QUT will welcome about 14,000 new students (domestic and international) this week during orientation celebrations.
This afternoon's Official Welcome Party will kick off at 4pm at Gardens Point campus under the massive big top outside Old Government House, and feature Brisbane indie-pop band Cub Sport.
The band began their rollercoaster ride when Evie took over Australian airwaves and Told You So became a breakout hit on US college radio. Back in Australia after touring the US, UK, Singapore and Vietnam, Cub Sport will kick off the semester in style. Two of the band's members are QUT graduates - Zoe Davis and Tim Nelson.
The welcome party will also include performances from QMuSo (QUT Music Society) and QDance (QUT Dance Society), the unveiling of limited edition t-shirts (which will be a gift to all new students from the Vice-Chancellor) and a welcome from Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake.
Today's highlights at Gardens Point
9am-4pm: Interactive Lego robots display with the Society of Mechatronics
Engineering
10am-8pm: Sumo-robots interactive demo with the QUT Electrical
Engineering Student Society
11am: Welcome to Country ceremony
1pm-4pm: QUT Amazing Race from Kelvin Grove campus to Gardens Point campus
1.15pm-3.30: Chinese New Year celebrations including Lion Dance by QUT Australia-China Youth Association
4pm-5.30pm: Official Welcome Party featuring Cub Sport
Food ($2 lunches) and information stalls will also run today and throughout the week.
On Friday, the action will shift to Kelvin Grove campus for The QUT Games on the oval including:
- Inflatable human foosball
- Canterbury bungee
- Giant grass Zorb Balls
- Pitch burst balloon game
- Giant basketball
- Mini golf
- Mechanical surfboard
- Football pass
- Tiki totem dodgeball
Orientation coordinator Peter Gatbonton, from QUT's Student Support Services, said O Week aimed to give students the best possible start to uni.
"Orientation is about welcoming new students into the QUT community and giving them a sense of belonging - both of which are essential parts in determining a student's academic success," he said.
QUT's Caboolture campus will also hold orientation events this week, including the main Orientation Day on Wednesday from 9am to 3pm.
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
