The union and sports

How can I make new friends? I am sure that you've though about this. Here you can find two great solutions.

The “Union” is a Students' Association (SAUWS) run by the own students of UWS. It provides a wide range of services and is a way of communication and interaction between the university and the students. Each “Union” has its own building, in the Paisley Campus, it’s located in Storie Street,Paisley, PA1 2HB; the telephone number is 0141 849 4157 and the e-mail is office@sauws.org.uk. The Union of Paisley it’s the biggest one.

The union hosts sport events; regular stand‐up comedy gigs as well as quiz nights and poker competitions. There are high‐spec fun‐machines spread over three floors featuring. There are also parties in the bar with a DJ, so the third floor some nights is like a night club. During the first week, there will be a lot of parties which I recommend you to go to meet new people. From my point, it’s quite expensive for what it is but you can have fun anyway. The best day to go to these parties is on Friday and it’s always full of international students.

It’s interesting to know that all UWS Students are members of the Students Association. However the team of students in charge of the Union have several important tasks: they campaign with and for you, work to improve learning and teaching, offer advice and support, organise events and activities and finally, they also enable sports teams and societies across all campuses. Another great opportunity that provides the Union is that is a perfect place to meet and interact with other students.

 

Moreover, I encourage all the new coming students to join one of the numerous sport groups or societies; or even to become involved in the campaigns or the management team of the Union. It would be a fantastic experience because you would do something that you like, practise English and make friends. Make your choice depending on your interests and if you are not sure you can join just one of the tester sessions to make clear your mind. There are more or less 15 societies and several sports clubs; therefore, you have a wide range of options.

Enjoying your time during your stay in the university has a lot of benefits in your mental and physical health, so don’t’ hesitate to join! If you decide to do it or want more information just get in touch with the Team UWS via the Meet the Team page.

In addition, having a sportive and active life it’s very important for most of the students, due to this the university provides excellent facilitates in the “Robertson Sports Centre” and it’s located next to the Thornly Park student residence. So it’s quite far from the core of the UWS Paisley Campus or the residence of Sotrie Street, Lady Lane or Gorge Street. However, a bus passes Thornly Park on a regular basis to and from Paisley town centre. Despite this, it provides a wide range of sport facilities to satisfy all the needs and interests of everyone.

 

It has extensive facilities for a wide range of indoor activities. Externally, there are three floodlit all weather pitches are available for five-a-side football, hockey and other team games as appropriate. Obviously, there are also some changing and shower facilities available for both indoor and outdoor pursuits. In fact, the sports centre provides facilities to practice the following sports or activities: basketball, football, outdoor floodlit 5-a-side football, hockey, rugby, badminton, short tennis, table tennis, netball, volleyball, aerobics, fitness, training area, jogging route, thai tae-kwon-do and aikido. Furthermore, there are several activities during the week that you can join.

The gym is fully equipped with the latest sport equipment. Moreover, the sports services team can offer instructions on how reaching your fitness goals. The membership/Student ID cards will be required if you want to book.

Despite this good offer, many students go to another gym: “Lagoon Leisure Centre”, which it’s quite more expensive, £20 per months for students, but it’s much closer and it’s open more hours. Personally, I go to this one because it’s much closer. And it’s really convenient, I mean, for example, when we finish from the gym, if we need food, we go to the Morrison supermarket on our way back, because Morrisons and Laggon Centre are really close.

  

For more information of the Union or the SAUWS, this is the link you must click at:
https://www.sauws.org.uk/

And then, they also have an interesting twitter account with their activities:

https://twitter.com/sauwsstudents

Here there is an album of potos of the Rpbertson Sports Centre:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uniwestscotland/sets/72157631451309382/

Services and facilities

A positive aspect of this university it provides a lot of services, groups, teams and facilities to the students to make their academic life easier and better.

The UWS has a well-equipped computing laboratory available for all the students. There are classrooms provided with touch screen technology, tablets and PCs. Additionally, it has interdisciplinary science laboratories, industry-standard design and engineering facilities, nursing and midwifery teaching areas and skills labs.

