STUDENT SUCCESS!
The Student Success Festival is a series of year round events aimed at connecting you with the various support services offered at Middlesex University. Our goal is to help you feel a part of the Middlesex community, so you understand who you can talk to when you need help or direction.
Success is not only related to grades (though of course that is important!), but also to the experience of studying, life on campus, mental and physical wellbeing and employment and opportunities beyond the classroom. So, the Student Success Festival focuses on Academic success and also on Career success and Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Take a look around this website and see all the things we've done in the past, watch some videos from students and from choice YouTube channels, and check out the pages of our team mates!
There is method behind the madness, honest!
The Student Success festival is built around the principle ideas of critical learning and engagement. Simply put, numerous studies (see for example Wenger 2010) have shown that students who feel a part of the university tend to be more successful! Why? Because they engage more, they know who's who and where to get help if they need it and - most importantly - they know that they are entitled to that help!
Of course, most of the time you won't need that help. But you're only human and studying and balancing a life and financial commitments is one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do - and one of the most rewarding! But when you do need help, we want you to know not just where to go to get it, but that the people helping you are friendly, kind and real people.
So, you see, our intention with the Student Success Festival isn't to 'sell' you services or shove leaflets into your hands. It's to give you a chance to get to know the people whose job it is to help you succeed. And yes, to give you a load of free stuff, too!
We want you to enjoy the Student Success Festival!
Yes, we know. Studying and enjoyment don't exactly go hand-in-hand. We get it. It's hard, and expensive, and sometimes downright miserable. And while we can't wave a magic wand and make all the stress and anxiety nonexistent, we can help you deal with it.
Middlesex University is one of the leading universities in the UK for student support. There is so much available to you, and it's all free.
But the problem is, maybe you don't know how to access it. Maybe you don't want to speak to a stranger. Maybe you don't want to admit you need help.
These are all incredibly normal ways to be. But that doesn't change the fact that you're missing out on help that you're entitled to!
So, this is where the Student Success Festival comes in. This isn't your average event. You're not going to be expected to wander around the Quad, looking at desks and picking up leaflets which you'll never read.
Instead, we want you to have free gifts. We want you to play games. We want you to take part in competitions. We want to give you things, like iPads and goody bags and free treats and smoothies. Your only job is to show up, have fun, and take advantage of the freebies on offer. That's it!
Every year, we arrange for all the best support services we can offer to come along and meet you. To get to know you. After all, you're paying a lot of money to study with us, and while we can't say that that money guarantees you a degree (spoilers: it doesn't), we certainly owe it to you to offer you as much help, guidance, and support as we possibly can!
So come along, see what you think and let us help you achieve every success you can!
Below are all the teams and guests involved with the SSF. Every year the festival is growing, so look out for even more guests in the future!
You do not need to sign up to attend the event - the Student Success Festival is free to attend and open to all Middlesex students. But if you want a chance to get a gift bag, click here to claim!
Puptastic Paws Patrol!
Come and meet our paw-fessional team of doggo doctors, trained to help relieve stress and promote wellbeing with just a woof and a wag! Our two dogs are fully trained canine assistant dogs that can’t get enough of meeting new friends and sniffing out and chasing stress away. Visit these two good woofers in their special, self-contained area at The Student Success Festival for controlled, safe and doggo-friendly meet-ups, with the help of their hoomin P.As (who are also trained in canine wellbeing).
Please note that access to the dogs will be controlled to a set number of visitors for the dogs’ wellbeing and that the animals will be taking breaks throughout the day. Enjoy the Festival and grab some free gifts while you wait!
Cracking the Code
Challenge yourself to crack the code! It’s a race against the clock – can you solve the puzzles and emerge victorious? How much do you really know about the library? Can you decipher the hidden messages and win yourself a prize? Come along to the Student Success Festival and test your code-cracking credentials!
Skills Brag!
 
Come along, play and win! Join the Alumni and Employability teams at the Student   Success Festival, play our amazing game and step into the future with good vibes! Using interview techniques and key employability skills, our unique activity will help you realize how skilled you are, how effective can be to brag about your experiences, and how easy it is to overcome obstacles.
 
All participants will be rewarded with free gifts and a package of courage!
Around the world in 80 ways
Fancy getting away from it all? If you can piece it together, we have all it takes to build you your wings!
Try out our challenge to set sail to the south or fly far from it all. Pop along now to find out more from our Exchanges team and grab some of our fantastic freebies! We’ll give you something to write home about. You’ll wish you were here!
SLAs
Join the SLAs once again at the Student Success Festival! Back by popular demand, the SLAs are here to brighten your lunch break with games like Truth Or Dare, Buzz Wire and Where! Oh Where! Did My Little Tail Go?! - and the chance to win prizes! We have activities that will test your nerve and concentration - and challenge you to do better than your friends - as well as quick-fire games to help you uncover your own learning strengths. Come to SSF for fun, prizes and to meet your SLA!
Virtual Fitness
Get your heart pumping and release some endorphins! Join the MDX sports team for a chance to immerse yourself in the eSports experience, all without going to the gym or picking up a ball. Only on 13th November at the Student Success Festival!
It's Supermarket CHEAP!
Are you a sucker for Heinz, Kellogs and Dolmio branded sauce? Did you know how much more branded items cost than own brand?! You’ve probably never thought much about it…which is why the Student Welfare Advice Team are challenging you to guess the cost of their shopping basket! Whoever guesses the closest wins their week of shopping! Informative and tasty!
Ginger biscuits taste test
What’s the best biscuit – and, more importantly, how can you have your cake and eat it? After all, everyone wants more of what they like! And the Student Welfare Advice Team are here to help you get exactly that! Guess how much these different cakes cost for your chance to win a prize! The only remaining question is…will the prize be edible?!
Get Set Go
To help cope with academic assessments and stress. MDXSU are delighted to introduce Get Set Go and share with you all the great tips we have collected from students and experts on:
· Study in ways that works for you
· Help you
· Get Organised
· Prepare you for the future
Fair, Free and Me
Join Jo for a chat over a free Fairtrade tea or coffee, relax and take a moment out of your day. find out more on Fairtrade at the university how you can support and what upcoming Fairtrade events are on their way.
Save our PHishes!
Everyone uses the Internet but do you know the simple things you can do to stay safe online? Take part in helping us save our PHishy friends – they’ve got some top tech tips to help you stay safe online.
There’s a prize for those who catch the most amount of PHish throughout the day! The more of our friends you save, the more our PHish can help you stay safe when browsing online.
Enjoy the day and grab some freebies while you wait for your turn to PHish. Free and open for all to try; we promise you our PHish don’t bite!
P.S. We want you to share your stories with us – tell us, have you had a bad experience online?
We just love giving away prizes!! Whether it's smoothie makers, 3D virtual experiences or iPads we simply can't get enough of giving things away!
Here is a picture of one of our first competition winners receiving his prize! Jonathan won this iPad for his amazing student advice video, which you can view here! We also had three runners-up who all received Amazon vouchers! You can view all the student advice videos here.
