In a first for the capital, the Mayor of London today joined forces with the capital’s universities, the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London (TfL) to give international students arriving in the city a unified, city-wide welcome.
London Higher, the representative body for the capital’s higher education sector, has united partners from across London behind its new initiative, ‘Your London Starts Here’. Together, they are welcoming students from all over the world with a clear message: they are loved and wanted here.
This year’s initiative comprises:
- A welcome desk for international students at Heathrow, enabled thanks to Brunel University of London, across the two busiest arrivals weeks in September, staffed by student ambassadors from across London’s higher education institutions
- A personal welcome message for students from the Mayor of London
- A tailored guide for new students on settling into London life, covering everything from transport and safety to accommodation and finances, produced by London Higher with TfL and the Metropolitan Police.
London is the higher education capital of the world, with an offer unmatched in scale, quality and diversity by other major global cities, drawing more than 200,000 international students from every corner of the globe. The ambition of London Higher and its members is also to build the world’s best city-wide welcome for arriving students.
Team London is firmly behind this ambition, with the Mayor of London sharing a personal welcome message for arriving students, and TfL and the Metropolitan Police supporting the production of tailored advice and guidance for new students on settling into London life.
In addition, to make sure students feel welcome as soon as they touch down in London, student ambassadors from across London’s universities will be at Heathrow to greet them through the busiest arrivals period in September.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“Every year hundreds of thousands of international students choose to come to London to study at our world-leading universities. They travel from across the world to be a part of our global community and experience everything that our incredible city has to offer. Their talent, ideas and diverse experiences provide a fantastic addition to our capital, and I’m delighted to be joining with London Higher and partners to show how hugely welcome these students are, as we build a better London for everyone.”
Professor Shitij Kapur, Chair of London Higher and Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s College London, said:
“We want London to be the best in the world for higher education in every respect, and that starts with giving every arriving student the best welcome of any city on earth.
We’re proud to have brought our members together with London’s anchor institutions to make that happen, and we’re looking forward to building on this collaboration in the years ahead.”
Laura Citron OBE, Chief Executive of London & Partners, said:
“London’s ability to attract the brightest students from around the world is one of the city’s greatest strengths, and a huge part of what keeps it growing. It’s why international education sits at the heart of the Mayor’s London Growth Plan.
Emma Strain, Customer Director for TfL said:
“Getting around a new city can be daunting, especially when you’ve just arrived from overseas. The good news is that London has one of the most extensive, easy-to-use transport networks in the world, connecting every corner of the city. That’s why we’ve worked on and supported Your London Starts Here providing clear, practical travel advice for new students, and helping them navigate London’s transport network safely and confidently from day one.”
Louise Puddefoot, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Frontline Policing, said:
“London is one of the safest major cities in the world and we want every student arriving in the capital to feel safe so they are able to make the most of everything it has to offer.
We know that moving to a new city can be a daunting experience – that’s why we work closely with universities, local authorities and community partners to encourage students to access trusted advice to stay safe.
We encourage students to familiarise themselves with the Met’s crime prevention and personal safety advice. Please report any concerns to us so we can help. We are committed to working with partners across the city to help all students feel confident, informed and at home in London.”
Jamie Arrowsmith, Director of Universities UK International said:
“This campaign showcases everything that makes London such an outstanding destination for international students – including world-class universities, global career opportunities, rich cultural diversity and welcoming communities. It’s a fantastic initiative that further highlights what can be done when universities and communities, business and leaders are united in their message: that London and the UK promise an exceptional education and life-changing experiences for prospective students.
About Your London Starts Here
Your London Starts Here is a new, London-wide initiative which aims to give international students the best and warmest welcome of any city in the world and set them up for a confident start in the city they now call home.
It is coordinated by London Higher in partnership with its member institutions, with support from City Hall, TfL and the Metropolitan Police.
Source: Higher London
Author: Helen Leigh
