Events
Welcome to the FMUL 2009/10 - Reception and First Year Student Enrolment
One of the aims for the beginning of the academic year that has been adopted by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL) is to welcome its new students as well as possible, and is thus organized in order to provide them with a welcome and integration into the institution of which they will be a part over the next years.
So, just like last year, the FMUL once again received its new students, guiding them through the enrolment process and giving them relevant information.
The students were helped from the outset by “Fmulito” the owl, the FMUL mascot, who guided them through the signposting strategically set up at the entrance to the FMUL, going from Santa Maria Hospital (HSM), to the hall in the Egas Moniz Building (EEM).
At the entrance to the EEM each student was given the “Guide to the Day” with instructions on how to complete the matriculation process.
A staff team received the students in the room where the online matriculations took place, helping them with the enrolments. The students received a Campus username pass in order to have access to all the computer services of the University of Lisbon.
All the students received the usual freshman’s kit, this year with a flash drive containing the FMUL interactive multimedia guide, some gifts from the institutions that support this event, such as the Lisbon Municipal Council, Delta Cafés, Formas Luso, Carris Bus Company and Lidl supermarkets, and also the TMN phone company, with the Moche Card for special rates and discounts for purchases.
An area of information kiosks was set up in order to provide the newly-arrived students with information regarding academic integration.
The FMUL kiosk had the collaboration of a ten-person team from several different services, namely from the Academic Area, the Library, the Pedagogical Council, the Scientific, Technological and Innovation Research Support Office, the Planning and Evaluation Office, the Secretary’s Office and the Information Technologies Unit.
It was this team that alternated in shifts and were very friendly, welcoming the about 350 students who made their enrolments.
Besides the kiosks set up by the FMUL, the Students Association and the BES and CGD, the banks that are FMUL partners, the kiosk area also included the presence of the Carris Bus Company and the TMN Phone company, who were present in order to provide help and give out some extra promotional offers.
Following on from this event, now in the curricular field, there was an Introduction to Medicine Week, which, besides the teaching component of this first week of classes, also included some extra-curricular activities, such as those organized by the Praxis Committee and the Social Action Services, who set up a rock climbing wall for the new students.
In order to find out students’ opinions about their welcoming into the FMUL and the matriculation process, the new students filled out a questionnaire in this first week.
A total of 264 students gave their opinions, most of whom were female (70.3%), from the Lisbon and Tagus Valley area (55%) and with an average age of 18 years old.
Graph 1 – Degree of satisfaction in relation to welcoming events (n = 264)
In relation to the FMUL welcome session, students said they were satisfied, namely with the information available on the portal (62.5%) and with the day guide (59.5%). In relation to the reception mascot, Fmulito the owl, about half of the students (49.4%) were very satisfied with this image alluding to reception by the institution. However, it was in relation to signposting that there was the highest degree of lack of satisfaction (18.6%).
Graph 2 – Students’ degree of satisfaction in relation to the matriculation process (n = 264)
As for the whole process involving matriculations, the majority of students was very satisfied with the FMUL multimedia guide (60.0%) and with the support from staff (53,0%). In relation to the computer matriculation system (57.2%) and the system of registering the Campus password, the students were satisfied. There was also satisfaction with the freshman kit and the documentation given out (54.3%).
Graph 3 – Students’ degree of satisfaction in relation to the course of the kiosks (n = 264)
The line of kiosks satisfied the first year students, particularly the documentation given out at the FMUL information kiosk (74.2%), the type of kiosks (71.8%) and the information made available by them (69.1%). One should also highlight the satisfaction felt by students over the information provided and clarifying of doubts by the FMUL staff; 59.7% satisfied).
These results show that the FMUL has once more received and integrated its students in the best manner.
Ana Rute Braziel (anabraziel@fm.ul.pt)
Sofia Cruz (scruz@fm.ul.pt)
Sónia Barroso (sbarroso@fm.ul.pt)