Welcoming the world to Nottingham: city unites to greet international…

The pioneering event is jointly organised by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University in partnership with Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, local businesses including Paul Smith and Nottingham Forest and is kindly supported by Kaplan International Pathway.

Hosted by Robin Hood, the event featured performances from local artists, international societies and will celebrate the vital contribution made by international students to the local economy, community and cultural richness of Nottingham. A marketplace featuring stalls and tasters from nearly 40 businesses and local organisations will showcase the cultural, heritage and leisure highlights that Nottingham and the wider region can offer to the nearly 14,000 international students currently studying at both universities, as well as their families and friends who might visit them during their time in the UK.

“The University of Nottingham prides itself on being an institution whose global outlook, connections and reputation provide real and tangible benefits for our local community, economy and people of Nottingham. With Brexit continuing to dominate the news at home and abroad, it’s more important than ever that the universities work with civic institutions, businesses and local communities to ensure Nottingham is seen as a fantastic place to visit, live and study. We know that our University’s international students alone provide a boost of more than £130 m every year to the British economy, but the impact they make goes so much further than the economic benefits for our city – they bring cultural diversity and become integral and valued members of our local communities. We don’t want Nottingham to be just a place of study for them, we want it to be a home from home, somewhere they will make friends, memories and return to in the future.”

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, Professor Shearer West

Around 475 students from both universities and the Kaplan Pathways Colleges connected to each institution are attending the Welcome to Nottingham inaugural Nottingham international student civic reception from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Wednesday 23 October at St Mary’s Church in the city centre.

The inaugural event, which is hoped to become an annual fixture in the city’s calendar, will also be attended by around 75 guests from local institutions, businesses, international diplomatic missions and the media.

They will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Rosemary Healey and Vice-Chancellors of both universities, while the proceedings will be overseen by none other than Robin Hood.

Offering a festival feel, the church will be filled with an array of market stalls from companies including Kiehls, Trent Barton, Five Leaves Bookshop, Pudding Pantry, Doughnotts, Annie’s Burger Shack, Barburrito and Rough Trade.

The city’s cultural opportunities will be represented by organisations including Dance4, Nottingham Young Creatives, UNESCO City of Literature, Creative Quarter and Visit Nottingham.

“We are privileged that so many young people from around the world, brimming with vitality, energy and talent, choose to bring their skills and ambitions to Nottingham. Just as they come here to learn, make friends and build new life experiences, so too the qualities that our international students bring will touch the lives of all of us and immeasurably enrich our City, our universities and our colleges.”

Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University

The city’s strong sporting reputation will also be highlighted with stalls from Nottingham Rugby, Nottingham Wildcats Basketball and the National Ice Centre, with Nottingham Forest Football Club and its famous Robin Hood mascot generously providing international students with complimentary tickets to attend that evening’s match against Hull, as part of a wider effort to encourage students to the City to support the club in their push for promotion to the Premier League.

Guests will also be given a flavour of the best food that Nottingham has to offer – George’s Great British Kitchen will be providing their famous fish and chips, candyfloss and traditional British sweets. Entertainment will be provided by student societies at the Students’ Unions from both universities – hip hop group Funky Fresh and Latin dance (Nottingham Trent) and Tamil and Bengali music and dancing (The University of Nottingham).

Finally, students attending the event will also be in with a chance of receiving an invitation to an exclusive after event reception at the Nottingham flagship store of international fashion designer Paul Smith.

“Students play such an important role in shaping Nottingham as the culturally-diverse and inclusive city of which we are all so proud.It’s important that international students feel welcome and that Nottingham becomes a second home for them as quickly as possible. The civic reception in their honour is a way to meet each other, celebrate cultural identities – which offer so much to our city – and begin to show them what a great place this is to work, study and socialise.”

Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council