Colombian student: We were ‘better mentors’

We did not have to wait long to see the reaction to a Faculty of Humanities Mentor Group decision to no longer use international students as mentors.

Colombian student Mauro Castaño is one of the international mentors who has been kicked out, and he finds the decision rude.

He himself had a Danish mentor when he arrived to Denmark and it was, he says, a complete disaster. The mentor couldn’t care less about him, he says.

International students valuable mentors

Non-Danes kicked out of mentor group

For three semesters now, international students have, together with Danes, been mentors of exchange students at the Faculty of Humanities.

International mentors proved to be good mentors as they already had experienced the same coming-to-Denmark situation.

But now, the Faculty of Humanities has got rid of all non-Danish mentors. Danes are more appropriate for the task due to their knowledge of Denmark and, therefore, they can integrate better the newcomers, the Faculty argues.

Danes know Denmark

See the new internationals at orientation meeting

Getting to the orientation meeting proved to be a hassle for some students.

First you had to find the KUA lecture hall. For some students it proved such a difficult task, that they arrived up to an hour late.

Then, once you arrived, you were overloaded with flyers. Studenterhuset, USG and Erasmus to name a few. University Post was also there to give out our postcards which also serve as a free drink voucher at our Party March 16, 2012.

1/3 of full degree students homeless on arrival

A whole 29 per cent, almost a third, of full degree students do not have a place to live upon arriving in Copenhagen.

This is according to a recent study that also shows that three out of every five full degree students must find their accommodation on their own and three out of five full degree students are forced to move during their stay.

Overwhelming first day for new students

Copenhagen is a good place to be, say international students.

The Danish language, and the new university procedures are overwhelming. But most Danes speak English, and this helps things along.

International students had got together Thursday, some for their very first Danish language course, some for the University's orientation. It was a chance for newly arrived international students to meet the university, other exchange students and to learn something about the country where they’ll be spending the next few months.