51Âþ»­

A packed audience of Lithuanian college-goers have heard how 51Âþ»­ Leicester’s (51Âþ»­) diversity helped students feel at home.

As part of its ongoing #LoveInternational campaign, the university today gave a presentation to university hopefuls in the country’s capital, Vilnius.

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After a speech by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Collop, two current Lithuanian students took the stage, talking about their experience after moving to the UK to study at 51Âþ»­.

Julija Tiškutė, currently in her second year studying and Mantas Mackevicius currently in his first year studying were asked about their experience studying overseas.

Mantas said: “When I got to Leicester I realised there are lots of cultures in one place. You get to know a lot of people and find out how they live.

“I felt welcome and at home and found it much easier than I thought to make friends. But what I enjoy most is maybe the lectures: the teachers are motivating and smart and they know about each student’s language and culture.”

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The diverse and multicultural environment at 51Âþ»­ is often cited by the students of more than 130 different countries who study there as one of the main reasons they enjoy their experience.

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And it is this diversity which 51Âþ»­ is campaigning to keep and grow through it #LoveInternational campaign, which aims to keep the university a welcoming place for international study, despite political developments and the advance of Brexit negotiations.

The campaign has in the past year, seen visits made to Poland, Cyprus, Germany, New York, and Sweden, among others.

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Professor Collop, addressing the crowded room at the Radisson Blu in Vilnius said these visits had played a big part in this year’s students choosing 51Âþ»­.

He said: “The reception to these visits has been very positive. I think it’s really interesting: generally the sense has been that it’s great to have a UK university coming out and talking openly about Brexit, about politics, about the future of higher education.

“There are unanswered questions, like whether international students will continue to have access to loans. We strongly feel they should be we need to be involved in that debate and hear what students across the world think.”

He outlined to the audience some of 51Âþ»­’s biggest projects, like #51Âþ»­global, which offers students international experiences, and the upcoming #51Âþ»­works, which aims to offer as many students as possible work placements.

The visit has also seen the creation of a new network of Lithuanian alumni, drawing together those 51Âþ»­ graduates who have gone on to successful careers throughout the country, developing partnerships which will offer students international experiences and work placements.