(Photo Opportunity: Tuesday, August 28, at 1.00pm. Details at the end of this release)
The University will be holding its second University-wide pre-application Open Day on August 28, 2001, following on the success of last year’s event.
The aim of the Open Day is to give prospective students and their families a chance to find out more about the benefits of studying at Aberdeen through talks, exhibitions, and presentations from staff and lecturers.
Shona Malcolm, principal organiser, said: “The Open Day will provide visitors with an excellent opportunity to learn about how much the University of Aberdeen has to offer.
“The Open Day will give everyone an excellent opportunity to learn more about the University of Aberdeen and Higher Education in general. We anticipate over 2,500 visitors will visit during the Open Day, some from as far afield as Zimbabwe and Taiwan. This will be made up principally of potential applicants yet to apply for university, but a considerable number will be parents and teachers and mature students will also be catered for. Anyone interested in higher education, including parents, guardians and teachers are invited to attend.
“Every department will be fully involved with exhibitions, talks and displays - we've even got demonstrations from our Archery and Trampoline societies.
“We have a great story to tell about Aberdeen, and we have always been proud of being a distinctly Scottish university. We have a musical programme inspired by that which will bring some fun to the day.”
The day will provide a wide variety of activities. A piper will launch the proceedings at 8.30am, setting the scene for a day with a distinctly musical theme. In addition, buskers will entertain the visitors and there will be a music workshop from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm. Aberdeen Football players will also be making an appearance at the Elphinstone Hall Sports Stand, to promote three of the courses that have seen the biggest growth in student numbers over the past year, Sports Studies, Sports and Exercise Science, and Sports Leisure Management.
Lori Manders, Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions Services, added: “This is going to be an Open Day with a difference. Everyone is invited to come along and get a taste of university life.
“The students really enjoy visiting the campus and are impressed with the breadth of our degree programmes and the choices on offer. Our student employability rate is impressive - 97% of Aberdeen graduates go into work or further study within six months. They will find out for themselves how successful our graduates are and the better jobs they can get as a result of studying at Aberdeen.
“Last year’s Open Day was a tremendous success. Our applications for 2001 were up 17 per cent and with more than 97 per cent of our graduates finding jobs or are in further study within six months, Aberdeen is becoming one of the UK's most popular universities.”
Photo Opportunity: A couple of Aberdeen Football players will be making an appearance at the Elphinstone Hall Sports Stand, University of Aberdeen, at 1.00pm. Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2001.
For further information regarding the photo opportunity please contact:
Angela Begg, Media Relations, University of Aberdeen, on (01224) 272960.
Further information about the Open Day is available from:
Student Recruitment and Admissions on freephone 0800 027 1495
Or visit the website: www.abdn.ac.uk/openday
Issued by Public Relations Office, External Relations, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen. Tel: (01224) 272014 Fax: (01224) 272086.
August 27, 2001
University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-273778 or email a.ramsay@admin.abdn.ac.uk.