Is something missing in your student life?

“As a new student, the amount of information that is received in the beginning can be overwhelming and it can also be difficult to take on more than just studies. Now you have a new opportunity,” says Michelle Brynildsen, leader of the Welfare Council in Agder.

Together with Cecilie Helen Askland, the head of UiA's learning environment committee, and Lars Magnus Halvorsen, who is responsible for learning environment policy in the Student Organisation in Agder (STA), she encourages everyone to visit Vrimlehallen and Gada this week.

For the first time in three years, all students are invited to Get Involved at UiA. The university’s academic as well as social activities will come together at the event. Both line associations and professional offers and networks will be on hand to welcome you.

“The day will show that UiA has many different activities for everyone, whether you want to get more involved academically through a line association, or pursue a hobby and gain a larger social network during your studies,” says Askland, who is himself studying for a bachelor's degree in political science.

Life outside of studies is important to one's well-being

At UiA there are activities for everyone - find out what you would like to do, is the advice from students Lars Magnus, Michelle and Cecilie Helen.

At UiA there are activities for everyone - find out what you would like to do, is the advice from students Lars Magnus, Michelle and Cecilie Helen.

It was decided in autumn that the learning environment committee at UiA would have a campaign to increase student involvement in several areas.

“After the pandemic, a number of students found it challenging to get started and hooked on student life. This is noticeable both in terms of mastering studies and also when it comes to making choices such as applying for a job after graduation,” say UiA employees Gro Hodne Gundersen and Hanne Andersen-Steinsland, members of the learning environment committee.

This is not unique to UiA and has also emerged in national surveys. UiA is therefore strongly committed to a good and safe start to studies with both social and academic offers for new students.

“For many students, the start of studies can be overwhelming. We therefore believe that by arranging such a day in the spring semester, where the offers at UiA are made visible and given a bit of exposure, both these and other students can be reached,” say Andersen-Steinsland and Gundersen.

During the Get Involved days, STA will also promote this year's student elections, where close to 80 positions will be filled. The same is done by the Norwegian Council for Welfare, which has several positions to be filled. A position filled by a student provides good opportunities to build networks and get involved in issues that are important to students.

Find out what you would like

The students involved in organising Get Involved share some tips for those who want to get more out of student life:

“Find out what you like and want to do. Then you are almost guaranteed to find an association or network at UiA that does exactly that,” says Brynhildsen, who is working full-time with her leadership position in the Norwegian Welfare Board this year.

“Yes, there is something for everyone here. It can be a bit difficult to find the information about what and how you can join. That's why a day like this with everything gathered in one place can help you,” says Halvorsen, who is also a master's student in political science and management.

Curious to find out more? Get an overview of more than 60 student activities at UiA.