Yesterday marked the 23rd edition of StuDay: the free welcome event for students in Antwerp. This year also saw the launch of Antwerp Unlocked, a welcome event specifically for international students. Additionally, StuDay&More was created, a calendar that bundles all student events for the autumn.
The student platform STAN, the city of Antwerp, and all Antwerp universities and colleges annually invite the more than 60,000 students to StuDay. On the last Thursday of September, Antwerp students enjoy a class-free afternoon for the year's premier student event. With students spread across over 30 campuses, Antwerp remains the second-largest student city in Flanders. StuDay is the moment to welcome students and introduce them to each other and the city.
Nabilla Ait Daoud, alderman for education, emphasized Antwerp's pride in its over 60,000 students. "You pursue education at a university college or university, but you also become a student in the city," Ait Daoud stated. "Antwerp is a campus without walls: a place where students learn, undertake, discover, and build lifelong friendships. With StuDay, we give thousands of students a warm welcome in a city that broadens their horizons."
The festival was divided into four zones, each with its own themes: the Dance zone featuring various artists, the Discover zone where students encountered young Antwerp live bands and cultural partners, the Play zone with challenges and sports activities for the StuDay Club Challenge, and the Recharge zone for relaxation and creative workshops like graffiti and screen printing.
STAN aims for every Antwerp student to feel welcome, which was also reflected in the food and drink offerings. Alongside classic festival fare, there were vegetarian and healthier alternatives, a wide and more affordable non-alcoholic drink selection, and free water points for reusable cups.
Antwerp Unlocked, the new welcome event for international students, welcomed around 1,500 students on Friday, September 18th, at GATE15. The program included a presentation with practical information, an info market with partners, workshops, an introduction to the meeting place CABIN, and a 90-minute city walk with an Antwerp student.
StuDay&More, a pilot project born from the co-creation process StuDay Co-Lab, bundles all student events from the start of the academic year until the beginning of the study period in December. The events are categorized according to the successful StuDay formula (Discover, Dance, Play, Recharge) and offer both parties and more intimate gatherings, as well as sports activities. StuDay&More is currently seeking partners, and more information can be found at www.studay.be.
STAN, Student & Antwerp, is a platform connecting the city, Antwerp's higher education institutions, and the Antwerp Student Consultation. The organization supports students daily through various projects, such as STAN’s student maps with tips for exploring Antwerp, STUDY360 for collaborative studying, and CABIN for preventive self-care at GATE15.
