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.
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!
We want you to enjoy studying at Middlesex!
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!