachers accompany first-year students, promoting:

• Support for transition and development of study skills and academic decision-making;
• Encouragement of academic and extracurricular involvement;
• Monitoring of academic progress and action in situations of difficulty;
• Specific training for tutors on signs of risk of dropout and intervention strategies.

GAE organises practical sessions that address key issues for student autonomy and well-being:

• Study methods and time management;
• Anxiety management and mental health promotion;
• Teamwork and self-regulated learning.

These workshops will be widely publicised in collaboration with student groups.