Anticipation grows ahead of Dubai International Academic City's Winter W.O.W

Dubbed 'W.O.W', the hotly anticipated two day event provides students with the opportunity to meet new classmates and future friends while taking part in a number of exciting activities.

Winter W.O.W is open to all students in Dubai, from existing university students to those in their final years of high school. It is an opportunity for the Emirate's student population to come together, mingle and network in a relaxed, but informative environment.

It is also a smart way for students in high school, and those starting to think about their options in higher education, to witness firsthand what a truly international college lifestyle is all about. All those visiting during Winter W.O.W will have access to many of the 21 International Branch Campuses based at DIAC, as well as the opportunity to hear real accounts of life in higher education from current students.

Winter W.O.W is designed to provide students with a smoother transition to campus life and culture, by allowing them to become familiar with the new environment, network with their peers and meet faculty members and staff in an informal setting. Consequently, Student Hub, the official representative of the DIAC student body, has come up with a variety of events such as art and music taster sessions and performances, sports events, gaming and fashion competitions and food sampling opportunities. Activities will be spread across different areas of the campus in order to enable students to familiarise themselves with its layout and the multitude of first-class facilities provided within DIAC such as the DIAC recreation room, book stores, stationery shops and a variety of eateries.

Commenting ahead of Winter W.O.W, Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Managing Director, TECOM Investments Education Cluster, said: "Starting university can be a daunting experience, regardless of whether you are living in your home city or abroad. The Week of Welcome aims to alleviate some of the apprehension new students may feel by introducing them to future classmates, friends and academic life outside the classroom. When thinking about higher education, most people will focus on the academic aspect: degree programmes, grades and which are the best institutions to attend. These are clearly important, but also important are the extra-curricular activities that students get involved in and the sense of community they feel being part of the wider student body. Education is about becoming a well-rounded individual, both academically and socially."

Winter W.O.W is hosted by DIAC and sponsored by Y2M, the youth engagement agency. Participating universities include: Amity University, American University in the Emirates, Murdoch University, BITS Pilani, ESMOD French Fashion Institute, Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus, Imam Malik College, Institute of Management Technology, S.P. Jain Centre of Management, SZABIST, Universite Saint Joseph Law School - Dubai and Manipal University.