The university also has a library and learning resource centre equipped with over 1,000 reader spaces which include reading rooms and group and individual work areas to satisfy the needs of everyone. They are also computers and TV if the students need to work with them.

 

Moreover, there is Wi-Fi access across all the campus and in the residences. When you arrive you can have internet connection through two different available Wi-Fi networks. One is “Conference” and the other is called “Student”. In the beginning probably you will not be able to connect to Student because you need your banner number (the banner number is like your identity number in the UWS, you will get it activated once you have done your online enrolment during the first days).

Moving to the stomach needs, there are various catering outlets to make sure that the students can eat and get energy for their studies. In the Paisley campus, you have 4 options:

1. The Canteen at the Union, it’s in the Students’ Association building, on the ground floor, and it’s open from 8.00am to 2.00pm
2. The Canteen next to the Student Link, it’s on the first floor of Elles Building West. It’s open in the following timetables: 8.45am -7.30pm Monday and Wednesday; 8.45am-5.00pm Tuesday and Thursday; and 8.45am-3.00pm Friday.
3. The Canteen at the Library, you can find it on the ground floor of library and it’s open from 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday; and from 8.00am to 3.00pm on Fridays.
4. The Canteen Coffee Bar, it’s on the ground floor of the Brough building and it’s open from 8.00am to 4.00pm, from Monday until Friday.

More or less the four canteens offer the same: hot and cold snacks, sandwiches, refreshments, cakes and coffees.

 The university also has a lively student union, with  excellent events and entertainment schedule. I am going to talk about this and sports in my next post.

Moreover, there is the “Student link”. It’s a zone in the Elles Building (Room J202) where it’s given all the information required and advices related to the campus and the university to the current students. The staff there will offer you guidance and help kindly; moreover, you don’t need any appointments to go there.

Other student services include careers and funding advice, job shop, counselling, spiritual care and disability support.

For further information you just have to ask me putting a comment in the post or surfing though the official webpage of UWS: http://www.uws.ac.uk/paisley/

Surviving

 

All those who are for the first time far away from home and experience the first touch with the independent life, you will have to deal with some situations. When you will arrive everything is going to be new: new flat, new people, new food, new timetables, new language… but take it easy.

Probably you will have some troubles in understanding the Scottish accent but don’t worry, even for the native English speakers it’s difficult to understand it.

Moreover, have you thought about food? You will have to eat! Most of the people forget about this before arriving, but when you are new and your fridge is empty, you would like that someone would have told you where to go. I recommend going the Morrisons is 10 minutes walking from the residence, it’s the cheapest supermarket and it’s open until 10 pm. If you want to buy frozen food also a good option is Iceland, located inside the Piazza mall. The Co-operative and Mark&Spencer are the most expensive supermarkets. The Family shopper is also a good shop to do last minute shopping; there is not a huge variety of items and food but it’s excellent if you want to buy cheap drinks for a party because it’s close and open until 10 pm.

Another thing to deal with, if you live in the residence or in a shared flat, is the people. They probably will have different cultures, habits and language but this is not an obstacle to make new friends. I encourage you to open your mind and try to talk with them and plan some things, even going to the supermarket it’s a good opportunity to know your flatmates in the beginning. Of course, it will take some time until you see with who you get on well better or to trust them, but take advantage of the opportunity to learn from other people. I recommend you to join to the activities that the university prepares for the first week of each trimester; it will help you to know new people.

When you will arrive maybe you will feel alone the first days but it’s completely normal, don’t worry. To feel more like home, you can decorate your room with photos or flowers.

In addition, the timetables here maybe are different from where you live, so my tip is to try to adapt, it’s better to have a routine.

Don’t be discouraged! You can handle it! I am sure that you will gain more experience of life, you will not regret it!

 

Here I post a video where you can see what Erasmus is!

 

Moreover, if you click in the following link you can get in touch with other students who have been through this experience or are going to do in a close future.