Did you start at university a little later in life (age 21+)?
We're a team of students and staff working to co-create initiatives and host activities with our community in mind. This program aims to provide a space for all mature students looking to build social networks, improve academic skills and enhance their sense of belonging at Sussex.
We're all mature students, so we understand the unique experience of starting university a little later in life - you can expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere at all our events, just look for someone in a blue hoodie to show you the ropes!
“As a mature student and parent, it has been great to have the opportunity to make new friendships with people closer to my age, it has helped me feel more connected and engaged with university life.” - Natalia (Social Research Methods MSc)
We're hosting the following drop-ins in the Student Centre this semester:
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Fri 25/10/24 12-2pm: Demystifying Academia.
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Thur 07/11/24 12-2pm: Planning for assessments and essays.
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Tue 19/11/24 12-2pm: Health and wellbeing.
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Wed 04/12/24 12-2pm: Planning for the winter break.
For more information, visit our TicketTailor page. You can also follow @SussexUniSEE on Instagram.
Background:
The program was developed by the Student Engagement and Enhancement team to better support the needs and student experience of mature students. In the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years, Connectors organised approximately 30 activities (including workshops, family fun days, and coffee chats) for mature students. Research initiatives (focus groups and small-scale research projects) were conducted to gain insight into the experiences of mature students at Sussex. Hearing your feedback is important to us to ensure we continuously improve your student experience.
Meet your Connectors:
“This program allows you to meet people who you are more likely to have had similar cultural experiences to you, be that the things you watched and read when you were younger, the experience of having jobs, the kinds of relationships that you’ve had with other people.” - Connor (Psychology with Clinical Approaches BSc)
“As a mature student sometimes it can be hard to find people around my age to make connections with, which is why I love going to the mature student events. Being able to interact and socialise with students around my age gives me that sense of belonging at Sussex.” - Drew (Anthropology and International Development BA)
“I thought coming into first year that it'd be difficult to avoid swinging between being either disconnected or disingenuous socially at uni, but being at the first drop-in showed me that my experience, while unique, wasn't at all abnormal - this community has been a great way for me to develop a sense of belonging at Sussex." - Dharma (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence BSc)
“We are all mature students but that’s sometimes the only thing we have in common, the mature student events bring us together and give us the opportunity to learn all about the vast variety of subjects we all study and how we all came to be at Sussex at the same time.” - Lou (Criminology and Criminal Justice MA)
How to get involved:
Keep an eye on our upcoming events - each one is an opportunity to connect, learn and grow alongside peers who can relate to your experiences; your presence enriches our community.
If you have queries about this project, please email SEE@Sussex.ac.uk.