Welcome Conference
Date: Wednesday 19 November
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Location: Students' Union, Stratford (Water Lane campus)
Summary
The Welcome Conference is a creative, interactive session designed to reflect on this year’s Welcome experience at UEL and reimagine what the Dream Welcome could look like in the future. Through open discussion, honest feedback, and a fun and interactive design mapping activity, students will help shape how we make UEL’s next Welcome Week even more inclusive, exciting, and meaningful.
Context
· Why we’re here: Every year, University of East London (Student Life and Students’ Union) works to make the Welcome experience the best possible start to university life, helping students feel connected, confident, and part of the community.
· Why it matters: Your feedback helps us understand what worked, what didn’t, and what could be improved to ensure every student feels supported from Day One.
· Why a conference: We’re bringing students together to share experiences, discuss barriers, and co-create fresh ideas that reflect the real needs of our diverse student body. This collaborative event aligns with our goal to make Welcome more inclusive, accessible, and student led.
Our Goals
· Gather genuine student feedback on the 2025 Welcome experience.
· Identify barriers that may have prevented participation (financial, logistical, emotional).
· Co-create innovative, realistic ideas for a “Dream Welcome” through a mapping activity.
· Empower students to directly influence how UEL and the East London Students’ Union, plan future Welcome experiences.
Session Plan
1. Introduction to PBE (15 mins)
Student Officers will introduce what welcome in this context means and outline the conference goals.
2. Roundtable discussions (30 mins)
Participants will join small-group discussions across five tables. And staff members will facilitate the discussions through questions.
3. Break and refreshments
A short break for tea and coffee at around the halfway point.
4. Dream mapping activity and presentation
Students are invited to imagine their “Dream Welcome” at UEL.
Using the guiding prompts, they should share practical, inclusive, and creative ideas that could genuinely help new students feel welcomed, included, and connected from day one. Their suggestions should reflect the diverse needs of UEL students and be realistic enough for the Students’ Union to implement.
5. Debrief (10 mins)
Student Officers will wrap up the event, explaining our next steps.
Upcoming Conferences