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Over 40 of our international students recently enjoyed a welcome reception with the city’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Bhupen Dave. Councillor Dave addressed the students in the Town Hall with a history of the city, along with a description of how his role and that of the council support the local community. Councillor Dave then opened the floor for questions, before concluding the event with tea and cake and a chance to talk more informally with our students.

Students from 17 nations attended the event, hosted by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Bhupen Dave. It was particularly poignant for Councillor Dave, as he himself moved to Leicester with his parents in 1972, having been born in Uganda.

Gathering in the reception area of the Town Hall gave the students a sense of the grandeur of the historic building, built in 1837, which continued as they were led to the council chamber, where Councillor Dave spoke about the importance of the city of Leicester throughout history.

Of particular interest was the nearby Battle of Bosworth, which resulted in Richard III’s death and the seismic change that marked the end of the Plantagenet dynasty. With King Richards’s body brought back and buried in the city of Leicester, history really had been played out directly beneath the feet of those attending.

Students heard about the role of the Lord Mayor in “uniting the city and doing something good for the local community and distributing resources fairly across the community.” The students were then invited to ask questions, which may have been daunting addressing their questions in front of peers, but the students took to this with ease and enthusiasm.

Questions included: “How does the council work with ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿?” “What are the council’s sustainability targets?” “What is being done to make the city more welcoming to international students?” and, “Does the Lord Mayor travel by car or a carriage?”

Following this, students were led into the tea room for light refreshments and an opportunity to talk with the Lord Mayor in the less formal setting.

Andy Gale, International Student Support Officer in Registry Services said: “It's a nice opportunity to reinforce the link between the city and the university, and for the students to be made welcome by the Lord Mayor. In the past they have told us that they'd never get the opportunity to meet the mayor in their own city. They seemed to enjoy the opportunity and had lots of questions to ask.”

Rohan Solanki, a student from India currently studying Sustainable Textile Technology had always dreamed of getting a Master’s from a UK university. He said meeting with the Lord Mayor gave him a, “great first impression of the city that offers community, culture and heritage.” Rohan added that, “the natural diversity [of the city] makes us feel comfortable.”

Judith Olurankinse, a student in Marketing Management from Nigeria described the event as, “amazing,” going on to say that she was, “so happy I picked ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿. I’ve met other people from Nigeria as well as people from different cultures. The city is very welcoming for all nationalities.”