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Hi everyone,

As we settle into 2024 and step closer to Spring, I wanted to share with you some of the upcoming festivals and events happening across the campus and Leicester this February.  Student life is about embracing new opportunities, so I hope that you’ll see something that captures your interest.

Celebrating our graduates

I’d like to start this blog by reflecting on our first graduation ceremonies of 2024. Graduations are always one of the most exciting times of the year for me and Curve theatre was once again filled with excited graduands and proud parents. It’s very fulfilling to soak in the atmosphere before watching our students walk across the stage and on to their next chapter, whether that’s furthering their studies or going out into the world of work – congratulations to you all!

Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ Pride

You may have noticed that our campus has undergone a colourful transformation. As January came to a close, we celebrated the launch of Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ Pride, which takes place each February to mark LGBTQ+ History Month. Now in its tenth year, Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ Pride allows us to celebrate the achievements of our LGBTQ+ students and their allies, particularly those in health sciences as we highlight this year’s theme: medicine.

We have curated a series of events running until Thursday 29 February with fashion exhibitions, film screenings, play readings and the popular Rainbow Families Gallery Takeover all yet to come.

For a full rundown of what’s on, and for more information on why these celebrations are important, visit our dedicated Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ Pride microsite.

The upcoming Cultural eXchanges programme

Towards the end of February, our annual Cultural eXchanges will begin, kicking off a week-long celebration of arts and culture on campus. Organised each year by our final-year Arts and Festivals Management students, this festival is a testament to the real-world skills our courses provide.  Running from 26 February to 1 March, there will be free workshops and speeches delivered by key figures in the creative industries.

The Leicester Comedy Festival returns

This month also marks the 30^th birthday of the hugely . Founded in 1994 by one of our very own students, Geoff Rowe, the event has grown into one of the biggest and longest-running comedy festivals in the UK.

There are more than 700 shows – a record – from 7 to 25 February at venues throughout the city, including the likes of Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Noble, Rosie Jones and of course, the UK Pun Championships.

Feed back to us this Survey Season

You may remember that we launched our survey season last month. Those of you in your first or second year will have been contacted by the university to respond to our Undergraduate Student Survey, while final-year undergraduate students will be contacted by Ipsos, which runs the nationally recognised

I would urge you to complete these surveys. Your feedback shapes how Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ will operate in the future and is invaluable in maintaining a positive student experience here.

All students who complete the surveys will be entered into a prize draw, for the chance to win one of eight £100 and four £300 Love2Shop vouchers.

Best wishes,

Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor Æß²ÊÖ±²¥